T'au are the sci-fi army of the setting, and their painting reflects it: large, smooth battlesuit panels, clean colours, and a tidy, almost vehicle-like finish with decals and sept markings. They reward neat basecoating over heavy weathering.
The signature look
The classic T'au Sept scheme is a warm ochre/tan armour with white and dark contrast panels, black recesses, and red or blue accents on lenses and sensors. The look is clean and high-tech - flat, even colour with sharp panel separation.
Painting smooth armour
T'au battlesuits have big flat areas where brush marks and patchiness show, so:
- Thin your basecoat and do two or three even coats (an airbrush is ideal but not required).
- Shade only the panel lines, not the whole panel, to keep the surfaces clean.
- Highlight edges crisply - the angular suits suit sharp edge highlights.
Panels, decals and accents
Break up the ochre with white or dark grey panels and plenty of decals (sept symbols, unit markings). Glowing lenses and pulse-weapon coils in red or blue give the high-tech finish its final pop.
Tips and common mistakes
- Keep it clean. T'au should look manufactured, not battle-worn - go easy on weathering.
- Panel-line, don't slather. Shade the recesses only so flat armour stays smooth.
- Use decals. They are core to the T'au look and far easier than freehand markings.