New Tau Codex 2013

Just picked up the latest codex over the weekends. Since I have already painted all my Tau models since the last edition, I may just need to get more cool ones to further complete this army...

Really really awesome update of an awesome army!

Mega Battle Pictures

Here are some random pics from a mega battle non-apocalypse game on a 3000pts game, 1750 on each army, so I've teamed up my eldar with tau against my 2 buddy's combined army of ultramarines and grey knights. Though I've lost in this game, I've gained valuable lessons on my first game of my Tau army, understanding its potential and weakness and most important of all, it was great fun! Playing a big game like this allows me to test almost all my units in every possible scenario.

I can't remember the details of the game, as this was played last week and I didn't have the chance to put it on paper when my mind was fresh (or rather mush, from a gruelling 5 hrs game). The mass fire power of a full stealth suit team of burst cannon can be very effective, especially when deep strike behind enemy armor, just love them. I've enjoyed the firepower of the pulse rifle, punishing those pesky stearnguards vets dare enough to come near. That hammerhead tank can really wreck havoc and caused much fear, it'll be nice to have another one :D (gonna paint my second turret). Markerlights, something we tau can't live without! Drones are good in slowing progress of enemy, and I used them rather effectively, I guess giving up those kill points is an exchange here.

Tau Army Completed

After a year of painting the blueskins, I can safely say that I've completed the army to a very acceptable level of quality and looks good on the tabletop. Some of you following this would proabably know how each of the individual units are done. After finishing my last devilfish I was just tempted to lay them all on the table and see how this 2500-3000 pts army may look like together. I can't take a decent picture of the whole army due to the limitation of my camera and the flash from a distance just don't do it justice, so here's a video instead to illustrate the size of the army and the details. Along here are some photos as well...

Tau Piranha Squad

This is one of my favourite models in the game, the Tau Piranha. the shape and the design kinda like has a WW2 fighter silhouette. After the first one, I just thought that it might look pretty cool at least to have a wing man and indeed they do look better in a squad.

There was a huge gap of time between completing the first and the second model shown here, and I noticed there were a bit of difference in the way i handle some details and the mixing tone of the Camo pattern. That's kinda interesting as some inconsistency would suggest perhaps 2 different piranha come together from 2 different squads or batch has lots of similarities with subtle difference.

The assembly of this model is rather tricky though, with lots of green stuff filling at the corners of the main hull (I just can't get them to fit nicely). The camo pattern helps to obscure the marks.

Again, like with most tau vehicle, i minimize on the highlights and just let the pattern go all over. I'm not that confident with weathering effects yet so I'll just leave it clean cut looking for now. Can't wait to place them on the tabletop soon.

CC welcome, thanks

Completed Ethereal and Honor Guards

Here's the freshly painted Ethereal with the symbols of office along with some painted firewarriors as honor guards. I've yet to devised a strategy or an army list for these guys but hopefully will do so soon, just to test them out on the field. They are one of the fluffiest character in the army, though not one of the most powerful or effective ones there. Nonethless, it'll be great to see an nicely themed list with the Ethereal leading the charge of fire warriors.