I'm going to fess up - I'm a big fan of the Tau! So where's the section about Tau on the site? Well, to be honest, I suck at painting them! I can't find a colour scheme I like (nothing as good as these anyway!) and I have trouble getting my head into the Tau universe. Hell knows why - I agree with their philosophy. BUT thankfully I can at least have some Tau units that I don't need to significantly paint - the NOT Failcast Clear Tau Stealth Suits! I first saw these months back and due to their popularity they are hard to find in stock! But here we have them, Stealth Suits the way they are meant to be - stealthy! So how do they stack up? + + More After The Jump + + |
I am not a photographer, so expect dodgy pictures below
The set from NOT FailCast is pretty simple - you get 3 x torsos, 3 x legs, 3 x weapons arms, 3 x other arms and the parts to make 1 x drone dude. There's no sprues, just the pieces, but there is some clipping and clean up required.
The first thing you notice is the foggy nature of the clear plastic (more on that later) and the hard sharp nature of it. I did manage to snap off one of the antennae, so be warned!
As with the rest of the bits, cleaning off the GW mould lines, and also the casting bits is a challenge as the plastic is clear and it's hard to see them!
If I was NOT FailCast i think I would have cleaned the GW lines off first - just a thought!
Mould Quality
An Old Modelling Trick To Really Bring Them To Life...
What's the trick? A soft toothbrush and some toothpaste!
The idea is to use cold water and a soft toothbrush with some abrasive toothpaste (not gel) and rub it all over the clear elements - usually cockpits and windows.
It scrubs them gently and takes all the outer layer off leaving a super clear and smooth surface.
If you compare the shots of the parts on their own (above) and then the shots below, you'll see a big difference. I did find that warm water didn't work as well - but cold works a treat!
It really improves the look of these guys - so if you do get them, then do the toothpaste trick afterwards and you won't be sorry!
~ UPDATE ~
BUT there is a solution... a simple brush-applied coat of Citadel 'Ardcoat!
Yep - literally 10 minutes and I have a permanent solution to the very transparent look.
Verdict
The NOT FailCast Stealth Suits, I think, are great value. At $25 for the set, it's cheaper than the Games Workshop set - AND stealth - plus it's a quick build!
As I said earlier, these are HOT sellers, so keep your eyes peeled..
If NOT FailCast continue with smart ideas like this, they're on a winner!