Ork Big Mek and bonus Azure Flames Outrider hand swap
My newest Ork list has a Big Mek to help some Flash Gits. To make sure I get my points for painting, I made him the most recent priority. Here he is!
I did a glow effect on the Kustom Mega Blasta, but I was a bit disappointed because the Lifta Droppa is a cooler looking gun, and the drill is a cool melee weapon too…
Wait…
Fully magnetizable? Yes! In fact, here’s a better look at the drill with a good look at the battery corrosion effect I did near the top:
This Big Mek is ready to lead some Gits!
Finally, as a quick project, I did a hand swap for my Azure Flames Outriders, which can now have a melee weapon on the Sergeant:
Next: Probably Tankbustas because that is the last unpainted unit in my preliminary Ork list. After that, there’s a lot of options!
Ork Codex Compliance Extravaganza of Extreme Rage
New Ork Codex! Hooray!
Nob bases are now 40 mm!
…
Except for Beast Snagga Nobs, Kommando Nobs, and Stormboy Nobs. Those are still on 32 mm. Seriously show some consistency, Games Workshop.
In addition, thanks to the new Warbiker box, all Warbiker Nobs can’t have a Power Klaw and have an additional Rokkit weapon.
…
Well, nothing for it. If that’s the way it is in the book then WYSIWYG demands a re-basing project. Pitter Patter.
Here’s the new Nob for my Ork Boys, complete with an added on Rokkit. (Note: coming soon will be a Burna and a Big Shoota for his squad.)
Next, here’s the Nob Squad with the same upgrades:
Flash Gits didn’t need new weapons but they did need new bases:
Finally, the Warbiker Nob got an arm swap and a new Rokkit Launcha:
There we go! Models are now Codex Compliant.
Next: Big Mek, Tankbustas, new Ork Boys, and hopefully a Big Mek Dakkarig, possibly not in that order!
Ork Deffkoptas!
Some Deffkoptas have joined WAAAAGH! Gitsmasha!
Next: Solar Auxilia Superheavies!
Ork Warbosses!
Just in time for the new Warboss model to come out and add a machine gun Grot to the Warboss’ unit, I have completed two older Warbosses to lead Lads and Nobs alike!
The distinguished gentleman on the left is Finecast, with a plastic Nob power klaw and a Squig added. Note that the cloth on his bosspole is unique; the Finecast pole snapped and there was no way to pin it, so I sculpted cloth to compensate. The wonderful customer on the right is the Assault on Black Reach boss, with a custom resin base he had from his former owner. Once again a squig was added.
Next: Two Space Marine Captains are almost done, and I’m going to finish my fourth box of LI Astartes Infantry to finally be able to field maximum units of specialty troops!
Ork Kommando Addendum – Weapon Options
When I made my Kommandos in 5th edition, there were no official models, and much fewer options. In January I planned to add two custom shootas, a breaching ram, and a rokkit launcha, but my basement was too cold to paint in. Then, in February, I was on vacation and had a major surgery. But I’m back, and the new Kommandos are finally done!
The custom shootas are big shootas with other things bolted on. The breaching ram is the official model, bitz ordered.
Next, I continue the project I started in 2024, the Primaris Captain project with Khalil with Jump Pack and Piers in Gravis! Stay tuned!
Finish It Complete! All Painting competitions finished!
It is done! All painting competitions are one hundred percent complete!
This has been a long time coming. So many things to paint. There were a lot of difficulties, like the tiny details on all the Legion minis, the colors on the Necromunda girls, and the sheer volume of the Orks. But I worked hard and budgeted time, and it paid off.
Without further ado, here’s the final project: The Nicassar Dhows!
These Dhows are painted in the same color scheme as the “official” scheme shown back long ago when GW sold these, but elevated with Turbo Dork paints. They don’t photograph well, but let me assure you they are SHIMMERY.
Of course, these Dhows are magnetized to their bases to allow them to do… this!
Adding the Dhows to the Orbital I painted previously lets me field a Caravan if I wish. Basically a much worse version of the Blackstone Fortress, but also cheaper.
With this, the Finish It competition is complete!
Here is the whole Finish It challenge.
Wait a minute… that’s not my normal work table. That looks like…
WHOA! That’s a lot of minis! In fact, it’s ALL OF THE MINIS I PAINTED THIS YEAR!
Oh, yes, this is pretty far away. Zoom and Enhance! (or just take more pics)
Here’s Q1. The Space Marines are: Chapter Master Perseus (painted BEFORE the competitions but during January), Captain Valerien, a unit of six Intercessors, and a Redemptor Dreadnought. Above them, a Warboss in Mega Armour, five Meganobs, Ten Ork Boys, and a unit of Squighogs plus a Trukk that should have been in Q3 but looks better here.
Q2 starts in the middle with the Necrimunda Escher gangers and friends, then above with the Orks, a Beastboss, ten Beast snaggas, eight Lootas with two Spannas, a Deffkilla Wartrike, three Warbikers, and a Trukk. Below, from Q2 orks, a Shokkjump Dragsta, 10 Nobs, a Big Mek with a Shokk Attack gun, 20 Gretchin with two Runtherds, and a Trukk.
This is Q3 with the first 1/2 year competition. Above, 10 Flash Gitz, two units of 5 Stormboys, and 10 Kommandos. In the middle, the All the Same competition Minotaur, the Color Competition Lieutenant from the Star Cyclones, and the Carthaginian Elephants. Below that, the 1/2 year competition Legiones Astartes Sons of Horus, consisting of two sprues each of: Infantry, Support, Fast Attack, Rhinos, and Kratos tanks.
Finally, here’s Q4 and the 2nd 1/2 year competition. The orks were seen better above. The Finish It competition is eight Tau Wardens, two Tau Messengers, eight Tau Transports, a general purpose Orbital, an Air Caste city, an Orbital with four Gravitic Hooks which can be combined with four Nicassar Dhows to make a Nicassar Caravan, and of course the Dhows and their magnetic bases. Below that, the 2nd 1/2 year Solar Auxilia, which consists of two sprues each of: Infantry, Support, Dracosans, Leman Russ, and Leman Russ Exterminators.
There you have it! That’s a year of painting! Slightly more if you count Perseus. Am I done?
HAHAHAHAHAHA NOPE!
There’s a super secret project I’m working on! (don’t get hyped, it’s small, but it is secret!) Additionally, I am planning out next year; this won’t be at AFK, as my pile of gray doesn’t line up with the competitions anymore.
Speaking of AFK, here are the minis due by the end of the year in the cases, ready for judging:
You’ll notice that the Orks are so numerous they don’t fit on one shelf!
Next, the Super Secret Project, and a timeline for 2026, in which we will celebrate the 15th anniversary of Fourstrandshobby.com!
Year Long Painting Challenge – 3rd Ork Trukk
Only 20 Grots and 2 Runtherds to go!
Next: Tau Defences including an Orbital City!
Double Update: Year Long – Ork Nobs and Finish It – Tau Transports
It’s been a bit busy, so I’ve had this project done for a bit. 10 Ork Nobs with Power Klaws and two Ammo Runts:
Those have been done for a week. These, however, have just been finished. The Finish It challenge continues with my Tau Transports:
Sadly, of the ten transports I originally primed, two were so laden with bubbles from the resin casting process that I abandoned them. Because I acquired these secondhand through eBay, I have no recourse. Oh well.
Next: an Ork Trukk to get it off my countertop, and then some Tau Orbitals and an Air Caste City!
Year Long Painting Competition – Shokkjump Dragsta
Only 20 Gretchin, 2 Runtherds, 10 Nobs, and one Trukk, and this challenge is complete!
Next: the 4th Quarter “Finish It” challenge begins! I’ve got 8 Tau Wardens, 2 Messengers, 4 Nicassar Dhows, 10 Transports, a Kor Air Caste City, and a custom built Nicassar Rig that can be transformed into a Caravan by attaching the Dhows with magnets! That’s why I’ve been working so hard to get ahead for the 6 month challenge and the Q4 for the Orks! Despite how far ahead I seem, all three challenges are going to be a photo finish. Stay tuned!
Year Long Painting Competition – Big Mek with Shokk Attack Gun (repaint)
Long ago I painted up a Big Mek with Shokk Attack Gun; the pewter one, not the newer plastic. This was in my old Ork color scheme which relied on Dipping. For the new Ork project, I stripped it and removed the custom “orky servo arm” I’d added.
Now, as the first entry for Q4 of the year-long painting competition, that Big Mek is painted again!
The OSL came out very well with a little drybrushing of white and some contrast paint.
Next: Legions Imperialis Solar Auxilia Support, then I begin Q4 in earnest by going back to my Battlefleet Gothic Tau fleet!