Today’s figure is another that was finished back in 2016, that I’m only just getting around to sharing. Like it says in the title of the post, this guy is one of Marauder Miniatures’ MM27 line of Giant Black Orcs.
One of the many ranges released by Trish* and Aly Morrison’s Citadel offshoot Marauder Miniatures were Orcs and Goblins. The Orcs, with their scale mail and Mongol-style helmets were a real highlight of all of their ranges, with a style that remains distinctive even today. Subedai has recently showcased some fantastic looking converted boar boys using these same models.
Part of the Orc range that was a little more limited were the Giant Black Orcs, released around about White Dwarf 128 (August 1990). There were apparently only four sculpts, and so they seem to be designed more as an appendix or supplement to Citadel’s existing line – though back then Black Orcs were an ill-defined thing as far as actual models go. Just pick out your bigger orc models and divide them between “Big’Uns” and “Black Orcs”. I’ve got to say that these Black Orcs were not Marauder’s finest work by a long shot.
Black Orcs of course derive from Tolkien’s Uruk Hai, which GW had a range of, though those seemed a bit “normal sized” even back then. The only distinct Black Orcs to that point were Nick Lund’s Giant Black Orcs from 1985 – also a pretty indistinct set, and Lund’s Regiment of Renown: RR18 – Eeza Ugezod’s Mother Crushers. Citadel’s Black Orcs wouldn’t get their own distinct style again until the mid-1990’s, when they launched that terrible range with the huge horns and ridiculous looking axes. It wasn’t until the early 2000’s when the current, heavily armoured design debuted with the metal range, to be updated a few years later with the current range of plastics – now called “Ironjawz ‘Ardboyz”. The current/2004ish design is easily the best iteration of Warhammer Black Orcs in my opinion, being both distinctive and badass looking.
Games Workshop Black Orcs. Now known as Orruk Ironjaw ‘Arboyz. Because of course they are.
What does this mean for the Marauder model above? Well, he’ll eventually be rolled into whatever Mantic call Big’Uns in Kings of War (hm… Ax, Greatax, Morax… nothing there that really works for Big’Uns or Black Orcs… I might have to fudge something for our friendly games.) He may occasionally be used in RPGs, skirmish gaming or maybe even Silver Tower. Do they have an Orc character for that yet? I’ll figure it out later…
Azazel's Bitz Box. 
He’s cool. Thanks for the history lesson too man. Good post.
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No worries. I always enjoy writing a little of the history of older minis when I have a chance.
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Great work and nice write up. Enjoyed the read!
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Thank you Mark. I’ve found similar write-ups on your blog that let me know about models and ranges I knew nothing about, and they’re always enjoyable. 🙂
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Thanks so much. You’re in Australia correct? I only ask as I hope you enjoyed my Rooman War Party as I themed it Aussie – seven pointed stars are not easy! If you are not, my apologies! Appreciate the fact you follow my blog!
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Yes, I am indeed mate. I admit I haven;t gotten to the Rooman War party yet. I’ve been spending a lot of time so far reading about the war machines and your time with the crucible… making Roomans, from memory (and other things). I haven’t gotten to the painted ones yet… 🙂
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I’d definitely like your perspective as an Aussie!
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Nice old school detailing on the face, and bending that axe arm is just what he needed to make him look dynamic and threatening. I think I have one or two of this range, and I was hoping to one day combine them with a couple of Olley’s Black Orcs.
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Yeah, he needed …something to make him feel less flat, so I went with my old standby of bending the weapon arm a little. They could work well with Olley’s figures. Similar size and gear and all. It’ll be interesting to see how well they meld with Olley’s style. I’m sure your paint will manage to do it, though. 🙂
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Neat article and nice work on painting the orks. I particularly liked how the shading turned out on the hilt of the sword one of them has on his back, and I liked the light, gold color of the helmet as well as a nice contrast to his armor.
I have had a box of those GW black orks kicking around for a few years now, and as it happens I was planning on doing something with them soon. The one thing about them, which I also noticed with my AoBr nobz years ago, was that the bases felt too small for the model, so I was going to use 32mm bases for them.
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Thanks Ann. I like to try and vary the tones of my models a little to break them up. Now that I’ve sworn off using all the colours of the rainbow on each model, I don’t want to go too far the other way and monochrome them completely. I agree on using 32’s for the Black Orcs (and Nobz). I’m pretty much using them on any figure that I feel will look better on them nowadays and damn the torpedoes as far as gaming goes – I’ll make it work.
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Yes, that is what I do as well: I try and pick the bases I think aesthetically work the best and worry about gaming secondarily. So far I haven’t had any problems about it, either in the infrequent tournaments I play in or in casual games.
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Exactly my attitude as well. I have to say that after being slightly dubious, I think the introduction of 32mm bases is one of the best things we’ve had in years.
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Nice one Az, he’s a handsome chap! I do like my Orcs to be well tooled up 🙂
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Thanks Alex. He’s definitely ready for either war or hunting some furry critters!
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