Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Finally finished one of my personal Tau models and Austin over at Brush 4 Hire snagged some photos for me. I hope everyone enjoys:






To see more of my work feel free to check out my gallery here:
http://jstncloud.deviantart.com/gallery/

If you might be interested in getting any commission work done please check us out over at Brush 4 Hire:
https://www.facebook.com/Brush4HireMiniatures

Wow I love the detail on the shield! Over all a real nice paint scheme too, not too bland but it doesn't jump up and bite you in the eyes which is nice.

Sweet lightning effect on the shield! It really sets the whole mini off!

I think a lot of this model looks good, however it also falls into the trend of over exaggerated OSL, a lot of the stuff along the side and barrel of the gun a bit over the top and completely against how the light would actually travel.

I will give specific examples so I don't sound like a total @$$. The two pieces on the sides of the chest plate, if the glow is supposed to be sourced from the center of these pieces, the light would not bleed out over the edge in the way that it currently is, the hard edges there would actually create shadows and force the light in an outward manner, not out onto the edges of the pieces, there would be a faint glow on the very inside edge but definitely not out across the entire edge surface.

The Ion gun, if it is intended that the barrel is glowing, once again the hard edges around the cutouts on the barrel would glow but it would not broadcast across the barrel in such a way as it currently does and certainly not as extreme as it would appear to be, the edges of the light should be darker than the source of the light.

Backpack exhaust, This follows the same trend as above, the source of the light should be the inside of the exhaust ports and would not blast out onto the outside of the ports, the inside should be the brightest source of light and then just slightly onto the edges.

I cannot tell what is supposed to be the source of the light on the back piece, so I can't make comment toward that.

I hope this dose not come off as being too much of a dick, I just think this is a developing trend in the miniatures world that is being taken to extremes because of a lack of studying on how light will/should travel.

as a side note I do think the scheme is very well done and that the lightning effects are top notch! Also the sept markings are very well executed.

 Brokksamson wrote:
I think a lot of this model looks good, however it also falls into the trend of over exaggerated OSL, a lot of the stuff along the side and barrel of the gun a bit over the top and completely against how the light would actually travel.

I will give specific examples so I don't sound like a total @$$. The two pieces on the sides of the chest plate, if the glow is supposed to be sourced from the center of these pieces, the light would not bleed out over the edge in the way that it currently is, the hard edges there would actually create shadows and force the light in an outward manner, not out onto the edges of the pieces, there would be a faint glow on the very inside edge but definitely not out across the entire edge surface.

The Ion gun, if it is intended that the barrel is glowing, once again the hard edges around the cutouts on the barrel would glow but it would not broadcast across the barrel in such a way as it currently does and certainly not as extreme as it would appear to be, the edges of the light should be darker than the source of the light.

Backpack exhaust, This follows the same trend as above, the source of the light should be the inside of the exhaust ports and would not blast out onto the outside of the ports, the inside should be the brightest source of light and then just slightly onto the edges.

I cannot tell what is supposed to be the source of the light on the back piece, so I can't make comment toward that.

I hope this dose not come off as being too much of a dick, I just think this is a developing trend in the miniatures world that is being taken to extremes because of a lack of studying on how light will/should travel.

as a side note I do think the scheme is very well done and that the lightning effects are top notch! Also the sept markings are very well executed.

Thanks for the comment, generally I just assume that a) plasma weapons would have more than light aka superheated particles hence the gun being bright and b) the jets and sources of light are so hot I just assume that the underlying metal would be heated to an extreme as well. Perhaps not driven home to the extent I envision it in my mind but given the fact I've only been painting miniatures since 2010 and I've only been using an air brush for around 3-4 months I am quite pleased with how far I have come in such a short period of time.

Right now I feel my Tau look amazing, but and a big BUT, I once thought that about my Ultramarines and then I replaced basically all of them and re-did my army. So what I feel is good now may have a shadow cast upon it in a year.

Love it! I really am digging the lightning/energy going all of the place. It makes what I feel is a boring model into something interesting to look at.

 UnCool Villain wrote:
Love it! I really am digging the lightning/energy going all of the place. It makes what I feel is a boring model into something interesting to look at.

Thanks, while I honestly like the model, I still cannot get past how dang small the head is -.-

I'm so jealous of the freehand lightning effects and runes/signs/whatever they are called on the top of the chest.....My freehand is poop!

AngelusMortis wrote:
I'm so jealous of the freehand lightning effects and runes/signs/whatever they are called on the top of the chest.....My freehand is poop!

I wish I could take credit for the markings but they are decals. Micro Set (http://www.microscale.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=MI-1) and Micro Sol (http://www.microscale.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=MD&Product_Code=MI-2&Product_Count=&Category_Code=) are the real winners on the 'make decals not look like decals' department. Hope that helps you

It looks great i wouldnt change a thing.