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Hi everyone

I'm very unfamiliar with the 40K world, but I like to paint the models. I know the Space Marines have a number of chapters with unique color schemes, and tyranids have various hive fleets with their own colors. Is there a similar structure for Tau models? I just got a box of Tau models and I'd like to see what some color scheme options might be.

Also -- if there are distinct Tau chapters, is there a list or pictures anywhere? I found a very useful chart with about a hundred SM chapters and their colors, and I found that very useful.

Thanks a bunch!

Well, the Tau Septs all have different colours.

They are not as fleshed out as the Marine Chapters are, or even the Eldar Craftworlds. More similar to the short briefs you get on, say, Necron Dynasties. You can sure make your own sept-colour-scheme.

You can click through some of the "official" Septs on Lexicanum.

1.) If you want to know a race, it is always helpful to buy the Codex or at least google the wiki articles on them:
http://warhammer40k.wikia.com/wiki/Tau
http://warhammer40k.wikia.com/wiki/Tau_Empire
-> http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Tau_Sept
http://forums.tauonline.org/tau/72173-beginner-s-guide-septs-tau-empire.html

2.) Tau colours are determined by the home planet they come from, called Sept. Esp. this link lists all major Septs and, if you click any specific Sept name, leads you to a page with good info including the Fire Warrior painting scheme:
http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Tau_Sept

3.) You are of course free to invent a new paint scheme for a supposedly smaller Sept.

I thought color was based on environment.

It is occasionally varied for camo purposes, but each Sept does have an official uniform color.

In which case they still have their Sept's colors somewhere on their armor.

nomotog wrote:I thought color was based on environment.

true it does say that in the tau codex. however the colors are for the environment of the world it self that the warriors are from. so those are sept uniforms