Thanks minamoto,

I am still pondering on which details do add and which to leave.

For the 'eye-slit' I am thinking for something more Tau'ish, like some lenses, the pilot won't turn his head to peep through that slit, he will change from helmet-cam to shield cam.

About the size, I would like to wait until I have a suit posed and equipped with the chainsword to see if it really is to tall, but I could try to build a smaller shield without the 'nipples' and try out the other suggestions. (and since I really enjoy working with plasticard, it will be a fun training) I might try out making it look mor Tau-ish with pannellines and such.

On a sidenote, I decided to NOT use Piranha nor Devilfish parts for my Chimaera, I will try to build my own parts from plasticard. ... when I finally get a Chimera kit.

I don't know Che, I'm really not sure about the size of that thing. What you have to remember is that something that large will completely block the view to your commander. Is he just going to be holding it at his side? Will the chainsword be just in his other hand, straight up and down?

As for the shield details, I think it would be cool have some kind of high tech sensor on it that would be where he is looking out of. But that raises and aesthetic problem. Is this supposed to be Tau tech or recovered Imperial tech? Once you start adding Tau parts to something that doesn't share Tau design aesthetics, then it can start to look slapped on. The Tau symbols you added are done well, but I agree with minamoto in that it needs to be one or the other. The Bird symbol and the BT shield all look cool, but having 4 symbol in one small space looks a little distracting.

But before I give some ideas, I wanted to be sure whether this is Tau tech or simply an improvised tool taken from a wrecked vehicle.

But I have to give you huge props man. I struggle with plasticard, so it's great to see what you can do with it! Hope I don't sound like I'm just being difficult, but I want to try to give some constructive criticism.

Well it was planned to be 'looted' since his chainsword is also 'looted'.

But your objections (Wolfs16's and minamoto's) have convinced me now, I will turn the door into a terrain piece and detail it more to a SM like.

What do you guys think about this shape/look?



I am planning on bending the rim's to avoid the flat look.

What do you guys think? (I am absolutely open for other shape/detail suggestions)

Now there ya go! I like where that it going! It's got a Tau aesthetic and it fits the role of a shield much better. Perhaps in his fluff you can say that he originally used a makeshift door from an Imp vehicle, but later swapped it out for a nice Tau version.

Ohh if you build this as a terrain piece, you could do it like those big japanes shields used during medieval ages. I think Tael did somehting similar in firewarrior size made of a dfih's landinggear.
So it would be some great effort and nice looking terrain if you do 5 - 10 these.

For your Suit I'd just develop a smaller version. And I really like your sketch design, as for Wolf, it looks very Tau to me. And I like how you integrated the optics will be a nice touch.

Can any one please provide a link to Tael's gallery? In particular to the "Ashigaru-Shield-Thingy"?

merged minamoto's doublepost -Che

Okay, some updates on the Landraider door:



Here is some WIP shot of the new shield of Farsight and I can only repeat my advice, either print out a template or draw it on a piece of paper because it sucks to draw on plasticard.



Size comparison with the door.



Now I only have to find the right way to bend the edges.

Do you want the whole thing curved or the edges kinda bent at an angle? For the first, use some blutac to fix the shield to a lightly curved object and put rubber bands around it until it fits the curve then leave it for a bit. For the angled edges try scoring the shield then bending it so it doesn't snap (hard to do) then fill the gaps with GS.

Thank you TiH,



that is propably what I am going to do, but I still have to ponder on which point (how far to the edge) I will bend it.

Something you might want to try for your new (more tau-ish) shield is use the plasticard in layers. It's what i did to make the template for my own Shas'O's samurai-like legplates. Instead of cutting into the shield and possibly compromising it's integrity, use the shield you've already got as a template, then try to cut out (on thinner sheets of 'card if you've got any) the shapes of the different panels/plates that you plan on having. Once you've gut them out lay them on your shield template to file/adjust to fit on more neatly and to accentuate the panel lines, giving you a neat recess without having to cut them out.

Sadly, I do not have thinner plasticard but next time I get plasticard, I will get me some thicker and some thinner sheets for various purposes.

I scored, scraped and carved the shield on the front and back side to bend the edges, I do not have pictures of the changes, but a Paint-foo'd picture to explain it:



one side snapped but glue is holding it in its place now!

I will fill the gaps with GS as soon as possible and carve out the panel lines. After that, I remove the paper-template, go over the piece with sandpaper and am nearly done.

EDIT:



now it's time for greenstuffing!

Here is a short update of the detailing to show you guys that I am still working on this:

STOP! Update Time.

Some blurry pictures of my finally finished project, finished in means of modelling, still have to paint this guy:





I am looking forward to hear your thoughts about the, yet unnamed, Farsight count-as.

Che, what tool do you use to score your panel lines? I use a file, the very edge of it or a corner where there is a burr from the manufacturing process. I found actual scribing tools too unwieldy, and the back blade of knives too dangerous (I have a history of being in the same room as a hobby blade and somehow getting nicked ).

I once used a rotary tool to try and dig panel lines out of a project I was creating, but the disc shattered and nearly embedded itself in my eye. Sometimes, failure means learning right?

I am looking forward to seeing this unique and brave conversion with some paint on it, maybe i'll borrow the idea with your blessing?

modelglue

I use a knife. I'll post a picture of it later so you can see what kind of knife it is.




Absolutely, I once cut into my thumb while cutting a bit out of a sprue, I was unable to hold something properly for a couple of days because the thumb hurt even under a little pressure.



I'll do my very best to paint it soon.



I am looking forward to see your progress.

Che the shield looks awesome. I can't wait to see this guy painted too.

For your thumb I feel for it. One thing that I ended up doing to protect my poor thumb was to cut off the thumb of a leather glove. I now wear the thumb part when ever I try cutting something. Also if it's a little lose tape it to your thumb for the moment, It may be a pain to get off but you won't be cutting your thumb wide open any more. Oh by the way if you do use this idea get a heavy duty glove, the thin ones just don't last.

That is some really well done stuff Che! Clearly you have leveled up in your absence as your avatar is complete and your modeling skills have really improved.

The shield looks great and is very Tau-like in nature. I like the addition of the Tau symbol and the Target lock as a view port. The big chain sword is looking rather nasty too! Keep it up man!

Honours for the Avatar go to LordDirk (drawing) and Tael (colouring) with a big thanks from me.

For O'Shova, I have to say, that I am quite happy that he turned out (to 90%) the way I wanted him, the Suit is now Base-coated in Chaos Black but I'll be busy in the 'Enemies' section for now before I paint him.

I was not really absent, I was more on a quest for my motivation.

UPDATE:

Here is a little update of my WIP Painting of O'Shova

Nice progress! Make sure to put some sept markings on that shield!

Are you going to fill in that gap on the left side?

Yes, there will be sept markings and I think, that I'll add a 'Talisserra-Blade' from the decall-sheet, since that ritual seems to have a special meaning to O'Shova.

I am not sure about what I'll do to that gap.

So, time for an update:

I got myself a Barracuda:



It looks like there are no air-bubbles and only minor miscasts, so no big deal.

Further I got an XV88-2 and an XV84 pictures of those will follow.