Tau auxiliary Costume

[Sidewinder]

This is my costume WIP for Games Day UK, a Tau auxiliary.

Basically they are humans who have begun fighting for the Tau against its enemies instead of for the Emperor.
Done that instead of a pure Tau because I have too many fingers and don't have hooves for feet.

I've almost done the Pulse Carbine and will be doing a Tau Firewarrior helmet and upper armor and backpack with some Guard style lowers etc.
I'm actually converting the Guard costume I did last year.

Pulse Carbine:
Looks a bit of a dogs breakfast at the mo but painting etc should bring it together.

[attachmentid=9734]

SAS

 

[OdiWan72]

Looking good my friend

THAT is what you needed the ss tau fire figure foe
Can´t wait to see the rest of the costume done.

Markus

 

[Sidewinder]

Thanks bud, and here he is next to the beginnings of my helmet:

[attachmentid=9754]

Uses parts from a RFT kit.

SAS

 

[Sidewinder]

Helmet taking shape:

[attachmentid=9764]

SAS

 

[Sidewinder]

Painted helmet almost done:

[attachmentid=9810]

Painted gun beginning:

[attachmentid=9811]

SAS

 

[nae1000]

wow. that looks great-i fell out of love with GW long ago but played the PS2 Firewarrior game to death. loving the Tau.

 

[OdiWan72]

Wow..what a progress .

DO you have a side by side comparsion between the sideshow warrior and your costume pieces?

Markus

 

[Sidewinder]

Sideshow Tau figure:
[attachmentid=9844][attachmentid=9845]
[attachmentid=9846][attachmentid=9847]

Finished Pulse Carbine:
[attachmentid=9848]
[attachmentid=9849]
[attachmentid=9850]

Arm and leg pieces:
[attachmentid=9851]

Shoulder guards:
[attachmentid=9852]

SAS

 

[Brien]

WOW... Looks great.

I have a pulse rifle finished but I have been afraid to start the armor. What did you use for the helmet? I was going to try sculpting one but I am not able to do the whole silicone thing where I live.

If you have any patterns for the stuff you have done I would love a peek at them.

Not meant as a highjack but I am just going to show you my pulse rifle, if you are interested in the template.

 

[Sidewinder]

Nice rifle, really like the scope display.

For the helmet I used a Rebel Fleet Trooper vacform kit. Use the main helmet part back-to-front and have it so the (now) 'face' area is vertical. Trim the sides in a curve to match the SS figure - note one side is higher and one side has a step for the aerial. When you veiw it front on its aysemtrical (helps to hide any trimming errors).
Next fix the RFT 'swoop' part to the top/rear to form the brim that is on the back of the helmet and trim the two pieces at the sides so it flows together better - I left the back of the brim as is. This gives the overall shape, its not exactly the same when compared to the figure but it gives the 'look'.
For the cheek parts I used the white RFT visor cut in half and trimmed to shape, I then used the black visor to fill in underneath the rear brim.
Cut a hole for the rectangular camera eye box and edge with styrene. Use a piece of clear plastic backed with window tint to see through and a couple of tinted green clear plastic for lenses. This should allow you to see out but people can't see in.
Cut the top and brim off a plastic safety helmet (I left the sides about 2" tall) and glue inside.
Finally, use some black material (I'm using an old T shirt) to cover the open sides and form a stormtrooper style neck piece. This should still allow you some peripheral vsison.

SAS

 

[Brien]

I may have to try this soon. Who sells the RFT kit? How much did it run you?

If you or anyone is interested in the template for the carbine or the rifle let me know. I scale them up from the miniatures so they should be pretty accurate.

I had seen a Face sheld in a medical show which had the perfect curve i was thinking about ordering a couple to try it out, I think it might be cheaper than destroying perfectly good Rebel headgear.

 

[Sidewinder]

http://www.tk560.com/catalog.html

Is where I got my kit from. It was in kit form so its not like a wrecked a nice RFT helmet - plus its for the greater good. :lol

SAS

 

[Brien]

That is perfect. How thick is the plastic? If someone taps the swoop does it wobble? I have seen parts where the plastic was so thin it bounced and wobbled when you moved.

could we get a shot of it on to see the size? I have a big head and I am concerned it will look huge when i am done.

I was going to try to make one that I could reproduce but i think the demand would be too small for such an undertaking.

 

[Sidewinder]

It's really thick and not floppy at all.

If you were going to do one to reproduce i'd go the sculpt/scratchbuild direction as this way isn't really accurate.

My head (forehead) circumference is 24"

[attachmentid=9879]

SAS

 

[Brien]

Accurate or not, it looks great

 

[Sidewinder]

Armour and weapon completed. Still need to sort out strapping and Photon grenades/holder and finish the helmet. Next pics should be the initial try-on.

[attachmentid=9906]

[attachmentid=9907]

SAS

 

[Brien]

That looks great, we may need to talk.

What did you use for the armor (breastplate and back?) because it looks dead on. Do you have a pattern you used? You have renewed my interest in tackling this costume.

 

[Sidewinder]

I cheated, its ST armor front and back, the hand plates too. The small shoulder is Scout knee armor (I have one spare).
The lower leg/arm parts are ex UK riot police armor (got em real cheap off Ebay).
Again the front/back pieces aren't exact but I added the Tau circle etc. motif to the front in plasticard (had to cover up a hole left when I removed the Imperial Eagle).
I do have thigh pieces for the riot armor, but i'm not using those - instead i'll have a drop leg holster and pouches - ii'm gonna make a 'Pulse Pistol'. This doesn't exist in 40k really but I thought it might look cool.

SAS

 

[Brien]

Well, the chest looks dead on, I may have to look into that cheat as well. Theriot armor looks like the shin guards I made for my Imperial Guard armor last year. There is a pulse pistol in 40k in the new codex.

I must say i am impressed and can't wait to see a picture of the costume as a whole. Next you should try to make a drone to follow you around...

 

[Sidewinder]

I've checked the pistol in the codex and you're right, however there are no pics
They have done a conv. for one on the GW site but its from a rifle and would be too big to fit in my (std size) drop leg holster. Will have to invent something myself.

Drone was considered, but having it hovering round after me would be tricky to do.
Plus as a lowly human auxiliary we aren't aloowed such hi-tech stuff

Some finished helmet pics:

[attachmentid=10034]

[attachmentid=10035]

[attachmentid=10036]

SAS