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Here are the fruits of my weekend's labors, the begninings of my Tau Strike Force.

I am developing some Kill Team type rules for 250pt engagements with campaign type progession and this is the first force I am doing up. I have always had a soft spot for the bluies

Once all done I will have the following list:

1) Crisis Suit
3) Stealth Suits
10) Fire Warriors (4 with Pulse Rifles, 4 with Pulse Carbines and 2 with Pulse Scatter Rifles [Shotgun range with assault weapon stats])
3) Pathfinders (1 with Rail gun)
10) Kroot Carnivores
10) Gun Drones

Here is the firstlings of the flock:

The whole team together



Pulse Rifle





Veteran with Pulse Carbine





FW with Pulse Carbine



Scatter Rifle (made by cutting the markerlight bit off the bottom (which I used for the Pathfinder conversion)





Pathfinder. Here I wanted the Pathfinders to be the Bad of the army, the scouts, the heavy hitters...I gave them the Pulse Carbine and the Pulse Rifle, in the rules I am drawing up you can have multiple weapons, you just have to switch them out. I used the bare heads to make them look more hard core. I painted the eyes closed as he is sighting down the markerlight of the gun, lighting the target up for that +1 BS I also wanted to do something a little different than the standard Blue skin, so I added in some spots to make them a little more interesting.

Conversion was done by taking the bit from the scatter gun conversion and adding it to the top scope to act as an enhanced scope/rangefinder/markerlight. The conversion is super simple and when coupled with some green stuff wiring to the backpack, makes a pretty convincing Pathfinder conversion. I like it at any rate



Here are the other angles







I painted them up using the British Para paint scheme from Market Garden, three color camo on a drab outer over a brown under layer. I also painted the helmets the classic British Para Scarlet in honor of the Red Devils!

So there you have them! I hope to add more to their ranks later this week and next weekend. More pictures to come as I get more done!

Thanks for looking.

their skin looks like theyre sick or something lol but its still very well painted.
GJ

I like the paint job overall, but I'd either give them full camouflage face paint or none at all.

I thought about adding a few camo stripes on the faces. I think I may still do that, just to reinforce that these guys are elite scouts.

Thanks for the feedback!

I don't like these colors on these models. They're xeno, not human beings. I think you should consider moving away from human conventions. Otherwise, why not play Imperial Guard?

 6^ wrote:
I don't like these colors on these models. They're xeno, not human beings. I think you should consider moving away from human conventions. Otherwise, why not play Imperial Guard?

I very much doubt humans are the only army to utilize camoflage. Just because the GW studios don't do it, doesn't mean we can't!

To the OP, nice job on the strike force! I like the camo, though I feel the helmets kind of defeat the purpose of camo, lol. I can imagine the enemy quickly realizing it and just using the helmets as bullseyes, hehe.

Job's a good 'un regardless!

Thanks! I would have done the helmets a more drab tone, though since I was going for an homage to the Red Devils of the the British Paras...Kinda went with their scheme of the three toned camo with the red barrett.

As to playing guard...I do...they have a different camo scheme and I agree that just because they are Xenos doesnt mean that they do not understand BASIC OPTICS. a camo pattern helps to break up the image and make them harder to hit. Aliens are smart too...especially those able to make sophisticated weapons like particle accelerators and fusion blasters and stealth capabilities. These all should be a testiment to their understanding as a whole, something as basic as camo should not be taken for granted especially when fighting sentient beings, other xenos and Astartes.

Nice idea. I have no problem with Tau in camo in fact I would think they are the most likely to use it out of all the Xenos

I didn't say they were not intelligent, I just said they're different.

When they need to do "special forces" They use stealth suits and disruption pods. Much better then this primitive camouflage that humans do (which is laughable really). Firewarriors are front line troops, trial by fire style (thats how battles are fought in the 41st) They're not guerrillas, thats what kroot are employed for.

Don't you agree?


@Joyous_Oblivion I didn't say he couldn't do it because GW doesn't. I said "I didnt like it because xyz" Just giving an opinion and validating it.


Anyways I forget to mention I DO like your conversion of the pulse carbine markerlight you have going on the final weapon looks really cool. Though you should know that piece on the bottom of the pulse carbine is a underslung grenade launcher not a marker light. it shoots photon grenades. That is why pulse carbines cause pinning.

 6^ wrote:
I didn't say they were not intelligent, I just said they're different.

When they need to do "special forces" They use stealth suits and disruption pods. Much better then this primitive camouflage that humans do (which is laughable really). Firewarriors are front line troops, trial by fire style (thats how battles are fought in the 41st) They're not guerrillas, thats what kroot are employed for.

Don't you agree?

First off, as a culture, Tau are very very very new even compared to humans (who are new compared to Eldar, Necrons, etc) and have had many dealing with the Imperium, so even if they didn't come up with it on their own, they likely realized its usefulness and adapted themselves to use it. And despite what you think, proper camoflage can be very effective in warfare.

I'm sure there are many times that Stealth Suits aren't always available, so firewarriors have to do. I agree that Stealth Suits are the more ideal choice, but as in all forms of warfare on any battlefield, real or fiction, not all situations are ideal.

Use a hobby knife to remove the mould lines from the plastic before you do anything, you can really see them when the model is finished. It instantly breaks the illusion that they're soldiers from outer space and makes them look like plastic toys.

This is my least favorite part of the whole process, but it's highly necessary, just make sure the model looks right and is clean before you spray on the primer.

 Joyous_Oblivion wrote:


First off, as a culture, Tau are very very very new even compared to humans (who are new compared to Eldar, Necrons, etc) and have had many dealing with the Imperium, so even if they didn't come up with it on their own, they likely realized its usefulness and adapted themselves to use it.



And despite what you think, proper camoflage can be very effective in warfare.

Maybe, but do you know whats even more effective in warfare? A pulse rifle. It shoots powerful pulses of energy over great distances, also firwarrior armor. Its great it can protect the wearer from all sorts of nasty stuff: lasers, explosions, chainsaws! Especially when being backed up by giant battlesuits with jet packs and missiles! Also tanks that hover! they can shoot giant blasts of energy with the potential to wipe out a squad in relatively close formation meanwhile they project these stealth fields around them, did I mention the firewarrior can ride inside and alse be protected by these stealth fields? As it turns out camouflage is down right insignificant.


I'm sure there are many times that Stealth Suits aren't always available, so firewarriors have to do. I agree that Stealth Suits are the more ideal choice, but as in all forms of warfare on any battlefield, real or fiction, not all situations are ideal.

Agreed, thats when you move from patient hunter tactic, and employ the killing blow tactic. Every Shas'El worth his salt knows that! Or just fall back, which Tau are known to do when they know they can't win. Just fight another day

Yes but as the OP said, this is a specialized force, he even based them off british paras...so Pulse Rifles and armour isn't the point, the camo is.

I agree with all your points by the way, just showing the other side of the coin, the one I think the OP was trying to get at.

In the end, cool minis, and thats all we care about right?

Totally agree that camo would be insignificant with stealth projectors and grav tanks etc, but the point of the game I am developing is to accomplish a mission with a small group of 250 points of stuff while suffering minimal casualties. It is a combination of ttbg and an rpg as the individual models gain experience and you gave to roll to see if you get replacements based off availability...all determined by your success to failure ratio on missions, the better your ratio, the easier it is to requisition. Fire warriors are a dime a dozen, but if you lse a stealth suit. A crisis suit or a pathfinder, they are a little harder to get.

That all being said, since stealth tech isnt there for the "common" fire warrior, they employ camo to aid in their behind the lines tactics to win or at least get to safe territory with their skin intact. They will employ any method to stop detection that they can, no matter how rudimentary or primitive it may be. Any form of visual confusion they can cause is better than wearing blue clothes with red armor draped about them, kinda silly trying to fight a war while dressed for a three ring circus.

That is one qualm I have with much of the 40k universe...unless you are the biggest and baddest, you shouldnt dress like you are. There is a reason only the best WWI Pilots painted thier planes garish schemes...only draw attention to yourself if you can take the heat. Normal front line troops cant afford to walk into the middle of the field dressed in blue and gold, a space marine, next to god in terms of martial prowess, can...he doesnt care who sees him...a fire warrior or a guradsmen on the other hand do not have such a luxury as 3+ armor save...I would dress as conceiling as I could. Thick a$$ armor is all the more camo a marine needs...

You have my respect. An army in tribute to the [/i]Rote tefuel[i]? I would do that except its a bit hard to do red caps with BA.
Exalted

 &theyshallknownofear wrote:
An army in tribute to the Rote teufel [FTFY]? I would do that except its a bit hard to do red caps with BA.

Really? I thought they came standard...









Yeah, I'll leave.

Trow it all away and pick another army, oh and mold lines. But beside that I guess they are painted to a decent standard