40K Online
The Armies of 40k => Tau Empire => Topic started by: Joell_x on March 25, 2013, 10:58:57 PM
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So guys, what's your favorite colour scheme for tau? It can't be the yellow/beige GW throw out way. I personally preffer a skull white main, shadow grey backing scheme.
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I do a light gray with dark gray tiger stripes for the larger sections and then black for the smaller parts. Add in some white and silver highlights and it looks pretty damned good.
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I use dark green body armour, brown cloth, black shin armour and weapon bodies and bright red for unit markings and light sources
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Okay. Both sound pretty interesting. I do like using tones when dry brushing gives the natural effect. Of course that comes down to if you can paint well. Skull white I'd recommend to any tau newbie. It just requires a few coats.
As for defining units, or even unit markings I leave it all the same for the warriors. The only differentiation when I define units is by doing the helmet of the commanding unit a different colour. Usually something bright and bold.
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This thread is crying out for some photos. Here are my latest Tau models, finished this week:
(https://www.40konline.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm9.staticflickr.com%2F8389%2F8594961065_ede420f3f4_c.jpg&hash=78645db2768d07e1ba07473428c7f0678feb4e0d)
My scheme is based on the image of the Bork'an Sept in the (soon to be outdated) codex. I use the following paint scheme:
-White spray undercoat.
-Base coat of Fenrisian Grey, Dawnstone and Abaddon Black.
-Nuln oil to shade.
-White scar to highlight.
-Sotek Green for markings (many of which are painted-over transfers)
-Flash Gitz Yellow and Evil Sunz Scarlet for glowing lights
I use markings in my Sept colour to mark out squad leaders etc. I started by using different markings on each squad of 12 Fire Warriors, but in practice I don't always field them in 12s, so it doesn't really matter on the table.
If anyone is interested in seeing some more, they are in this set (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jjtweed/sets/72157629075174036/) on Flickr.
Personally, I don't find the drybrushing really works for many Tau models - too many flat or lightly curved armour panels. I use edge-highlighting for these with a detail brush.
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Thanks bud, I really do like your scheme. As I said I like a white main for ray. The highlights come out fantastically. Mixed with the dark used look I think you have a winner there. I may steal your no dry brushing tech. Thanks for the detailed reply , much appreciated.
If anyone has a bright vibrant colored army, or even a select few models, get them up an posted.
Cheers all
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Here's a distance shot of one of my armies. Gives you an idea of the color scheme, anyway. I am nowhere near the painter Plastikente is, but they do look pretty good.
(https://www.40konline.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi189.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fz81%2Faahabershaw%2FTau-Eldar1500%2FIMG_0124_zpscb737dc3.jpg&hash=86e79ba969076e788743ccf8765497e45852b063)
Closer shot of a Devilfish and some Firewarriors:
(https://www.40konline.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi189.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fz81%2Faahabershaw%2FTau-Orks-5thed%2FIMG_1722.jpg&hash=663c4142a3484a22daabce141996a496fa43e6bc)
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I may steal your no dry brushing tech.
It's not quite no-drybrushing, but I think I only do the cloth undersuits on Fire Warriors, because the creases and ridges lend themselves to it.
@Wyddr: I like the tiger-stripes, and the colour scheme overall. I know it's not white, but it definitely puts me in mind of (Star Wars) Imperial Stormtroopers.
I don't tend to do bright colour schemes in my armies. As a rule, I like dark tones, but my Tau were a deliberate attempt to try a light scheme for something new. Fluff-wise, Tau supposedly use appropriate colours for their fighting environment, rather than bright heraldry like SMurfs (which doesn't mean you can't do it if you want to). Even so, I think you can justify dusty red (mars-like) or blue (as in the last codex - supposedly an urban camo). Or even lime green and fluorescent pink for the luminous carnivorous jungles of some death world ;D It's a big galaxy...
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I have a really hard time coming up with a color scheme for my Tau. I inherited tons of them all unpainted and need to come up with something. I love what other people have done just cant seem to find the "light bulb" I need to paint them.
By Tons Here is a list from Memory
6 DF
18 Battle Suits
9 XV-88
40 - tau Warriors
3- Hammer Heads
1 Sky Ray
1 - squad of Kroot w/ beast
5 - stealth Units (metal)
1- Commander XV 8
1 - Pirhana
Drones - loads
I need inspiration ;)
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@Wyddr: I like the tiger-stripes, and the colour scheme overall. I know it's not white, but it definitely puts me in mind of (Star Wars) Imperial Stormtroopers.
Thanks! I was going for something stormtrooper-y, but not obviously so. Also the dark gray-on-light gray is to some extend inspired by sharks/dolphins, which I thought fitting for the Tau given their aquatic themed vehicles.
Yeah, Tau are great for camoflage/interesting patterns. All those wide spaces and smooth plates on their models really lend themselves to interesting paint schemes.
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I like the default colours. However i think all the flat panels need to be shaded and not just edge highlighted as per GW style.
Panels facing the sun/light source have to be ligher and panels underneath/ in shadow have to br sccordingly darker.
This takes a lot of time and i guess they are just trying to keep everything a conistent theme with the older default colour scheme.
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Where to start. Where to start. Thanks for all replies its very interesting.
Honestly when I first painted a tau army I used a Shadow grey main cover coat. The bi found that using a chaos black backing in some of the armour came out awesome. I wish I had pictures.
I fiud that the fire warriors looked much better than any vehicles I had done. The detail on the hammerheads etc. I find very lacking where's as all the intricacies with the troops really stand out. Even more so when you have a dark base colour.
Cheers all
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Sa'cea - grey with orange markings.
This is pretty much the sole reason why I decided to start a Tau army.
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Ill post the pics of some of my painted stuff thus week although i dont have a single unifying colour scheme several smaller groups in different patterns but ill show and see what people think
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Mine are white, red, blue, yellow, and grey.
White is the helmet, bracers, antenna, back of the glove, belly armour, belt, bottom of the codpeice, thigh armour and greaves,
Red are the helmet lens housing, flat portion of the shield, lower half of the breastplate, top half of the codpeice, and the hoof sections of the feet.
Blue is the upper breastplate.
Yellow is the helmet lens, Fire Caste insignia on the shield, and gyro on the pulse weapon.
Grey is the backpack, majority of the rifle, and cloth.
Also known as Gundam Prototype Colours, or Gundam Parade Colours. Combat colours are typically blue and white or bone, as per the Nu, Alex, GP, etc, etc... It's just that most series start with the protagonist hijacking a prototype.