Magnetizing Tau Turrents

Magnetization is almost a requirement for anything Tau. Throw Forgeworld into the mix and it becomes mandatory. There are 3 different variants and having the option to run them all is always a good thing.

Parts List:
Forgeworld Tau Turret
5 - 3/16" x 1/16" disc magnets (http://www.amazingmagnets.com/show-metric-d032a2.aspx)
3 - 3/16" x 3/16" rod magnets (http://www.amazingmagnets.com/show-metric-r188a1.aspx)
CA glue
Zip Kicker CA accellerator
3/16" drill bit and drill

Start by cleaning and preping the model to remove all the release agent and gates. If you do not get all the release agent off you will have problems. Just as the agent resist paint is also resist CA glue.

I chose to use rod magnets in 3 places as opposed to disc all the way around. These are in the base, used as a centering pin, and on the weapon mounts, to add some additional spacing to the weapons. Be careful with polarities. Having one backwards will quickly ruin your day. Rod magnets are almost impossible to remove once they are glued in.

The pictures show where to place the magnets so I won't go into detail on putting them in and only go over the important ones. Starting with the base, I used a rod magnet for this one and left it about 1/16" tall and drilled the whole in the sensor tower to 3/16" deep. This way when I added a 1/16" disc in the hole I still have a centering pin to keep things from sliding around.  The same for the weapon mounts. Here I did the same thing. This time the purpose was to allow for more space between the weapon and the tower.

Onward to the pictures -

Wargames Gallery 4-17-11

A photo of my Adepticon game ended on BoLS as the picture of the day
http://www.belloflostsouls.net/2011/04/wargames-gallery-4-17-11.html

Tau Air Command - why magnets don't always work.

Got the second Remora assembled and ready for paint. I did hit a snag though. Turns out magnetizing them to their stands was a waste. Since I was using such a small contact point it was easy to knock the model off during normal movement. To correct this I ended up drilling a 3/16" hole in the bottom of each one and mointing them on metal rods. At first I was going to use clear plastic ones but went against it after dropping the rod and a piece broke off of one end. With the metal it should not be a problem. I also switched to one of my heavier resin 60mm bases. The lighter base felt "tippy" and that could mean trouble down the line.

The Remora

Got the first one assembled. They got together pretty easily but require allot of cleanup and greenstuff. The next one I am going to try and magnetize the seeker missiles and the vector jets.

So what do he purity seals say?

So I showed a quick preview of the council level seals. These are larger and will be going to a select few Freeboota members that were instrumental in setting up things for our Adepticon meetup. So what will these seals say? Well...

A little hard to see? Ok for those with glasses here is the text.

1st Company of the Freebootaz

the Council of Order

Chapter Master - Maldus

Master of the Arsenal -Total Anorky

Masters of the Watch - Brother Grimm

Master of Recruits - HockeyHyper

Chief Victualler - TIC

Master of the Rites - Diehard

the Brothers of the Blade

huoshini mattraptor

Z|insane txMaddog

BigBagBull AlexofCharmCity

ScottyPotty Celsork

MightyTim Nomad77

the Brothers of the Bolter

Randl Dzer0

Epic Kywallac

CrayolaSmoker HiveLord

Rancor709 Vallhallan42nd

Mattcor Arinaud

the Order of Flame

Dream Evil Napkinbaron

Cogliostro Shortfuse

Regulator HarakoniTool

Kymmerus Roleplayer

Snake Doctor Crimthaan

the Masters of Fate

Groundpounder MrInquisitor

Smittyrj78 Aslskfan

Willow316 FloppyK

Veritechc Greenhead

PaintMyFigs Darksheer

Eyes of the Fallen

Big Rob

Lt. Renen

Lt. Gregor

Acefisher1

The second is a prayer I found on I think the Bolter and Chainsword forum. This one shows up along with other in Latin on the regular ribbons. 

I am trying to decide is I want to weather the rest of them like the sample one. Parchment burns fast and it is a  bit of a pain to work with for weathering. For a single badge it is no big deal but when you have dozens to do it can be overwhelming. 

Battleplan - Adepticon Combat Patrol Revised

+++##$@+++ Begin Transmission +++##$@+++
Commander,

In response to your request for approval, the Aun of Voi’la have requested your patrol be accompanied ny Shas’Ui Rio’Myroi, a veteran battlesuit pilot of the Thoth campaigns. His command will help bring much needed fire support should your patrol encounter enemy forces.

The Aun also suggest rounding up a gaggle of Kroot, whose attunement to natural surrounds will assist in routing out any concealed forces amoung the vegation on the sector.

+++##$@+++ End of Transmission +++##$@+++

So got my reply form Old Shatter Hands and he suggested 2 alternatives for the mission. The first strips things down to the basics but stays with the theme of an advance scouting squad.

Troops:
6 Fire Warriors with Pulse Rifles 60 points
1 Devilfish, Disruption Pod 85 points
This unit has had it’s SMS and upgrades removed. The Gun Drones are more valuable than SMS anyday. They will pop off and contribute fire and get in the way of assaulters.

Fast Attack:
1 Piranha, Fusion Blaster 65 points
Again, stripped of it’s upgrades. Sure we lose BS4, but we need those points for more guns.

Fast Attack:
1 Piranha, Fusion Blaster 65 points

Elites:
2 Crisis Suits: Twin-linked Missile Pods, Flamers. 94 Points

Total: 399.

The second is a little tougher but also fits a theme assuming the area being scouted is a little more dense with terrain.

Troops:
10 Kroot. 70 points.

10 Kroot. 70 points.

Elites:
2 Crisis Suits: Twin-linked Missile Pods, Flamers. 94 Points

2 Crisis Suits: Twin-linked Missile Pods, Flamers. 94 Points

Fast Attack:
Piranha with Fusion Blaster and Targetting Array. 70 Points

Total: 398

So what did I do, well here we go.

+++##$@+++ Begin Transmission +++##$@+++
Commander,

Due to the speed of events and the need to redeploy some of our Firewarriors we are calling in some of the Kroot for additonal support. The area they will be scouting is a little rougher and their physical nature will allow them to keep up with the other fast moving units. We also suspect that the area will be hot with enemy patrols. To counter this were are deploying Stealth teams to allow us to get closer than we can with heavier units.

For the Greater Good.
+++##$@+++ End of Transmission +++##$@+++

Modified patrol list

400 Pts - Tau Empire Roster - ESWAT Combat Patrol 2

Total Roster Cost: 396

Troops: Kroot Carnivore Squad (10#, 70 pts)
   10 Kroot Carnivore Squad, 70 pts = 10 * 7

Elite: Stealthsuits (4#, 120 pts)
   4 Stealthsuits, 120 pts = 4 * 30

Elite: Crisis Battlesuit (3#, 141 pts)
   3 Crisis Battlesuit, 141 pts = 3 * 47 (base cost 25 + Flamer 4 + Twin Linked Missile Pod 18)

Fast Attack: Piranha Light Skimmer (3#, 65 pts)
   1 Piranha Light Skimmer, 65 pts = (base cost 60) + Fusion Blaster x1 5

Created with Army Builder® - Try it for free at http://www.wolflair.com

Battleplan - Adepticon Combat Patrol

Greetings from the beach head at Adepticon. We are preparing our scouting patrol units to survey the area for a suitable location for the primary force strongpoint. We are spread thin due to the number of potential landing zones. Currently we are unable to send the normal Pathfinder units forward in this process. The teams we are sending forth are being taken from regular units. With the blessings of the Greater Good I trust this will be enough to hold the positions long enough for the main force to join them.



400 Pts - Tau Empire Roster - ESWAT Combat Patrol
Total Roster Cost: 399

Troops: Fire Warrior (7#, 196 pts)
   6 Fire Warrior w/ Photon Grenades
      1 Devilfish w/Disruption Pod, Flechette Discharger, Multi-Tracker, Smart Missile System, Targeting Array
Fast Attack: Piranha Light Skimmer (3#, 75 pts)
   1 Piranha Light Skimmer w/ Flechette Discharger, Targeting Array
Fast Attack: Piranha Light Skimmer (3#, 75 pts)
   1 Piranha Light Skimmer w/ Flechette Discharger, Targeting Array
Elite: Crisis Battlesuit (1#, 53 pts)
   1 Crisis Battlesuit w/ Twin Linked Missile Pod, Targeting Array

 For the Greater Good!

Terrain Project - Got to love toy store finds

With Adepticon quickly approaching I need to build a display board. The problem is I was stumped for an idea. I could do another simple one like the magnetic one but I wanted something a little more unique. While shopping for some stuff at Target I went through the toy department and came across this. The Tech Deck Street Tour Love Park set. This thing blew me away. It is the perfect scale and has all the little details that make it the best base for a larger project.

Out of the box it looks great. It is made from a heavy weight plastic and it modular so it will attach to the other Tech Deck sets. The seams are tight and with a couple of exceptions not noticeable. The cement areas have a slight texture to them and there are worn areas that look natural. The steps are wide and easily fit 60mm bases without tipping. The pylons at the top are the perfect height for troop sized figs to stand behind.

Now for the numbers. The piece is roughly 16 inches wide, 13.5 inches deep and 2 inches at the highest wall.

For more details and additional looks at the piece check out my YouTube page: http://www.youtube.com/lathanm

Sorting things out.

I never realized how many small items I have cast over the last year or so. Luckily a 50% off sale it Hobby Lobby made it a little easier to tell. I picked up 3 craft organizers and went to work. Here is the result.

First up we have the terrain box. This one is full of cast barrels, d-fish doors, sandbags, bricks, random COD pieces and Tau objective markers. 

Next is the suit workshop.  If you wonder where all the parts for my battle suits are this is it. Shields, torso bits, weapons, arms and shoulder pads. It is all here. This box also holds more d-fish and drone upgrades waiting a future project.

Final box is all about plastics. Nothing out of the ordinary here.  At least there is still room for more.