I don't usually comment a lot about paintworks, but had to pop in here to say that I'm loving the job you've done with the conversions and the painting. Really good stuff without being too busy. Keep it up.

oooooh I like that, have you got any pre-paint shots of it to show off?

Cheers

Must add how great those weathering effects worked on your scheme. This is a solid collection of models and the lone XV8 showcased a few days ago proved out the new techniques.

How goes that XV8 hybrid conversion?

- Tael.

Thank you for the comments,

Now I have my apocalypse game out of the way, I can get back to some serious modelling.
The game followed by my usual "get carried away blowing stuff up" pattern and our side lost at the last minute by one objective to a sneaky trukk. Tigershark 10' templates and markerlights are super sweet vs Ork Boyz though, 2 shots on 2 consecutive turns reduced nearly 60 of them to green mist.
I also have to paint a Fighta Bomma kill marking on my Barracuda canopy.

Maxxev:
You are in West Sussex? I live in Brighton sorry, no shots without paint. The Kroot was something that I knocked up one afternoon and is kind of a "mark 1" It's something I want to re-visit soon and make a cleaner looking model.

Tael:
I am currently stuck on the design of the lower legs and torso of the XV8 scratchbuild and will post some sketches and designs for feedback and advice. I am not sure whether to go for something reminiscent of the current XV8 feet, or the stealth suit hooves, or a mix of the two.

Cheers.

Mu'Kau

Dang it!

That's twice this thread has popped up and I got all excited...

No-one is allowed to post in this thread until it is updated with new pictures!

Hello ATT,

I realised that I shouldnt go on with the XV8 scratchbuild without doing some drawing first. So here is the design for the XV8 "Blitz" battlesuit I drew at work on my lunchbreak. I would appreciate comments, as I'm not sure what to do with the lower legs and feet at the moment. Better pics tomorrow when I remember to email the drawing files to myself in a format that my home computer can read

Right. Design finalised, Templates ready to cut more parts. Add a dash of fluff:

XV8 Blitz:

The XV8 "Blitz" battlesuit is a very recent class 8 xor'vesa that has seen limited deployment with the T'au sept contingents on the Gue'la frontier as fighting has continued to escalate. From the same Earth caste design team as the more famous XV9 "Hazard" close support armour, the Blitz was intended as a rapid response unit to work alongside the larger suits, and the prototype shared the integrated vectored retro thrusters and photon casters of its bigger brother. There is also a high degree of parts commonality between the powerplants and secondary systems of both designs.

Unfortunately, the original XV8 Blitz, like the more specialised XV8 Avalanche, XV8 Cavalcade, and a number of other designs before it, failed to outperform the current version of the venerable XV8 Crisis to a degree that justified the increase in production costs. The boxy and easy to manufacture Crisis suit maintains its position as the primary XV suit of the Tau military.

However, the numbers of XV9 Hazard battlesuits in service steadily increasing means that redesigned production level Blitz suits, minus the complex retrothruster and photon systems, are beginning to be seen in front line cadres. It seems that the suit has now been adopted in limited numbers by cadres that also use the Hazard, as the logistical issues inherent to operating multiple designs are lessened.

The XV8 Blitz is the same size as the XV8 Crisis, and has 2 weapon hardpoints on the arms. The high performance engines do not allow for shoulder mounted weapons or support subystems. Instead, support hardware can be attached to a quick release rack in the left hand side of the torso. The engines give the Blitz a very high power to weight ratio and were designed with optional turbothruster or maneuvering jets in mind. The upper engine blocks even retain the mountings for the extra turbothrusters under access panels. The rear crew hatch between the engine mountings is larger than on the crisis suit, and the cockpit includes an integrated ejection system. In an emergency, the engines are jetissoned to either side if the ejection system is activated or the hatch bolts are blown, in order to reduce risk of further injury to the pilot.




More as I build.

Mu'Kau

Hello ATT,

Unfortunately, real life has been getting in the way lately and my Tau have been languishing in the drawer under the bed. But in the last few weeks, I have been able to do some work and I have the bug again. Ive made a little progress on the suit build and have the torso mostly finished. However, I am unhappy with it apart from the head. So I had a re-think and I'm going to take inspiration more from the curvy design of the current stealth suit.

While I think what I have is OK, It is a little blocky still and I want to push myself a bit.

I Have settled for this as a semi final design.
I am looking for constructive criticism/scribbles over the top of this to really nail down something cool.

Help me out talented ATT people!

Mu'kau

He's looking really good can't wait to see the finally product. I understand what you mean about getting the bug. I got it when I picked up up a few XV-15 and Broadside models from a friend. I decided to continue to work on my Custom R'myr

That is a fantastic piece of conceptual art. You're truly talented.

The hardest part I see on that model, is creating the recessed looking head, in which its sitting within the chest cavity. BUT, it looks as if you'll be more than capable of pulling it off, as that head is spot on.

Keep on trucking with it.

Ma'Kau -What I really like about that XV8 drawing is that his rounded torso really helps draw a visual similarity with XV25s and kind of unify the style of battlesuits. Oh, and the feet do that too.

The fruits of my other tau labours. A Stealth optimised Devilfish for apocalypse. (Will be used for a regular pathfinder devilfish in normal games) Blocked up the front window with greenstuff and replaced the cupola with a gun drone that I smoothed the top of. Burst cannon from a stealthsuit like my other pathfinder fish (normal ones have XV8 burst cannons) aerial represents marker beacon, shield generator on hull represents disruption pod, fusion blaster cannister represents vertical launched rotary flechette launcher. I replaced the little button roundels with the split (gold) kind found on stealth suits and pulse rifle barrels to represent the stealth optimisation. I see these as field projectors used to extend the stealth field (Stealth suits) dampen engine signatures (XV8) and act as a flash supressor on the rifles. Now I just need to find some spare marker drones.

Mu'kau

First of all, that is one of the best concept sketches I have ever seen, great job on that. If you manage to create that out of scratch, you will be instantly promoted to my personal superhero

The devilfish is really nice too, I like the small conversions, gives it that little extra touch. but... where are the huge red sept markings
Kern

I really like that concept art. I think the curved, stealthy design strongly emphasizes speed, which an XV8 needs to survive. How will the arm weapons be mounted? I feel like underslung weapons is the best way to go in this instance.

The converted Devilfish also fits the Pathfinder theme really well. The minor modifications make all the difference and give it a great look.

Thanks for the comments guys, I'm going to show a lot more WIP from now on. This is what I've got so far (started this morning)



Just finished blocking out the main shapes, I've slimmed down the body to make it more sleek and fast looking. Temporary legs and support column. I might keep this head or slim it down some more. Is it bad to post twice in one day? Please let me know and I will just edit the first one in future, I'm just so psyched about this sculpt I couldnt wait.

Mu'kau.

Hahaha well* this is your thread and other people have posted after you so I would say yes. However I'm only a Shas'la so don't quote me. Your custom suit is looking beast and everything a Shas'O should be

Very nice, very nice. What bits did you use for the torso/head region? I don't recall seeing that particular shape anywhere. I must say, I really love the head and especially the huge but streamlined shoulder vents. The only thing I'm not a big fan of right now is where the stomach/hips areas meet. Maybe it's just the big hunk of sprue stuck in there for support, but I think his stomach sticks out to far (battlesuit pot belly?). Also, I know the legs are temporary, but I don't see the really nice hips you had in your concept sketch. Once again, may just be the temporary support in the middle of everything. Really looking forward to seeing where this goes. Excellent work so far; I haven't had time to touch my minis in months, so I'm rather jealous of your progress .

So long as you are adding value to your thread, and you're not double-posting, posting twice in one day is absolutely fine.

As for adding value? That is some pretty fine sculpting work there. The shapes are dead on. I look forward to seeing it get refined and further worked!

Excellent work so far. I've been dying to redo my stealth suit from ways back, let me dredge up the concept photo I found earlier this year;



My main like is the legs and upper body. Trying to tau-ify that would have been fun. Really enjoy the stealth suits aesthetic you have going in your version however. Looking forward to progress shots

The pathfinder fish is great, all the small changes are spot on. Completely agree about the stealth burst cannon.

- Tael.

Hello once again,

Work and travel have kept me from my sculpting stuff these last few months, but fortunately, paints and individual models are far more portable. Here are my latest reinforcements. I have changed basing style on the army recently, and gone over some old units with extra Tausept oche sept markings and glowy lenses to make the army appear brighter. I may just have found out how to take a half decent photo too

R'alai


XV9's


Improved fire warriors


Sept markings


Kroot


Gun drones


Forgeworld Broadside


Fireknife team


Improved Devilfish


Improved hammerhead


Skyray (Nearly finished)


Remora


More painting soon. I have been recently distracted by both normal and dark pointy eared ones.

Mu'Kau