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Looking for some advice on where to go with an unusual army theme.  First, a bit of background...

I started up a Tau army several years ago when they were first released and enjoyed them quite a bit tactically, modeling and fluff-wise.  After a while, though, I wanted something different to mess around with.  The Damocles stuff occurred around that time, so I figured I'd go for an IG army themed after one of the units that joined the Tau.  IG list and all with Tau flavor added throughout.  My modeling/painting ability has always been mediocre, but I came up with a few decent ideas:

Heavy weapons teams (missile launcher, lascannon, heavy bolter):



Sentinal (attach various weapons to the magnet on the shoulder):



And my current project, "Rough Riders".  Not sure which way I want to go on this one...


I'd always focused more on the wargaming side of things in the past, but now that I'm older I'm finding I'm willing to put some extra time and effort into an army to make it look really nice and unique.  I'm also much better PAID than I used to be, so that helps, too...

It sounds like they might be starting up an escalation league in my area, so this presents the perfect opportunity to start a clean army with my new focus on modeling in mind (I couldn't stand going back an repainting all my current stuff!).  I still wanted to keep with a Tau-theme somehow, but I wanted a new army for a tactical challenge.

During a game with my IG last week, I deepstruck some plasma-gun armed vets, and one of them (of course) burned himself and died while firing.  The guy was modeled using a tau plasma gun, and we were joking about how the Tau would give the troops advanced (but safe) technology, but the humans would remove the regulators on everything to get the most power out of them.  So, what would be the logical next step for a human army that really corrupted Tau technology to get the most out of it?

I figure they'd end up fighting a lot like dark eldar.  Very mobile and very shooty.  I think it would be fun tactically, as it's different than I'm used to, but I need some advice on how best to tweak IG and Tau models to meet the needs of what I'll need in a Dark Eldar army. 

For example, I think the piranha is probably the most appropriate vehicle chassis to use, and it should be easy to convert into a ravager (replace the drones and chin gun with what I use for dark lances/disentegrators), but I think it might be too short for a raider?

How about heavy weapons?  Modifying railrifles seems most appropriate.  Maybe hook a railrifle up to a lascannon pack to an extra boost in power to act as a dark lance?  Put three together like a large gatling-gun to be a disentegrator? 

Those might be kind of large for a regular model in a squad to carry, so I could mount them on drones (like my IG), but the drones need to represent DE stats to some extent.  Maybe stick a target lock on top to simulate an aiming aid, and "weld" a few blades on it to enhance its melee ability?

Trying to get IG troops to represent DE soldiers is probably the toughest challenge.  The increase in BS and WS isn't too big an issue, as vets and other humans can have similar stats.  Armor is the same, and the standard lasgun can have a simple wire added to make it look like a helgun, which has the same stats as the splinter rifle.  Going for initiative 5 and fleet is a challenge...I've got a few ideas, and maybe I'll make a test of one, but I'm curious to see how others would approach this.

Eldar jetbikes are tempting to use, too...they're aren't Tau, but they look very similar to Tau vehicles.  That, or maybe the Tau pope-mo-skimmer for characters....

My apologies if the above is a little long-winded and vague.  I'm hoping you more experienced modelers will be able to help me avoid starting off on really difficult conversion projects when simpler solutions may exist.

There..pictures above are working now. Yeah!

first of all....nice idea you've git there. but you need to do A LOT more work. the heavy weapons look nice for a concept, but I wouldn't use them like that on the field. maybe you could add some wires from the the third guy to his drone. I also reckomend using shorter flying poles. and you need to work on those bases. if they are that big you should put at least some sand or rubble on them.
the walkers are a nice touch, considering that Tau are a bit smaller then humans, so they would fit right into the suit.

the rough riders are...sorry buddy, just stupid. maybe for shocktroopers and grav-parachute thingys, but not as rough riders. sadly, I can't think on anythin different for them right now.

I think the heavy weapons need to be on a base that size, as that's what the teams come on ever since the cadians came out. As for bringing them on the table as they are...you're lucky to face an all painted army most of the time, so they look pretty good around here!

You're right, though...there is a lot of empty space there that could be much better utilized. At the time, I was (as mentioned above) more in the "get it painted so I can play" mentality than making really excellent conversions. The Sentinal was actually the first conversion I put any real effort into, and after seeing all the great armies on here, I decided I should put some time and effort into something exceptional as well. Hence the post looking for some advice on which direction to take on my DE.

Yeah, the roughriders are a bit "rough" =) Someone at the store recommended a harness that hangs from the drone that the guy is strapped into (kind of like a parachute). I don't know...drones seem like the logical thing humans would use, just need to find the best way to do it. Strapped on the back but more upright like a jetpack? Sigh...

Heavy weapons are on a base that large because it is two models based together "for convenience" in the words of the codex. The models on that base are just two guardsman. Guardsman normally come on the small round bases. Therefore, IMO, you can place the heavy weapons on small round bases (one guardsman per base, obviously).

The HW teams are cute, and actually work fairly well. They mostly just look funny because of the size of the bases, as mentioned. Some terrain, or just rebasing as separate models, should solve it.

Am I looking at this wrong, or is the Sentinel an IG head stuck on Crisis Suit? I don't think that's the way to go. If you really want an exposed head, you should probably use a closed-helmeted model. It would stick out less.

The Rough Riders are loltastic, sorry! Is there a particular reason you don't want to just use Tau jump packs? You can bit order the Stealth Suit ones. Those should go fine. If you'd rather stick with the drone bodies, maybe you could attach them to the backs, but just have the models standing upright instead of trying to depict them in flight. I would also try to stay away from using leftover sprue in models.

Posted By tegeus-Cromis on 06/18/2007 7:01 AM
The HW teams are cute, and actually work fairly well. They mostly just look funny because of the size of the bases, as mentioned. Some terrain, or just rebasing as separate models, should solve it.

Am I looking at this wrong, or is the Sentinel an IG head stuck on Crisis Suit? I don't think that's the way to go. If you really want an exposed head, you should probably use a closed-helmeted model. It would stick out less.

The Rough Riders are loltastic, sorry! Is there a particular reason you don't want to just use Tau jump packs? You can bit order the Stealth Suit ones. Those should go fine. If you'd rather stick with the drone bodies, maybe you could attach them to the backs, but just have the models standing upright instead of trying to depict them in flight. I would also try to stay away from using leftover sprue in models.

The sentinal photo angle is kind of bad, I guess.  I actually hollowed out a cockpit inside the body and put an IG vehicle commander inside.  Stuck the extra-large backpack (I think from the vehicle sprue?) on the back of the suit.  Fits perfectly and looks good.

I know the rough riders are a bit silly...I wanted something mildly humorous, although not terrible looking.  I wasn't planning on using sprue for all of them...just wanted to see how it would look if I did the drones "Segway" style. 

I considered the backpacks (stealth or drones), but then the models look a lot like infantry.  I like converted armies, but it sucks when you face one and a unit that looks like one thing (infantry in this case) acts as another (cavalry).  Sure, I'd explain it before hand, but it would be easy to overlook.  The drones at least have them "riding" something....tough to figure out a way to make it look right, though.

Which leads into my problem using humans as models for a DE list.  Most of the other stuff I can come up with solutions for, but how do I make a guardsman look initiative 5 and fleet?

Posted By Grimaldi on 06/18/2007 10:11 AM

Which leads into my problem using humans as models for a DE list.  Most of the other stuff I can come up with solutions for, but how do I make a guardsman look initiative 5 and fleet?

Amphetamines and rollerblades, imo.  I'm not sure how you model amphetamines, though....

Posted By Balzac on 06/18/2007 10:30 AM

Posted By Grimaldi on 06/18/2007 10:11 AM

Which leads into my problem using humans as models for a DE list.  Most of the other stuff I can come up with solutions for, but how do I make a guardsman look initiative 5 and fleet?

Amphetamines and rollerblades, imo.  I'm not sure how you model amphetamines, though....

I could smooth out some Tau/IG grenade and paint a REALLY small prescription on the side...

Ah, okay. Like you said, it must be the camera angle.

I honestly think that if your opponent forgets what they are after you tell him explicitly what they count as, that's his problem. With their lances and all, they'll look pretty distinctive. I wouldn't dream of complaining about such a thing if I were your opponent.

with the drones, make them like the middle one, that looks the coolest and makes the most sense. and model some sort of harness to make it look like hes actually attached to it. As for making them appear to have initiative 5 and fleet, you could give them bionic upgradesm, Bionic eyes and legs perhaps. maybe some sort of visor over the faces like the power meter thingys in the early dragon ball Z stuff. not sure about legs though, if you get desperate you could just paint them silver. I dont recommend that path though.

maybe necron warrior parts to represent I5 & fleet ?

Your paint looks rather thick. Try thining it on the back of a credit card with some water; trust me it really really helps. The idea is freaking awesome. I really like the model that is fixing one of the drones.

Posted By Datadep5 on 06/22/2007 8:35 PM
Your paint looks rather thick. Try thining it on the back of a credit card with some water; trust me it really really helps. The idea is freaking awesome. I really like the model that is fixing one of the drones.

I've started reading through the modeling forum here as part of my new army production, and painting is something I'm really focusing on.  The original strategy was "paint it on thick so you don't have to do it twice, especially with light colors".  Now that I'm going for something a little sharper, I'm trying to water down my paints and apply multiple coats.  It's tough, but hopefully it'll turn out better.  I'll probably give highlighting a try, too.