100th post! A Victory! Ork collection complete!
For my 100th post, I’ll share some thoughts on the first strand: Modeling. One of the biggest parts is choosing your miniatures. The new pewter Ork Kommandos are hideous and I will not have them in my army, except for this model:
I’m not sure I like the Grot’s face, but that Nob is fantastic. Until now I haven’t figured out a way to get this specific model without buying the ugly ones. I just won this model (and no others) on ebay.
Now there is no spot in my Ork army that I feel is not filled. I had Loudmouf Sneakkilla as the upgrade-character nob but I always wanted a regular Nob with a power klaw. Now I’ll have one.
So what do I have for the Orks?
-HQ: Poindexta Smartyskull, Manik Upzindownz, Kajun Gogwurr, Dok Gillgivva, Big Mek with Shokk Attack Gun and Power Klaw, Big Mek with Kustom Force Field, Burna, and Attack Squig.
-Elites: 10 Nobs in Mega Armour, 16 regular Nobz with various weapons and WAAAAGH banner, 15 Lootas, 15 Burnas, Mek with Kustom Mega Blasta, 15 Kommandos with (just ordered) regular Nob and Loudmouf Sneakkilla. 10 Dedicated Nob Bikers with Dok.
-Troops: Loads of Shootas and Sluggas. 20 Grots and 2 Slavers. 4 Trukks.
-Fast Attack: 15 Stormboyz with Rukkstud ‘Andfoot, 10 warbikers with Nob, 3 Deffkoptas with Rokkits, 3 with buzzsaws
-Heavy Support: Fully Modular Battlewagon, fully modular looted chimera, fully modular Deffdread, 3 fully modular Killa Kans, and 8 Flash Gitz with Da Grand Baron Skippy von Peanut Butta.
New Image Gallery
In case you hadn’t noticed, up on the right there’s a new link: Image Galleries. Unfortunately only one is up right now, the Battlefleet Gothic gallery. Check it out.
http://fourstrandshobby.com/battlefleet-gothic-image-gallery/
On my plate: 4-6-11
-Battlefleet Gothic: DONE
-Necromunda: Next on the docket: Finish the Orlock gang, and then do the Delaque gang.
-Warmachine: Pushed back in favor of Necromunda.
-Azure Flames: Need to convert a stand in for Kor’Sarro Khan, and mod up a Chaplain on Bike. I also need to conceptualize an Honor Guard unit for Perseus. Status: ON HOLD. The Flames are complete enough for now.
-Orks: Need to complete painting all minis, possibly buy one more box of Boys but no more. Status: ON HOLD pending spring. I need warm temperatures outside to do dipping, as I cannot do it indoors due to cares.
-The Saratogan 58th: Need to build most of the minis and paint up at least 1500 points to start learning how to play Guard. Status: ON HOLD. Way too much on my plate to start an army from almost scratch.
-Epic 40,000: Have to get more Space Marine Rhinos, and paint both a huge Space Marine army and Ork army. Status: ON HOLD. Once again, too much on my plate.
Finished Chaos Fleet!
The above ordannce markers are the last thing for my Chaos fleet! 20 fighters, 21 bombers, 20 Forgeworld Dreadclaw assault boats (yes there’s one per base, they’re expensive) and 8 count ’em 8 custom converted torpedo bomber bases!
All were glued to 20mm fantasy bases. The torpedoes for the torpedo bombers are bristles from a $3 woman’s purse hairbrush.
The final picture is the fleet! There are fewer escorts for Chaos compared to my Imperial Navy fleet. However, I do have the Repulsive Grand Cruiser re-based onto a large base so I can buy the 3rd shield. I also have a LOT more ordnance because my Chaos fleet is pretty carrier heavy.
Next: Defences!!
Kajun Gogwurr, da Zombee Masta
Modeling
Kajun was modeled mostly from the Ork Nob box. His snapping fingers are a hand holding a combi-weapon with the gun carved out of the palm, and the fingers custom sculpted. The Skull is from the Ork Trukk sprue and the cane is brass rod with putty. The Suit is sculpted out of putty, as is the hat. The brim of the hat and the red ribbon are plasticard.
The Zombee is the Zombie Champion from the old Fantasy Zombie Command Blister. The Shield arm was modified with a rokkit and putty to be holding an overflowing beer stein. The Mardee-Grah Beads are putty.
The “voodoo dolls” are a placeholder mini designed to represent Kajun’s extra attacks. They are a mix of Epic minis and putty.
Background
Smartyskull’s rise to power involved incorporating several other warbands into his. Mostly, other Ork Warbosses resented a Boss who was a dirty stinkin’ Humie lover.
Gurrshak Wart-rot was one of these. He and Smartyskull raided each other for resources until the clash came to a head at the battle of Da Great Round Clearin’, a clearing in Wart-rot’s forest that was generally squarish. Smartyskull dueled with Wart-rot, and managed to get the upper hand. His Ork instincts telling him to kill competitors overrode his Humie-machine logic preaching mercy, and Smartyskull killed Wart-rot.
As the death blow was struck, green lightning pierced the sky, and a strange Ork appeared. Surrounded by a green haze of psychic energy, he wore a tattered black suit coat, and face paint like a skull. He doffed his strange stovepipe hat and proclaimed to his tribe that Poindexta Smartyskull was their new Warboss. The tribe answered with a joyous WAAAAAAAAGH!
Suddenly, a large KLANK sounded as a Power Klaw impacted Smartyskull’s back. One of Wart-rot’s drinking buddies decided that he would be a better candidate for Warboss.
*SNAP*
As the strange noise echoed through the forest, Smartyskull rose to his feet to find the Nob who had backhanded him replaced by an emaciated rotting shadow of his former self. The strange Ork in the hat approached.
“You not lissen what I say, an’ dat’s da las’ mistake you goan’ make. I’s Kajun Gogwurr an’ you’s a Zombee, so you’s do whatta I says oh you’s goan’ stay dat way, heah?”
The zombified Ork moaned and lunged for Smartyskull. Kajun shot forth his hand and sprayed a reddish powder. It covered the Zombie from head to toe, and he burned with green fire. A bit of the powder got into Smartyskull’s nose, and it burned hotter than the hottest pepper-shroom. After a mild sneezing fit, he turned to Kajun.
“Kajun Gogwurr, you gotta lotta mojo. How’s about you be my number one advizer?”
“Das’ jus’ fine. Come, we celebrate wif’ mah fahnest Squig-Gumbo. Fire up da pot, boys!”
After barely choking down the hideous spicy goo, Smartyskull and Kajun Gogwurr made a pact. Smartyskull would allow the snakebites to keep to the old ways if they wanted, but to give them newer supplies if they wished, and lead them to battle. He would also let Gogwurr organize Mardee-Grah, a festival of masks and heavy drinking. Gogwurr would keep uppity boys in line, and dish out gumbo. He is Smartyskull’s wisest source of council (not difficlut considering the competition) and the warband’s greatest chef. His Gumbo is so spicy you can’t tell it’s been rotting.
Gogwurr has also made a habit of making little dolls of all the powerful Orks in the camp. After all, one day he might need to do something to them…
On my plate: 3-7-11
-Battlefleet Gothic: 11 Chaos escorts plus a huge amound of ordnance, 8 Transports, Orbital Dock, 3 Satellites and 20 small ground defences. I need to buy spray primer tonight.
-Warmachine: Upgraded priorities. Next project after Gothic is Kreoss, 2 light jacks and heavy from Box Set. Then I can Demo Warmachine. Cygnar on hold.
-Necromunda: Need to finish my Orlock gang, and start painting Delaques. I also need to get more tabs from Jen so that I can use the Necromunda board she made for me. Status: In progress. Orlocks are 1/2 painted.
-Azure Flames: Need to convert a stand in for Kor’Sarro Khan, and mod up a Chaplain on Bike. I also need to conceptualize an Honor Guard unit for Perseus. Status: ON HOLD. The Flames are complete enough for now.
-Orks: Need to complete painting all minis, possibly buy one more box of Boys but no more. Status: ON HOLD pending spring. I need warm temperatures outside to do dipping, as I cannot do it indoors due to cares.
-The Saratogan 58th: Need to build most of the minis and paint up at least 1500 points to start learning how to play Guard. Status: ON HOLD. Way too much on my plate to start an army from almost scratch.
-Epic 40,000: Have to get more Space Marine Rhinos, and paint both a huge Space Marine army and Ork army. Status: ON HOLD. Once again, too much on my plate.
I’m almost done with Gothic! Stuff is getting crossed off my list.
Old vs. New: Looking for Out of Print Minis
Lexington had an idea for Gretchin crew on a stompa, but needed some Out of Print plastic Night Goblins. He showed me the pics. Here is a comparison between those old plastic Night Goblins and the current ones. Old ones on top, new ones on bottom.
Check out those old minis. Big noses. Varied expressions. And that’s only five of the minis from the old box! The new ones are more same-y. Their faces are less fun, more “ooga-booga we’re scary.” They’re not BAD, but they’re not as good as the old ones. Same thing with the new plastic Horrors of Tzeentch as opposed to the old 3rd edition pewter horrors. Again, old on top.
See how the old horrors seem to be in the very process of changing? Like they are actively mutating, and they were frozen in time and cast in pewter. The new ones look OK, and are actually closer to the old Horrors from 2nd ed. Plus they are plastic, which is lighter. But those old Horrors are so BIZZARE.
Now let me say that THESE ARE EXCEPTIONS. Usually new kits are better than old kits. For the Space Ork Boyz box, the bitz hardly changed but they got a lot of extra little things to add, like piles of shells and an Ork skull. New Space Marine Devastator box has awesome heavy weapons that are more detailed than the old pewter counterparts. New models usually mean better models.
But not always. This is part of the First Strand: Choosing your minis. Sure Lexington could use the new Night Goblins. But he wants a specific look. That’s why sometimes you have to look back to go forward.
Da Grand Baron Skippy Von Peanut Butta and his Flash Gitz Mob
Modeling
Da Grand Baron Skippy Von Peanut Butta is the one in the first two pics. He is the body of an old pewter Bad Moons Nob in Mega Armor (2nd ed) with Snikrot’s head. His arms are taken from the new Plastic Nobz box, and the shoulder pads are extra armor from the Boyz box. The gun is a plasma gun from the old 2nd ed nob with a Space Marine Godhammer pattern Lascannon from the Land Raider. The banner pole is brass rod pinned to the Bad Moons symbol from the 2nd ed Nob. The Belly is sculpted out of putty. A diet rich in peanut butter packs on the pounds!
The other Flash Gitz are plastic Nobz from the box set. The one with two pistols was my first Flash Git, he has two of the Nob pistol from the Boyz box set, and putty sculpted mirrorshades. His name is Nee-yo.
The next one has a combi-rokkit launcha with two electrodes cut from the head of the Mek from the Loota/Burna box set and a coiled paperclip to make a bullet electrifier. He’s TeslaDakka.
The one with the bow has a bow made of brass rod and paperclip, with putty feathers and rokkits from the Deffkopta. That’s what I think a Snakebite Flash Git would look like. He’s Blam-bo.
The one that has a lot of Tau bitz uses a lot os stuff from the Tau Suit box. Front plate, drone up top on the bosspole, burst cannon and carbines on the gun. The club is a Tau Suit leg with a spiky shoulder pad. He’s Runtsmasha.
The next one is Rokkit Rokkit Rokkit. He uses every rocket from the Space Marines, Orks, and Imperial Guard that I could find.
The one with the long barreled double big shoota has the shoota taken from the Assault on Black Reach Warboss with two Autocannon barrels glued on, He’s Dubba-tap.
The one with the pewter backpack has combi weapons made from Tau plasma and melta with a Space Marine Melta and an Ork Slugga. The shoulder straps were putty sculpted and the backpack is Snikrot’s. He’s Nooka.
The last one is sighting down a Space Marine Godhammer Lascannon and has a Guard Heavy Bolter too, with the Gretchin Backpack from the Loota/Burna box. I really like the pose, as it looks like he’s trying to aim. He’s Dedeye.
That’s 8 Flash Gitz and a Character for 9, plus a Dok is a full unit of 10.
Background
Baron Peanut Butta: a tale of addiction in the 41st Millenium
Grutz was a shoota boy, nothing special about him. While looting a Human encampment, he came across a pantry, and in the pantry was a can of light brown goo. Its smell was like nothing Grutz had experienced, and he tasted it.
It was the best thing. EVER.
He couldn’t get enough! He wolfed down the whole can in minutes; despite its annoying but pleasant sticky texture. He smashed apart the pantry looking for more, then inquired around. The only other intact can in the entire encampment (a BIG can, from the Mess Hall) was in the loot pile of the biggest Nob in the whole warband.
So Grutz beat him to death with a shoe. Why? What would YOU have done?
Well, ol’ Grutz made that big can last, because he realized you don’t get to raid Humie camps every day. When he ran out, he went to see Boss Smartyskull, and showed him the can. Da Boss could read Humie somehow, and he said that it was called “Peanut Butta.”
Grutz said that HE was called Peanut Butta too, and asked how he could get more. Smartyskull grinned. He said that stuff was real expensive, and Peanut Butta was gonna have to have a lot of teeth to get it. Peanut Butta put every ounce of his brainpower into becoming a shrewd and kunnin businessman. He tried everything from helping out Mad Mek Upzindownz, to outright theft from other Boyz, to selling Squig-aid. Needless to say, all of these activities were highly profitable and suicidally dangerous, especially the Squig-aid.
But Peanut Butta came through mostly intact and filthy stinking rich. He had enough to buy a can or two from The Boss (who stockpiled Humie stuff for some reason) and had enough left over to buy the shootiest gun the Mek could make and some wicked snazzy armour. His brutality and economical prowess caused him to grow to Nob like stature, though he insists on being calld “Da Grand Baron Skippy von Peanut Butta.”
With his fancy shoota he put together a mob of da best Flash Gitz around, whose services he rents out to Smartyskull for more cans of Peanut Butta. If it weren’t for his crippling addiction to that wonderful delicious rich creamy brown nutty stuff, he’d be the boss around here.
Incidentally, whenever Smartyskull finds a human civilization willing to trade, he always purchases as much Peanut Butter as he can. Insurance is expensive, but Peanut Butta’s Flash Gitz are worth every can of loyalty he can buy.
On my plate: 2-28-11
-Blood Bowl Status: FINISHED
-Battlefleet Gothic: Two Imperial Cruisers and six escorts, 11 Chaos escorts, 8 Transports, Orbital Dock, 3 Satellites and 20 small ground defences.
-Warmachine: Upgraded priorities. Next project after Gothic is Kreoss, 2 light jacks and heavy from Box Set. Then I can Demo Warmachine. Cygnar on hold.
-Necromunda: Need to finish my Orlock gang, and start painting Delaques. I also need to get more tabs from Jen so that I can use the Necromunda board she made for me. Status: In progress. Orlocks are 1/2 painted.
-Azure Flames: Need to convert a stand in for Kor’Sarro Khan, and mod up a Chaplain on Bike. I also need to conceptualize an Honor Guard unit for Perseus. Status: ON HOLD. The Flames are complete enough for now.
-Orks: Need to complete painting all minis, possibly buy one more box of Boys but no more. Status: ON HOLD pending spring. I need warm temperatures outside to do dipping, as I cannot do it indoors due to cares.
-The Saratogan 58th: Need to build most of the minis and paint up at least 1500 points to start learning how to play Guard. Status: ON HOLD. Way too much on my plate to start an army from almost scratch.
-Epic 40,000: Have to get more Space Marine Rhinos, and paint both a huge Space Marine army and Ork army. Status: ON HOLD. Once again, too much on my plate.
Making progress…