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I am about to paint a Tau Hammer Head vehicle and I have free reign on this project. My question is this - Would the Tau have any kind of art work, designs, etc on their vehciles? I looked at the gallery and some people put some lightening on them, but that did not seem very Tauie.

I figure they would be more like modern day military clean and bare bones though id figure camouflage would be the most tau ish

And I don’t think tau would use artwork. At most they would have there sept icons.

That and chevron markings for rank and status or for the wild tank commander kill count tally.

Camo, unit designations, vehicle name, and kill markers are probably all the Tau would put on their vehicles.

The apoc book has a great section on this. The tau use colored markings to designate squads (sorta like the marines) and commanders.
Its up to you, but usually what I see are sept markings, camo, and designations.

Alright cool, tahnk you guys. I am thinking I might be able to do something cool with the sept marking. If anyone has any other input I would love to hear it.

Take a look at this army from Vindicare101: O'Taka Cadre

I'm not a fan of the random green blobs on these but I like the hex design and carbon-fiber look. It's a clean look that could add some variety and texture to the vehicle.

Remember in 40k everything is cannon, yet nothing is. So if you wanted to do a Hammerhead up in an extensive mural, go for it. You could say that it was a Hammerhead painted for a military parade that through whatever circumstances has now found it's way onto the battlefield, for example.

But in general, Tau always prefer function over form, and are likely to avoid taking a brightly coloured vehicle into battle. It is part of what I like about their aesthetic, they aren't gaudy like orks or space marines (the backpack banner is literally the first thing I remove from most character type space marine models).

Unbfortunately Tau are very much "Spray colour camo" which is predominantly featured in the Taro Campaign. However throughout the Tau Codex they do have a certain aesthetic quality to them, with their architecture and monuments.

It is 40k so I see no reason not to herald your tank in "For the Great Good" or "The Etherials Will It" or "DEATH TO FARSIGHT!" or "VICTORY FOR FARSIGHT" properganda.

The taros campaign had a camo style where the top was painted blue and the bottom was painted brown. To blend in the the horizon they say. I'm not sure if that actually works, but it give them them a neat look.

nomotog wrote:
The taros campaign had a camo style where the top was painted blue and the bottom was painted brown. To blend in the the horizon they say. I'm not sure if that actually works, but it give them them a neat look.

Considering the higher target profile of a skimmer, that would make since in a dessert setting.

nomotog wrote:
The taros campaign had a camo style where the top was painted blue and the bottom was painted brown. To blend in the the horizon they say. I'm not sure if that actually works, but it give them them a neat look.

The opposite works with air craft. You paint the bottom to match the sky and the top to match the ground.

Many species of birds and fish have this type of patterning as well.

Most species of raptors have a light colored underbelly and a dark topside. Sharks have white bellys and darker topsides.

A friend of mine paints his Tau vehicles with things like Tau pinup models, dragons, sharks ect. They look great and they're all done by hand which is impressive considering the armour plates on the front.

All great input! So why is it called a hammer head? Is it something to do with the actual shark or what?

The name designations are what the Imperium has called the Tau vehicles. And yes its likely because their shape looks like a Hammerhead shark.

Ah ok so a big azz hammer head would prob not be fitting then lol.

Like Deffdred said, if you do some cool designs circa WW2 era American military pinups or designs on planes that I think it would look cool. Otherwise Tau do favor either camo to suit the environment or colors to match their home world.

Or as others have said...just go balls to wall with whatever you want to do! Judging by your gallery images you could do some awesome freehand stuff!

Well, I think you can do quite a bit with "simple" geometric forms too. Doesn't all have to be WWII pin-up art.


http://pinsofwar.net/pin/244475

Thank you all for the feedback. The person I am working on this for does not want the camo. So I think I decided on doing it in his sept color scheme with some force fields in the carbon fiber pattern... Wish me luck lol.