XV25 Stealth team from the Tau Sept

Basic Assembly
Stealthsuit Shasvre and Marker Drone
21 20 22 12

The plastic kit makes three Shasui with battlesuit options, as well as Shasvre and fusion blaster upgrades, a marker drone and objective marker!

14

25 13

31

TAU STEALTH TEAM

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9 1 16

6 28 26

27

Tau Stealth Suits

17 1 x3 3 4 5 18 5

30
Note that the Shasvre legs have a bonding knife on them.
Standard Optional

Stealthsuit Shasui with fusion blaster

24 12 15 13

Key
XV25 Stealth Suit
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Body right Body left Legs 1 Legs 2 Shasvre Legs Left arm 1 Left arm 2 Left arm 3 Right arm 1 Right arm 2 Right arm 3 Shoulder pad right Shoulder pad left Head 1 Head 2 Burst cannon left Burst cannon right Burst cannon barrel Fusion blaster Drone Controller Drone Controller antenna Target lock Objective marker Antenna 1 Antenna 2

2 x3

12 x3

13 x3 8 11 1 2

10

11

14

15 x3

19 16 x3 17 x3

Marker Drone

Stealthsuit Shasui with burst cannon

28 12 24 15 13

The new plastic Tau Stealth Team kit allows you to field a dynamic and deadly squad of shadowy Tau infiltrators. Here we look at assembly, modelling and the rules for these models.

26 18 x3 19

27

29 20 21 22 23

30 16 31

10 1

Marker Drone
26 27 28 29 30 31 Drone core Markerlight mount Drone probe Drone disc Markerlight Drone antenna

24 x3

25 17 18 4

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Cloaked Stealthsuit
This Stealth Suit diorama was created by expert painter Neil Hodgson. Neil painstakingly blended the armour to match the backdrop, so that it seems to almost dissappear. He photographed the model at every stage for reference, and had to keep one eye closed while painting it to ensure that all the details lined up.

Using Stealth Teams

Stealth TEAM (Tau: Shasui) Stealth teams, equipped with XV15 or the slightly larger XV25 Stealthsuits, are the lone wolves of the Tau army, operating independently of other formations, intent upon ambushing isolated enemy troops and intervening in support of friendly units. They are not factored directly into Tau battle plans and so enjoy a great deal of freedom of action within very broad parameters. The leaders of Stealth teams are often regarded as being slightly eccentric and delight in employing new and unpredictable tactics. Many a foe of the Tau empire has found himself attacked from an unexpected quarter by Stealth teams positioned ahead of the main army.
Shasui Shasvre Points 30 +10 WS 2 3 BS 3 3 S 4 4 T 3 3 W 1 1 I 2 3 A 2 2 Ld 8 8 Sv 3+ 3+

Team: A team consists of 3-6 Shasui. Unit Type: Jump Infantry (jet pack). Equipment: Burst cannon and Stealth armour with integral stealth field generator. Each team member may select one battlesuit support system. If this option is taken, all members must do so, though each may select a different system.
The model from a side angle, just to prove that it really is hand painted, and theres no digital trickery involved. It took Neil ten hours to complete, but we think the results are well worth it.

Options: One in three models may replace their burst cannon with a fusion blaster at a cost of 2 pts per model. Character: One Shasui may be designated as a team leader at +5 points, and may select items from the Battlesuit Wargear list (see Codex: Tau Empire). A Shasui team leader may be upgraded to a Shasvre for an additional 5 points. The team leader or Shasvre may also purchase a markerlight at an additional 10 points.

SPECIAL RULES
Infiltrate: Stealth armour teams can set up using the Infiltrators scenario special rule if the mission allows it. Any drones attached to the unit may accompany them. Stealth Armour: The battlesuits grant the team the Acute Senses and Deep Strike special rules.

Stealth Team equipment

Burst cannon
170%

Wargear and battlesuit support systems

Bonding Knife Target lock
This enables the model to target a different enemy unit from the rest of the Stealth team. As long as the bearer is alive, the team may regroup even if below half strength.

Neil painted the Taus foot to look like a rock. Even in this close-up its difficult to tell where rock ends and model begins.

Weapon Range Burst cannon 18"

Str 5

AP 5

Type Assault 3

Drone Controller Fusion blaster

A model with a drone controller must take one or two gun, marker or shield drones, in any combination, from the Wargear list.

Marker Drone
Weapon Range Fusion blaster 12" Str 8 AP 1 Type Assault 1, Melta

WS 2

BS 2 (3)

S 3

T 3

W 1

I 4

A 1

Ld n/a

Sv 4+

Painting intricate designs that match a sculpted background onto a 3D model is not for the faint-hearted.

Neil added a tag to the base, so that when he replaced the model after painting a stage it would always be in the same position.

As you can see from these photos, the lines look straight head-on, but they actually had to follow the curves of the model.

Equipment: Networked markerlight; targeting array (included in profile)

80 WHITE DWARF

TAU STEALTH TEAM

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