Lengthy Introduction (feel free to skip):
Hey guys, figured I'd finally start documenting my 40k stuff here. As implied by the title, I mainly collect Tau or Imperials. Tau were my first 40k army, and I've got a fair few models from ebay and the like to try and shoehorn into a working army. Got into Imperials through Gue'Vesa (human traitors who joned the Tau) but am now so immersed into the Imperial Guard that they'll hopefully become a seperate force. Also own the Space Marines from AoBR and BfM which I've still got to paint. Thinking of going Space Wolves, though getting the plastics to fit in might be annoying. Finally, to unify my Imperial forces I aim to create an Inquisitor and retinue (which can be used with either army list). More for storyline and fun rather than competitivness.

But to start this, I'll begin with what brought me into 40k, the Tau. Maybe somewhat foolishly, I've entered the Tale of 40k Gamers on Warseer, so shall be endeavouring to complete roughly 150 points each month for the next year. Here's my test scheme:



Sorry for the poor pics. Borrowing a camera and it's night, so the lighting's poor. Model's still slightly WIP, gotta touch up some areas etc. but the majority's done.
Influenced by the Tau on front of the Cities of Death cover, but felt the red was too impractical (more ceremonial) so have evolved into more of a winter scheme (as I find snow settings rather atmospheric). Blue is the sept colour (first time painting something like that so not too disappointed).

Anyone know any good arctic basing techniques?

Looks good, keep it up.

I don't now of any artic basing techniques, but I'd think it'd be similar to normal basing, but instead of static grass, you use fake snow.

Thanks Dinadan.
Also, if anyone has any cosntructive criticism or suggestions, please speak up, as I've posted here before Warseer as I know and value your opinions.
As for the base, fake snow is probably what I'm going to have to opt for (though I don't own any). Just unsure of the realism it portrays. Have heard of other techniques using baking soda (I think?).
Then i gotta decide how to portray my snow, whether it'll be on rock, or tundra etc.

looks good. I have to say that the tau are in my top 3 40K army in turms of looks (3 is Necrons and 1 is Eldar)

Can't think of anything to suggest for improovements. If you wanted an urban element to them (as well as the snow element), then perhaps apply patches of Badab Black wash to look like dirt (the wash comes out a dusty grey over whitish colours, so would work as urban dirt on these guys).

Looks great Cal, as for the snow may I just point out a short Article I wrote for heresy online - http://www.heresy-online.net/forums/showthread.php?t=18243

Thanks RC, that's the kind of tutorial I was talking about! Heard that as it ages it tends to turn yellow though, so people add white paint to the mix. Know anything about that?

If you scroll through the replies there's some comments on stopping that from happening.

Great job on the Tau, I usually base my model with sand, drybrush it white (depending on how much snow I want) then apply several (3?) coats of PVA glue to make it less rough. It works pretty well

Any pictures of how that turns out Radagastbird?

@ RC - Missed them. Don't have a sealer so I guess that's out. On other tutorials have heard that white paint is usually sufficient. Suppose there's nothing to lose from giving it a try.

Just gotta decide what landscape to put them in. Pure snow, snow forest, urban snow, mountainous snow etc. Hmm, guess I'll just have to think about that one for a while.
I'll try and get a picture of my Imperial Guard test scheme up for those interested. Have worked out the scheme but still pondering some armour modifications to make them look less Cadian.

I don't see why White paint wouldn't work.

Good luck

Made any progress with this project Cal? I'd love to see how you decide to go with the snowy bases.

Unfortunately not really. Mostly study, but I find these warriors frustrating to paint. That's because I bought a lot of them cheaply off ebay, already assembled, and trying to paint carefully around and under arms is annoying, particularly when leaving crevasses black. I'm slowly working towards it though.

As for bases, still deciding between urban winter or snowy tundra/woodland (which might provide a better theme for Kroot).

Sorry for the delay Cal, I don't currently have anything but I might just make a base and take a picture of it for you.

Hey, looks nice - apart from the base is a bit poor.

I would simply glue sand on, then paint it any colour you want, a few drybrushes sometimes, can look so much better so easily!

Go Tau!
If I ever make a 40k you can bet itll be Tau

He looks nice, im enjoying the color scheme

Oh the sweet irony in seeing 'for the imperium' in the title, followed by pictures of Tau. haha.

Bring on the guard, i also do them in my spare time..

James

Sorry Cal that I was unable to show you results for my snow bases. I would like to redeem myself by suggesting to look at the GW article at this link. You probably already have heard about it but I wanted to make sure that you had a tutorial within your reach
Good luck with your Tau

No I hadn't seen that, thanks RC!

This project is on a bit of a hold at the minute. I'm quite busy and my models are currently stashed away somewhere. I'll get them out again Mon/Tue.
You may also have guessed that I'm going to be pulling out of this challenge. I'll still keep going, but I won't be striving for a certain points total each month.

Until next week, bye for now, and apologies for the continuued absence.

Hmm I realised I haven't posted any of my Imperial stuff up. Better rectify that...

Here's my Imperial Guard scheme if you haven't seen it before:



A rough regimental banner mock-up:

Tralisia is the name of my world, though I think I might change it to the 3rd Regiment and I'm not sure whether to keep the title 'Diggers' or not. By now you can probably guess where I got my inspiration

And some more recent work (as in the other day), trying to work out how to go about customising my Guard. Problem is that I want to create my own regiment variation, because these guys aren't anywhere near Cadia and so it's slightly silly if they look identical, but at the same time I quite like the Cadian battle gear. So I'm looking to try and get in a few basic changes that just tweak the normal a bit.
So far, shaved down the torso armour and helmet, and changing the shin armour into just boots:


Also got rid of the sticking out bits on the back of the armour (though I did consider making that some sort of computer interface). Been tinkering with the lasgun a little as well. I ended up with something that quite closely resembles the Hellpistol, which I think looks cool but is maybe a bit short for my standard gun. Thinking through other ideas, whether to leave the stock etc.



I've been inspired after joining a wargaming club at Uni to get something done (though sadly I don't think they play LotR), which for me is building my Tau, Space Marines (depends if I go with Raven Guard, Blood Angels or Howling Griffons) and tinkering a bit with Imperial Guard (though I don't have many), as well as Aeronautica Imperialis. So hope to get a bit done these days.



So if you have any ideas/suggestions on altering my Imperial Guard, I'd love to hear it. Currently looking at adding thigh plating, bracers on the arms, maybe extending the shoulder pads, and maybe changing the helmet design a bit, though the curved back doesn't really help with my idea of sloping the sides outwards like the Krieg helms. I could maybe remove the flying skull and add some extra plating or something over the forehead?
The thing is, that I plan to have 2 different designs. The basic, light infantry one, and the carapaced heavy infantry (vets) one. The vets will probably have visors and such, while the light infantry will be the scouts/pathfinders and travel light (idea being if you survive the light infantry, you get promoted to the heavy vet squads).

Sounds ambisious - just bare in mind that you don't want to make the conversions too extensive unless you're going for a vehical heavy army; you don't want to have to do 100+ extensive conversions unless you don't plan on using them until the next edition of the IG Codex

i agree with D. Doing too many conversions is going to drain your soul!!!!
It's fair enought converting things like Marines as you never really have too many of them (Normal 10-40 at the most) wherest Guard have atleast 50 in just a small army and converting anything other than sergeants is gogint to destroy you.
I would want to convert my 90+ orcs.

Haha, don't worry, Guard are my fun army. They're the most enjoyable to work with and these conversions are actually fun. I love the character and personality of the Guard. As said, I'm looking at going with maybe one infantry platoon and the rest mounted Vets, or have considered an airbourne regiment, though I don't want to buy all those Valkyries. Vets in Carapace Armour with Chimeras get a little expensive. Plus my love of the fun things like Sentinels and Russ'. I'm hoping to add an Inquisitor at some point, and maybe even a Land Raider transport for him, if I can find points.

I'm thinking I'll keep the lasgun fairly simple. Have thought about buying Elysian lasguns or maybe even Krieg, but that'll get a bit expensive. Or I could convert with Kroot rifles for an ornate, flintlock feel, but that doesn't really suit the theme. In the end though, I think I'll go roughly with the Hellpistol design, keeping the stock and have them as carbines probably...

The standard infantry will probably just keep the chest armour and helmet and that'll prob be about it. Maybe bracers/knee pads as well. Vets will get thigh plating, definitely knee pads and bracers, visors and maybe respirators (kasrkin style from FW).


But as I've said, these are my fun project. I'm only buying as I finish what I've got of them (wish I'd bought more infantry boxes all the same before repackaging), and using them as a break between Tau and Space Marines and LotR.

Hmm, well I did say I'd post up my Raven Guard Terminator, though he really didn't photograph well...





Please excuse the photographs, the colours look really washed out and the eyes awful.
Still PIP. Not sure on the blue lense colour (and in any case it needs to be lighter) as opposed to traditional red or the gold detailing instead of the traditional white (I just think gold goes nicely with black).
Also undecided on the heraldry shield. What colour to paint it and what kind of design to put on it. A white or black field are normally traditional for Raven Guard or at most a red. My other options are the current grey-blue, maybe some standard blue with white designs on them. I was tempted to go red/white/black but thought it might be a bit too similar to Grey Knights?



On the other side of the fence, I am stumped with my Tau. I recently bought a pot of Space Wolves grey, and now I'm not sure whether to use that as the main colour for my armour. Currently its a foundation paint mix. My thoughts on it so far are:
For - Easier to paint, don't have to mix up something to the right shade every time I run out. Goes well with the cloth. Not as thick as foundation.
Against - Becoming closer and closer to the Bork'an scheme (which my friend has - wish I'd stayed white and red now). Already painted a few (including a devilfish and crisis suit) the old way and don't want to have to repaint them.

Thoughts?

For the terminator, I think a black field with a white raven would be best for the shield.