So, after all that stuff about repainting my ancient Brettonia models, I've thrown myself into Oldhammer with a vengeance and painted some... space orks. These days, grimdark is very big again (did it ever go away?) and I don't seem to be able to open Instagram without seeing a sepia demon made of severed legs and barbed wire vomiting mud onto the baby Jesus. Ever one to jump onto a bandwagon (or battlewagon), here are some more bright green orks from the good old days.
First up, here's a weirdboy, an ork psychic. This guy is from the Blood Axe clan, but let's ignore that. The important thing is that he's an absolutely awesome sculpt. He seems to be dressed like a mixture of a Napoleonic soldier, a voodoo priest and a majorette, which fits the semi-military look of the Blood Axes perfectly. He also just looks absolutely brilliant.
This model was unusually large for an old ork sculpt. I'm pretty sure he's an original, as the base tag even said "wierdboy" (sic). I mounted him on a bigger base. He was missing the top of his staff, so I made a new one with an Empire bit. The laurelled skull matches his hat. His left arm was made from an newer plastic ork bit with an ogre hand and a lot of green stuff: partly to keep in scale with his body, but also because he needed a sleeved arm to match the metal one.
Then we've got a super painboy (medic) miniature. In the old background, orks didn't have hair, so they sometimes put hairy squigs on their heads. That's what this chap has got. He's also got a brilliant expression. Many of the old orks have real charm and personality - not that I'd like to meet this guy and his massive pliers.
Here are three plastic boys that I painted over a little while. They're not the best miniatures, but they've come up alright. Getting the plasma gun to sit on the model's shoulder - and getting his hand to hold it - was really difficult, and I ended up using a lot of green stuff and additional parts to make it look reasonable.
And that's it for now, but more plastic orks will be appearing soon. Watch this space!
Classic heavy plasma gun boy!
ReplyDeleteGreat colors on these, very vibrant, and they would stand out nicely on the table. (important in the days of goblin green tables and fewer miniatures)
Thanks, I really like painting the bright colours. I agree, they do fit the goblin green style. I actually found instructions in an old White Dwarf for making an ork tank out of cardboard, and I'm tempted to give it a try!
DeleteLovely work on the Orky Boyz! I wish GW still gave their miniatures such character.
ReplyDeleteThanks! Yes, I love the quirkiness of the old models. All of them look like characters. The modern orks are just a bit dull and animalistic.
DeleteThe weirdboy arm is brilliant, great addition.
ReplyDeleteThanks! I think it makes the model a bit less "flat" and it's a nice position for him to be casting a spell.
DeleteWow, I love the colours. I'm rather conservative with colour choices and I wish I had your confidence in palette. The mnay hued approach really suits the chaotic spirit of these early orks. And you are so right about the more modern versions being dull and characterless.
ReplyDeleteThanks - I really like the bold colours of 2nd ed 40k (and Moebius), and painting old eldar got me used to trying new ones. I think the freebooters are particularly fun, as they're pirates and inevitably look really gaudy! Old orks were lots of fun - you could even make your own tanks out of cardboard!
DeleteI'm a declared fan of RT Orks, so you got my attention from the beginning and man, this is a top notch work, I think you really nailed the vibe and gave what these minis were exactly asking for. Really great job
ReplyDeleteRT orks are definitely the best orks! I really enjoyed painting these - they've got just the right amount of complexity and all the details really add to the minis. Thanks very much - I've still got a few more to paint!
DeleteWow! I really like those minis. You've captured their essence well and the colour combination is just great.
ReplyDeleteThanks! I think painting Eldar harlequins has got me used to doing checks and stripes!
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