I actually started these models back in 2005, using a mixture of Fantasy and 40k Brian Nelson Ork components. I was originally making up one of those “Combat Patrol” forces (which is also how the DA and IW started life), though the entire Ork project was derailed hard due to a family tragedy which really hit me very hard. I’ve been eyeing the Orks I’d started back then a bit in recent months to get out and finish, and now I’ve started on them again. It’s been one of the reasons I’ve been getting back into painting the odd fantasy Orc and Goblin this year. Kind of “warming up” my greenskin painting skills. This army is going to be a tribute of sorts, so I want to do it justice.
The CP force originally had 2 mobs of 10 (or 12ish?) Boyz. One mob of sluggas and one of shootas, with ‘heavy shootas and rokkits as the support weapons, along with metal Nobz, led by a Warboss and with some grotz and a slaver on the side. While they were all (mostly) built, none were actually completed in terms of paint, so I’m getting onto that now – along with making some additions. I don’t want to get carried away though – if I’m working on too many forces, none will get done to any satisfaction, so the Greenskins will be a nice side, palette-cleanser project for the time being, and I can take a serious look at them when their codex comes out. If I can get them to around PL30+ or so while painting them in this way, then so much the better and they can hit the table before the book comes out.
I went with camo (or “kamo”) for their scheme because I enjoy painting it. It’s a lot more work than painting them in more basic browns and greys and blues and reds or whatever, but this way painting them manages to keep me interested. I won’t be doing too much with heavily green-based camo, since their skin is green and I don’t want them to blend into one another. Also, being Orks, I can vary the patterns and colouration as much as I like, since uniform isn’t exactly a strong concept to them.
While I guess painting them in camo makes them nominally Blood Axes when it comes to having to choose a Clan for rules purposes, I have to admit I never liked the Ork Clans or many of the background changes when it was introduced during late-RT and early 2e. The whole “fungus men” thing has never sat with me, so I simply ignore that aspect in my own head-canon. (Similar to how I ignore “Mon’Keigh – and may Gav Thorpe forever burn in hell for that one!) Some of the Clans were conceptually okay (Snakebites – the semi-feral Orks, for example) but too many of the examples and paint schemes went way too far down a ridiculous and garish road, reducing Orks to a silly sideshow of the comedy joke army of the 40k universe. I can handle a few jokey things, like squigs and the way gretchin are portrayed (and the Goff Rokk Band), but generally speaking, I like my Orks guttural, angry and brutal, and want to reflect that with my force. Much more original RT-Rulebook (and ironically, 3rd ed Rulebook) than ‘Ere We Go.
Anyway, these are the first of what may never be a huge army (horde armies have a LOT of models to paint), but what should be a cool looking, brutal force. 🙂
I’m glad to have these guys back on the painting desk after so long.
Azazel's Bitz Box. 
Your dot camo is awesome! Very impressive and well executed 😀
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Thanks Matt. Always a pleasure to paint some camo for a 40k force!
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Brilliant camo mate, these guys look properly serious. Looking forward to seeing this one develop 🙂
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Thanks Alex. I’ll keep working on the stuff I started with that first go around, so hopefully it won’t take too long to have some more up for show.
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Excellent work. These are probably my 2nd favourite version of the orks, after the metal Kev Adams versions from the 1990s. I went for a sort of quasi desert camo scheme for my orks (mixed with some very bright elements) for the same reason as you. Yours looks much nicer though!
I was actually thinking that my orks might be the easiest if my current armies to get ready for 8th edition. We’ll see….
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Thank you. I’m a bit torn on the old Orks (and Orcs). You know well how much I love the old Kev Adams stuff, but in so many ways Nelson’s take on them fits their brutal aspect so much more betterer. I’ll still be incorporating the two in together, and a small amount of RT-style brightness will be in there amongst the dull camo. Think the models shown in the original Chapter Approved, and buggies can still be red(!) I’ll just avoid the fully-fledged clown outfit looks that they sported in 2nd edition.
Having said that, I’d love to see what yours look like, especially given the mix of camo with a bit of bright sprinkled in..
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Here you go:
https://classic40k.wordpress.com/2015/02/08/rogue-trader-blood-axes-space-orks/
https://classic40k.wordpress.com/2015/01/29/bad-moons-for-2nd-edition-40k-rogue-trader-models/
🙂
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Thanks for the links. Very cool stuff there. I’ll have to do a bit more poking around on your blog when I get a chance!
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Great work. Love these a lot. The Kamo is very cool, kind of Gulf Waahh-ish 😉
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Good spot. The 1991 Gulf War was one that stuck with me, visually – hence the 6-colour “choc chip” as did the “sequel” a decade later with the 3-colour “coffee stain”. Basically, doing Orks on desert bases was my plan since GorkaMorka, so doing them in desert camo followed logically based on the environment combined with something that would look distinct from their green flesh. 🙂
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I remember reading an ork novel years ago called “Grunts” where they wore camo and used guns like M16s. It was actually a great book and wasn’t from the black library from memory.
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Here it is – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/264765.Grunts
Well worth a read if you can get a copy.
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Thanks. I’ll check it out if I get the chance. The reviews certainly divide, but then there are a lot of overly-squeamish people out there….
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Your boyz look amazing! Well done!
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Cheers, mate!
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That camo is really impressive, and those bases are spot on. Absolutely amazing as always!
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Thanks Luke! I appreciate it.
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Splendid stuff as always! Thanks, this answers some of my questions as to how best tackle some RT era Orks I have as I’ve never been overkeen on the whole Ork Clan thing.
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Yeah, I’ve always been the same. Using the bare minimum of nods to the clans while keeping with what I think i closer to an early-RT/3rd ed aesthetic works for me. Having said that, many of the vehicles will indeed be RED!
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