A project of epic dimensions: Tau Orca dropship

After painting quite a lot of blue recently (cultists) and being tired of red for some time (Blood Angels for Space Hulk) I have returned to Epic figures for a change. I've been painting around on this dropship since Thursday evening. Man, I am not sure if this thing really came from Forgeworld. The resin colour was odd (rather yellowish) and it was brittle like hell. I had to put some greenstuff in here and there and yet it looks rather aweful. I am not too proud on the paintjob, it looks rather sloppy compared to my normal standard - but it will do the job on 6mm.

Ebay haul arrived. Tiny, tiny bits of metal - a future 6mm project?

Not too long ago I have bid on some micro armour tanks from CinC and GHQ on ebay. To my surprise I won the auction for a reasonable price. I have always wanted to know how good these rather pricey GHQ models really are. To put the long talk short: they are insanely good and crisp casts, given their size. I also bought some CinC models to compare, since GHQ is really expensive compared to other manufacturers of modern micro armour. I think they are also pretty nice models. I don't know what I am going to do with these, probably test Battlefront's Team Yankee with them? Or Cold War Commander?

GHQ's 1/285 M163 VADS anti air gun

GHQ's 1/285 M577 Command APC to the left, CinC's 1/285 M113A1 APC to the right.

GHQ's 1/285M163 VADS front side

CinC's 1/285 M113A1 APC front side. Love the .50cal gunner - so tiny!

A project of epic dimensions: Piranha light attack speeders finished

"The Piranha is a lightly armoured vehicle used by the Tau in a range of capacities, including rapid response, support of pathfinder teams and even as battlefield transport for high-ranking dignitaries."

Those are Forgeworld's (unfortunately OOP) Epic 40k Piranhas. I just finished nine of them :-)

 

 

 

A project of epic dimensions: Tetra scout speeders finished

Ta-daaa! Finished Forgeworld  Epic 40,000 Tau Tetra scout speeders. This time completely with squad markings, sensors and painted "ruby" effect on the markerlight discs on top of the vehicles.

A project of epic dimensions: Tetra scout speeders WIP

I am alive. ;-) Yes, its been a while. Nonetheless work continues on my 6mm Tau army.

Some WIP shots of Forgeworld's Tau Tetra Scout Speeders.

I still need to add the final highlights, squad markings and sensor colours.

A project of epic dimensions: battle suit cadre

After way too much time since the last post here is the completed Crisis Suit Cadre:

5 units of Battle Suits, one upgrade to a Shas'el Commander (for a total of six), Shas'O Supreme Commander up front.

Shas'O (haven't come up with a good name yet - any suggestions?)

The whole units is made with Onslaught Miniatures, except the two commander's shield drones which are Forgeworld's.

The Tau lettering on the back banners is made with parts from old WH40K decals sheets.

I probably spent too much time on these tiny figures, but I am always satisfied when it paid off ;-)

The amount of detail that Onslaught has put on the miniatures is just stunning. I love them.

The Shas'el Commander, leading the Battle Suit Cadre.

Given the close combat weapon that he was modelled with, it probably also could be used for Commander Farsight - but I have no intentions to do so.

A project of epic dimensions: battle suits test piece

"Crisis" battle suit team

First test piece for my battle suit teams

Ok, taking the time that passed since my last post, others would by now probably have finshed the entire formation or more. :-)

But spare time to paint is something that I would really need more of. This is my first test piece of a unit of "Crisis" battle suits, again produced by Onslaught Miniatures.

What do you guys think?

A project of epic dimensions: armored transports

After real life has taking its toll over the last couple of days, progress was rather small. Nonetheless, core formation #1 has been finished by now, with painting its transport tanks.

Again, these are models by Onslaught Miniatures which will "count as" Devilsfish transports.

The core formation of "Firewarriors".

I have raised the whole tank (which is a skimmer) with stripes of plastic card.

Not sure if the large recesses on the side panels are supposed to be windows but I decided to paint them as such.

Even the rear ramps have vision slits.

I didn't go with camo on those transports but I was thinking about adding some to the battle tanks that share the same chassis.

A project of epic dimensions: tiny little "Firewarriors"

So, here they are: my first ever painted 6mm miniatures. Six bases of Tau Firewarriors, using proxy models by Onlsaught Miniatures and a Forgeworld Ethereal (+drones) upgrade.

Ethereal and shield drones

I have added some flock to create little bushes.

Start of my infantry forces for Epic Armageddon.

Their transport tanks are going to be next in line for painting.

A project of epic dimensions: TAU Air Caste support

The Air Caste is lending its support to my Firewarrior ground units:

Manta, Tigershark AX-10, Barracuda Fighters and Orca Dropship

More air units are going to be purchased soon, I just need to get paid for this month first ;-)

A project of epic dimensions: TAU army in 6mm

The begin of yet another project: 6mm TAU for Epic 40k

It's more than 20 years since my mates and I got into the whole tabletop gaming hobby. We started with Warhammer 40,000 (which we still play today), got into Battletech, Necromunda, Blood Bowl, Force On Force, Modern Combat and many others. Most of them we still play from time to time.

The latest game we have decided to build forces for is Epic 40k. Although no longer produced and not supported by GW any longer, it has a huge and living web community that stepped up and took the place that GW left behind when they decided to drop all Specialist Games.

Finding miniatures also wasn't that hard since there is plenty of second hand stuff to be found and a growing amount of little companies that supply some really nice looking 6mm Sci-Fi stuff that can be used as a Epic "look-alike" model.

With that in mind I was aiming for a TAU army. What is shown on the pics is a mix of original Forgeworld Epic TAU miniatures and some Onslaught Miniatures "Okami Technocracy Combine" troops. They mix together quite well I'd say.

Perfect miniatures to be used as "Devilfish" APC.

Forgeworld "Tetra" recon speeders.

Forgeworld's "Piranha" light skimmer.

FW Tau Ethreal with shield drones and flanked with Onslaught miniatures' troopers that are going to be my Fire Warrior Cadre.

Onlaught Miniatures: to the left what is going to be my Shas'O Crisis Commander and a stand with a Battlesuit team to its right. I really love those - they are perfect Tau look-alikes.