Ok guys,

So after the success of this project:
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=13149&start=20

I have decided to start my GD entry (well one of anyway;-) for the diorama catagory!! This, as before, will be a long and tortureous journey, but I thought that I would get it started now and hopefully build some base of input from the great guys here!!

SO, the premise is this:

Think Blackhawk down. After going to turkey last week and seeing the traditional housing style, and the addition of some great cardboard packing from the work computer I figured that I can do a stealth insertion drop into the suburban area of B'ahgd'ad;-)

Think wide un paved street with irregularly placed tatooine style with imperial twang buildings. Very civilian details such as water tankards and solar panels on the roofs with industrial air con and big satellite dishes- plus the possibility of a washing line or 2;-)!! 4 suits dropping down at various heights (possibly in a very matt black that I now have-stealthy!;-)- white or black??
with the lead suit crouched with telescopic antena (appleseed anyone?) peering round a corner at an injured hiding guardsman that has escaped his blown up sentinel in the middle of the street that the suits are moving over. The lead suit has his hand up SWAT style to hold the rest of the suits back, as though they are tracking the scout vehicle sentry stealthily!;-)
OR/ in addition
Rescuing an Aun from a downed escape pod (tigershark style). The pod I would modify from a Piranha.

So what do you think?;-)

Any input with images will be greatly recieved for mood shots, inspirational images and any other cool ideas that you want to throw into the pot!!:-)

I will post a mock up in the next few days!

cheers

The 'WX' class of suit!;-)

Very cool! I could envision this all in my head as you explained it. I'll dive into the old inspiration folder and see what I can find.

I would have to say that a matte black squad of suits would look very cool. Especially if they had blue or purple optics! I'm guessing these are going to be standard suits?

Yup, my suits;-) As I made them, I can use them!;-)

I have already started to mock up some alterations to the base suit that will give them more character and depth!

Cheers for now

W

Warhound :
Both sound like great ideas! I personally think the Stealth drop against the Sentinels would look especially sweet, even having a Fusion Blaster-equipped one actually firing a bolt at one... I agree that a matte black would look very slick, maybe with some dark matte grey accents. Kind of reminds me of my guitar...

Anyway, I'm sure that whatever you decide will look amazing, since it is you working on it! Just keep us posted!

Wait, are you using XV8s or Stealths?

I think I just imagined Stealths in my mind for the diorama, but using the sick XV-8s would make more sense... - ST

The XV8's will be the stock content

They will be ' Box fresh' also in regards to the paint job (straight out of the back of the orca!) with just a mild dusting of weathering powders as they come down through the atmos;-)

Although, I still like the stark/ sharp white (think minus the chipping) that I achieved on the suits. What is the concensus- white or flat matt black (think stealth bomber/ carbon fibre effect)

cheers

W

Is there anyway to set up polls on this site- I can't seem to find the function?

cheers
W

There ya go. It's in the edit page of the first post of the thread.

B E A uuutiful! Nice one Mont'yr!

Can only mods add these or how do I set them up myself as I will be requesting help at various stage?
Currently only mods can set them up, so you'll need to "stay on our good side" to get more polls! - ST

thanks again!

WArHound

Ya know I thought about it and I have to admit that the white color scheme would look way cooler than black. Black might make sense in a military sort of way, but rule of cool would have to win out.

Actually, white might work if the surroundings are a sort of sandy-white kind of color. Obviously it shouldn't be enough that the suits blend in completely, but I think you'll be able to make it work.

Cheers wolfy!

Yes the white against light sandy affair was exactly what I had in mind- again highlighting the clean feel of the Tau vs the urban mess of the geography;-)

I have a few polls going on at the mo, and it seems equal at the moment!

Any other ideas for content/ context/ modelling etc?

cheers
W

I think probably black. I've got an image of a less weathered version of Bruno Rizzo's 'suits, though, so sand and black would be a nice scheme. Though I would either reduce it to a pair of suits or use XV25's. Otherwise it seems a) too big a scene and b) an inefficient use of four suits to take down one scout vehicle. The Tau are very efficient in battle plans.

Ok, after a little chat this arvo, what about this?

The original idea as I say, was that this really is outer edge of a city area with the odd scout/ sentry post. The Sentinel was targetted by a drone and then the suits dropped into the zone and had to dispense of it before they could secure the landing zone for the rest of the unit/ force? They would then use the urban sprawl to hide/ scuttle until they got close enough to launch an assault on key locations.

I hope that makes sense and thats not to say that I don't like the ideas, just that I need to re-explain mine. This will be a very organic project so keep the ideas a coming!!!;-)

I COULD even have the lead suit coming down with the stealth black armour on (to neutralise the threat) being followed by his dayglow white brothers!?;-)

The dimensions are 30 x 30 x 30cm Maximum. This should allow for lots of inflight action/ Roof top antics etc ;-)

what do you think?

cheers
W

Yes I suppose you do have room for more XV8's then... I was expecting a smaller size limit. Perhaps 3? That is, after all, the size of a Crisis Team.
In regards to the scheme, yes, black leader w/ white teammates would be awesome!

Ok, so here is a rough mock up- and I mean rough!;-)

This is purely a loose layout with built in scale registers. As you will see, the cardboard packing has created a very natural effect of the 2 layer square house that is so reminiscent of mediterrainian style housing. They are slightly too tall at the moment. Ignore the bases and the xv88- they wont be there;-)

For the tech detailing please note the boiler on the side of the house- this will be accompanied by reaver titan exhaust vents for ventilation/ extraction, TV satellite dishes, washing lines, solar collectors, but all in an imperial styling. Think out skirt Guev'esa town being reclaimed in a civilian uprising?

There are some shots of the drones that I made and cast also- just because I keep forgetting to post them;-)



Once again ignore the photography, this is purely a sketch;-)











Has anyone got any inspiration shots that they think would help?

Oh, and by the way, I have put a ruler in there for the dimensions, but I may not make this actually square/ cuboid, it may be off set, at an angle etc for extra detail, it will need to be viewed from all angles and a snap shot, but with one view in mind when it comes to telling the story from the authors point of view;-)

cheers

W

Can anyone tell me where my poll went?- It disappeared after I edited my topic title this morning?

cheers

W

Sorry warhound, but I can't seem to find any good inspiration shots .

I like the idea you have shown us here. I think that 4 suits might actually be a little too much when you consider the size of everything. Why did you want to go with 4?

4 is the magic number, no?;-)

Other than that, 3 may be more likely, as my suits are way too big!

Do you like the drones?;-)

cheers
W

Hey Warhound!

Well it's definitely a cool idea but I must say it seems a bit too big. I think by making the buildings taller and brining them closer it will make a kind of claustrophobic feel.

Will there be more than one guardsman? And I wouldn't have the guardsmen injured either - it makes the Tau look kind of merciless. Raw power is more impressive against an uninjured foe

Love the tank that the guardsman is hiding behind!

The drones turned out OK although it looks like they'll need a lot of cleanup...

Maybe you can get some inspiration from these?

I have to comment on the orange and white crisis suit in the foreground, the XV88. He looks incredible. Have you considered entering him into a Golden Demon by himself? He would need some clean-up around the barrels of his weapons systems, imo, but perhaps something you should consider.