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Transmission from Shas'o Nal'da Orpheus to Inquisitor Kyrea of the Ordo Hereticus, prior to the destruction of the bridge of said Inquisitor's vessel. wrote:"Why do I fight, you ask? Why do I continue to resist, despite the innumerable odds stacked against us? Why do I mobilize against the multitude of threats in this galaxy? Why did I give up the life of luxury and safety on Terris' hidden corner of the Gulf, to take up arms against you?

I do it for my family. I do it for my people. I do it for the innocents you would mindlessly butcher, giving their cries of pain, their pleading for life not a single thought. I do it for the slim chance that this galaxy could be a good place once more. I do it for I have seen the good and the evil in this existance. I do it for those whom died in vain and those whom have yet to be born. I do it for the Greater Good, Inquisitor."

Over the past couple of years, the Tau sept of Nal'da has layed low on all recorded fronts, many of their outposts seemingly abandoned with all traces of the former inhabitants gone. This occurance has sparked much discussion within the Ordo Xenos and many Eastern Fringe commanders, all of which whom were expecting heavy resistance in the reclamation of many previously Tau-held worlds. Many believed that they had been wiped out by Tyranids, or disbanded and dissolved into the greater empire; regardless of the possible causes, many thought they were gone.

They were wrong.


The recent rumors of a new Tau codex appearring early next year-coupled with my recent improvements in model-making-sparked interest in my favorite blue aliens once more. Braver now and able to use casted parts that I originally thought I'd never be able to salvage, I took the tragedies that befell my beloved Farsight conversion and the brake fluid incident with my R'alai and XV9-04 to start anew...




I'm really liking how it's coming along, but I need help: which of the following torso rotations should I go with!?

1:

2:

3:

Nice looking suit. I like the pose and the CC weapon!

I'm leaning more towards torso rotation #3. I agree with genom.cor above as well, btw.

New projects are always exciting! Good luck on this one

I vote for number 1!

Zazel wrote:they all look good but i agree on the first one... and just to point out the obvious he looks very 300 spartan or Troy achilles

That's actually a good thing! His homeworld was supposed to be an "Ark" of sorts (Humanoids infused with DNA of Terra's lost and disappearring species), and they were under the watch of a small contingent of Ultramarines before the Heresy. They were cut off thanks to a Warp Storm though, and while disconnected from the Imperium they were also spared the ravages of the Heresy; from this history, it'd make sense that there'd be a Roman/Greek influence in their styling.

Well, the Purple Power's done it's magic, so I decided to put down some liquid GS and start painting! Something about my other schemes just didn't really speak to me, though. I looked around my desk and paint drawer, and came across my unopened jar of Hormagaunt Purple. It was then that I started to remember my earlier works, my old scheme (which some of you may remember!):






Oh how I miss those days, before the car wreck that busted up my left collarbone, when the LGS was still around, 5th Edition hadn't come yet (or was still new), and 40k was still new, none of the drama and stupid crap they pull now...

I decided that I want to try and re-capture some of that feeling! Still a major WIP, but here's some shots of where Orpheus' suit stands at now:






If this scheme doesn't go over well, then I may try red or go back to orange.

So I did all my boring crap for the day and then had a seat at my desk and had a look at the then fully-dry legs of Orpheus' battlesuit, and I felt...underwhelmed. It was a neat idea, but it just didn't really jump out at me. After chatting with multiple online friends and going through my foundation paints, I remembered a green and dark grey scheme I had seen elsewhere on Advanced Tau Tactica in the past, and I remember that I really did like it. That-combined with the fact that much of Orpheus' homeworld is quiet temperate, heavy in Conifer forests and Urban sprawls, both of which this scheme would be good for-pushed me to give my previously untouched Knarloc Green a try. All I can say is WOW! I added a couple of drops of flow improver straight to the jar, and it covers beautifully with only one or two coats! This ease of painting plus the more "calm"/neutral tone of the color (which I tend to associate with Tau) sealed the deal in my mind. Seeing as I like Orange and that Nal'da was founded by the Sa'cea Sept, they retained the orange markings, which I think came out very nicely. There's no meaning or writing, I just did what I thought looked cool! XD I need to find something to add to my Badab Black to help it flow better and pool less, though...it tends to try a little more quickly than I'd like. I wanted to use a cotton swab and rubbing alcohol, but seeing as the rubbing alcohol is inaccessible right now I used a cotton swab that had only a TINY bit of Purple Power, swabbing and rubbing over the uppermost surfaces instead of re-painting them and thus picking up a "lumpy" texture from the wash. A VERY thin/sharp Goblin Green highlight on select areas and the start of the red and blue glow, and we arrive here:

Nicely done sir, its very refreshing to see other Tau painted green

and Although I am not a fan of farsight, your take on his form is excellent, and far better than the GW standard one, nice choice in complementing colors as well.

I assume that Orpheus will use farsights rules, or some home brewed ones, I personally love the DIY rules, as long as a modicum of practicality is exercised.

Again well done, I will be keeping your sept under surveilance..(activates some recon drones...)

Keep up the good work.

Personally, I thought the purple/grey scheme worked just fine. However, I do like the green/grey scheme better.

Keep up the good work!
Rawson

Just got the Vectored Retro-Thrusters, a new blade (I'm thinking a former Daemon Weapon that was consecrated by his marine buddies, or just a sword based on one ), touch-ups and basing to go! My current VRTs are, though, in rough shape, so I'm going to need to either make new ones or find an alternative (XV25 jump packs maybe?). Anyways, pretty pictures! I'll try to have better-quality ones up later!




Thinking about adding more orange markings, maybe to the thighs. Thoughts?

The markings would be cool, and love the cc weapon!

Thigh markings would make a nice contrast for the green areas, pehaps some tau writing along the collar armor area near the head, the pilots name or unit ID, I plan on doing that with mine once I master decal printing of dry transfer sheets

Any way looking very nice, good pose and good paint scheme.

Kepora wrote:Just got the Vectored Retro-Thrusters, a new blade (I'm thinking a former Daemon Weapon that was consecrated by his marine buddies, or just a sword based on one ), touch-ups and basing to go! My current VRTs are, though, in rough shape, so I'm going to need to either make new ones or find an alternative (XV25 jump packs maybe?). Anyways, pretty pictures! I'll try to have better-quality ones up later!




Thinking about adding more orange markings, maybe to the thighs. Thoughts?

Hey, great job on the OSL for the head and weapon arm sensor array! I think a few more orange markings would look pretty good, two or maybe three more places...

Just for reference, which picture best represents the suit? The constrast is quite different in those two pics...

Keep up the good work!
Rawson

Thanks for all the comments guys!

I started fiddling with ways to try and fix the VRTs I have, only to end up with butchered bits and no decent VRTs to show for it. After rummaging through my Tau bits again, though, I cam across that cool sensor bit from the XV25 Stealthsuit-and then a second one, both of which had already had the antennae removed for Marker Drone conversions! I looked 'em over and began thinking, and then it hit me: anti-gravity pods!





They serve another function, though: they have technology borrowed from their allies, a (non-Chaos) renegade Space Marine chapter known as the Shadow Dragons, built in. More specifically, those pods were built under the supervision of their Librarians...


The Claw of Terris, a (now former) Daemon Weapon that was weilded by a lesser Daemon Prince in an assault on the world of Kardas-which is on the edge of the Nal'da Sept's southern border. They did not anticipate the Tau to have the psychic-sensitive marines on their side, so the Daemon Prince foolishly left himself 'exposed' in a sense, allowing the Shadow Dragons' Librarians to track his course. The invasion was a massive failure for the rather unorganized warband, the Tau of Nal'da-and the Shadow Dragons-lying in wait for them, encircling their fleet in orbit and destroying nearly every ground asset. In the fight, though, Orpheus' battlesuit took a meltabomb to the shield arm; the shield itself (and the fact that the suit is based on the rugged XV9 chassis) kept the suit from being outright destroyed-though the entirety of the left arm, shield, left VRT, the shoulder-mounted plasma rifle, and a few of the sensors on the head were lost. Armed with his gifted spear, he impaled the Chosen that planted the charge and tossed him to the Kroot, eventually entering battle with the Daemon Prince Zur'dal himself. He inflicted wounds on the beastial being, but a hard blow from Zur'dal's daemon weapon shattered even the shielded and runed adamantium haft of the spear, the Frost Blade that ended it cracked beyond repair. Careful Maneuvering-and personal intervention from the Chapter Master of the Shadow Dragons, Bahamut-finally won the day, though, the Daemon Prince banished and the remainder of his squabbling warband fleeing. As Orpheus' battlesuit was being repaired and overhauled, the Librarians of the Shadow Dragons put their skills-and their newest members-to the test, Consecrating the blade that Bahamut managed to wrestle from Zur'dal's grasp. It was gifted to Orpheus for his bravery in the fight-and to replace his beloved spear, which had become an icon to Nal'da and even to the Shadow Dragons. Technology gleaned from the Librarian's Psychic Hoods was implemented in the new hilt and casing at the base of the blade, working in conjunction with the new pods on Orpheus' XV9 to filter out any remaining Warp energy that could allow what may remain of the formerly-bound daemon to influence the commander. When not at war, the blade is kept in confinement, and is directly handled only by drones and the most trusted and powerful of the Shadow Dragon's librarians.

Too cool.

I agree with bunny that is very cool, i would even put in the "bitch'n" adj. I would like to see what your shadow dragons look like with these rather baddazz lookn tau.

I'm glad you guys like it! Anyways, it's 1 A.M. and I put all the creativity I had into the model; I'll think of more to say when I take some photos of it outside. For now, enjoy the best I could do tonight:

What did you use to get that effect on the blade, im honestly intrigued? is it some kind of wash and if so what color and mix ratios?

medabee wrote:What did you use to get that effect on the blade, im honestly intrigued? is it some kind of wash and if so what color and mix ratios?

It was kind of an accident! XD wider "highlights" of Liche Purple over a black base, a slightly watered-down thick "highlight" of Hormagaunt Purple, hit the harder edges with only slightly watered-down HP, then a wash of badab black and gloss varnish.

Thanks for all the comments guys! I remember that someone asked which photos were closer to the true color, to which I have to answer: none of those. However, the sun was out for a while today, and I managed to snag some far more accurate photographs.





I've also begun work on a Broadside conversion; I'll try to have some photos up later this evening!

Alright guys, as neat as Orpheus' suit looks...I'm not sure that the green really "does it" for me anymore. Plus, I hate painting red glow effects! I've narrowed down a few good color schemes, wanna know what you guys think would be best!

Kepora wrote:Alright guys, as neat as Orpheus' suit looks...I'm not sure that the green really "does it" for me anymore. Plus, I hate painting red glow effects!

That's too bad. You've put a lot of work into him and he looks great!

Kepora wrote:I've narrowed down a few good color schemes, wanna know what you guys think would be best!
quote]
This one for sure! The scheme is fairly unique and catches the eye.

Good luck!
Rawson

Well, it's been WAY too long since I've updated my Tau! Got a couple of color schemes I'm playing with that I'd like to show you guys, and I'm torn between them and the original green/orange/grey scheme (even with my dislike of painting red, even for just the OSL)...what do you guys think?

Brown scheme:




White scheme (just a rush job to see if I can airbrush white worth a crap. Need to thin the white a bit more and get a proper primer job on it after it soaks in some purple power!):




If I go with the white scheme, should I tone down the amount of orange? And should the "mechanical" parts like the legs, backs of the thighs, joints, etc. be boltgun metal or grey? Tempted to go boltgun adn give it black adn yellow markings, akin to the Cerberus color scheme from the Mass Effect games.

Personally, I like the brown scheme better.

If you do go with the white, I'd say use a darker orange to add a bit more contrast.

Good luck!
Rawson

Yep. I like the bone/brown scheme (actually, i like the bone brown scheme with the bone for armor and brown for fatigues but that firewarrior looks so good, i say keep it. If you do go for white and orange as rawson sais, keep it darker. Looking good though