Rogue Trader 'Bomber Class' Ork Siege Dreadnought.

As part of my redux of Luggrub's Drop Legion, I have been painting Ork Dreadnoughts. Now, more on the bulk of Ork Dreadnoughts once they are finished. However as part of this I decided to convert a spare Ork Dreadnought into a Siege Dreadnought. I thought Luggub might need one for attacking New Rynn City.

Most people who are interested in the Rogue Trader era, especially the early era, are familar with the Ork Dreadnought rules first published in White Dwarf #100, and later included in the Warhammer 40,000 Compendium. However, anecdotally it seems that people are less familiar with the Ork Dreadnoughts in the 40k section of the 1988 Warhammer Siege book. The book details three different types Dreadnoughts each for the Orks, The Imperium, and Eldar. I chose to make a 'Bomber Class' Ork Dreadnought because I liked the combination of las-cutter and phase-field generator, and felt it would be a challange to represent both items in a conversion as Citadel had never made models for either.

I started off with a Super-Attack Onslaughter Ork Dreadnought, bascially the big four-armed one, as the Bomber is equiped with two power claws, as well as the las-cutter and phase-field generator. I used the short legs option because I reasoned that the Bomber would require a study lower centre of gravity for using the las-cutter and phase-field generator, as well as having to be close to the ground/walls/fortifications to use them.

For the las-cutter and phase-field generator is used two old plastic Zoid parts. On the Dreadnoughts right hand side I added my version of the las-cutter. This is a cut down Zoid leg, with a nice looking tube thing on it. I placed the phase-field generator on the left hand side to give the model a certain symmetry. For this, I used a random Zoid piece which reminded me of the Star Trek Warp engines, which is similar to the warp technology used in the phase-field generator. Finally, for the headshield I used a few cut down lollipop sticks, some metal mesh, and a couple of squares of plasticard.

Enjoy :)

 Warhammer Siege (1988).

The  'Bomber Class' Ork Dreadnought entry in Warhmmer Siege (1988).

 Before painting.
I added another piece of lollipop stick, some cut up sprues, and a little model barbed wire to the (60mm) base as rubble.

 Painted. :)
I used the Citadel Typus Corrosion/Ryza Rust/Runefang Steel over black undercoat combination. I love the Citadel Technical paints, as for the Orks they create a grotty, rusty, out of warranty look to their weapons, vehicles and equipment. I dry-brushed some yellow with black stripes onto the claws to suggest that at some point there was a visit from an Ork health and safety officer.

 Rear view.

 Las-cutter.

 Phase-field generator.
I think it looks like the Star Trek Warp Drives.

 Top view of the headshield.
I added a couple of pieces of plasticard to break up the blandness of the mesh and suggest a half-hearted (or with Ork perhaps half-arsed) attempt at extra protection. For those unaware, the headshield is a canopy which provides the Dreadnought, and any assualting infantry, with extra protection from above when assaulting fortificaions, etc.

 Base, complete with rubble.
I have used Citadel's texture paint 'Agellan Earth' for the soil. I wanted the base to have some rubble, etc, to suggest it was close to fortifications. I will be adding some flock tufts to this, and other Ork basing, once they are delivered by Royal Mail!

 Thw WIP Ork Dreadnoughts.
Various Ork Dreadnoughts in a variety of levels of painting. I have eleven Ork Dreadnoughts.

 For fun, I converted and painted up a 1980's second Edition Blood Bowl Orc. 'Converted' is really  grand description for glueing a RTB101 Space Marine bolter on his right hand.
Luggub's Drop Legion has an option for 'Exotic equipment', one of which is 10 suits of Carapace Armour, so I might use him and some other Blood Bowl Orcs as those. They might also make good 'Scumbos' for the Wolf Time scenario.

Rear view.

Next update...
...more Orks. :)

Kulo, Governor of Xit.

Another Space Ork from the 1980's, but with a little difference.

I am currently painting my 1980's early Rogue Trader Space Ork's with a mind to creating the Ork Drop Legion which invaded Rynn World. However I also have in mind the Ork forces used in the 'Wolf Time' scenario, from the 1988 Book of the Astronomican. So whilst painting some of the Drop Legion, I decided to paint up my conversion of Kulo, the Ork Governor of Xit.

In the background, Kulo is a very fat and loathsome Ork. He does'nt wear any physical armour, but has field armour, and is equiped with a bolt pistol and power glove. None of the 1980's Orks seemed to fit this description and so I decided to convert my own one.

I wanted to keep the conversion parts limited to the 1980's. For the body I used one of the 1980's Judge Dredd range JD3 Fatties bodies I had spare. For the head I swapped the Fattie head for a plastic Orc head from the Warhammer Regiments set, using greenstuff to hold it in place and create a fat neck. Finally, I selected a few items, including a Power Glove, from the RTB101 Space Marine plastic box set.

Painting wise I loosely kept the theme I am using with the Drop Legion Orks: rusty metals, and semi World War Two German army colours. As both Kulo, and Luggub's Drop Legion, are part of the wider Charadon Empire I thought this was a sound idea. I gave Kulo a lighter shirt colour to show off how fat his body is, and also so I could make the light shirt mucky suggesting the lack of hygiene which is sadly a feature of the Charadon Empire. I also painted his nose and face a little flushed to suggest over-indulgence of food and drink.

Enjoy :)

The artwork of Kulo in the Book of the Astronomican, drawn by Tony Hough. I met Tony Hough once at Salute, he was a nice person, and we chatted about his artwork.

The army list entry for Kulo.

Kulo.
I based him on a 40mm round base. I am still considering what basing materials to use for the Orks, so will add more to the base at a later date.
I kept the greenstuff around his neck a little rough to suggest cellulite and various warts/skin problems.

Side view, with the Power Glove. I painted the Power Glove rusty, and then lightly painted the checks on the it to suggest peeling paint.

Side view, with the RTB101 Space Marine Bolt Pistol and pack, no doubt trophies from Kulo's rise to power.

Rear view. Less said the better really!

Size comparison with Kulo and one of the RTB102 Space Ork Raiders for scale.

RTB102 Space Ork Raider.
I have been painting lots of these, and Ork Dreadnoughts. More of these in later blog updates.

Next updates will be more Space Orks. Rynn's World, you have been warned. :)

Rogue Trader Ork Dreadnought pilot, taking a break.

I've been painting a lot more Rogue Trader Orks, but more of those in other updates. For now, here is a conversion of an Ork Dreadnought.

I have always loved the film 'Kelly Heroes', and Oddball's tank crews in particular. One of the crew, known as 'Turk', amused me. It must have been the fez, as I like fez's. So I converted an old solid based Orc crewman  from Citadel's Arcane Monstrosities TA4 Orc War Machine. It was a simple conversion, bending the arms, and adding a green stuff fez and cigar. The Dreadnought was painted in a rusy style, with Citadel's Typus Corrosion, Ryza Rust, and Runefang Steel.

And so there you have it. A chilling out Ork pilot, taking a break somewhere on Rynn's World.

Enjoy, and don't hit me with any negative waves Moriarity. :)

 Chilling out.

 Close up.
I do love how Citadels Technical Paints turn out.
I am not sure the Fez looks as tidy as a real fez, but could always be more of a smoking hat instead.

 Rear view.

Oddball's crew.

Next will be more Rogue Trader Space Orks!

Gordal Luggub.

I am starting to re-paint/paint my early era rogue Trader Space Ork army. My army is based on the Ork list in the 1988 Book of the Astronmican, and the additional rules published in the White Dwarf magazines from the time, mainly concerning the Dreadnoughts and random vehicles stats.

I had painted this army some years ago, but was never very happy with it. It seemed to me a little flat and dull. The paint scheme was based loosely on the World War 2 German army, as the early Ork sculpts suggested, but by doing that I feel I lost something of the Orky-ness of it all. The bases did'nt offset the miniatures very well, and I did'nt really like the German tank paint scheme I used for the Dreadnoughts.

All of this was a shame. I love the early Space Ork range and background, the era before the 1990 Clan based army lists and miniatures. So I am re-visiting them with the aim of combining the World War 2 German look, with that early Space Ork vibe. I have also started using some of Ciadels Technical Paints which are great I am very keen on using the Typhus Corrosion and Ryza Rust combination to creat some rusty Ork Vehicles, armour, and guns.

So here is Gordal Luggub, Commander of Luggub's Legion, Charadon Ork Taskforce, assigned to attack Rynn's World.

Enjoy :)

 Gordal Luggub.
He is from the RT202 Space Ork Command Group range, sculpted by Kev Adams, and released in 1988.
I have painted his armour to look rusty and grotty, rather than shiney and pretty, to give that lived-in and messy Ork look. I used the Typhus Corrosion and Ryza Rust combination over a black undercoat, and highlighted with Runefang Steel. I will be using this a lot in the repainting.

Rear view.
I have based him on a new 32mm Citadel round base. I think that the Orks in Powered Armour look better on this size base. The rest of the Orks will be on the standard 25mm round bases.

Next update will be more Orks. I will, as time goes on paint more Imperial Army Troopers, but for now, it's the Orks. They do, afterall, have Rynn's World to invade!