Elan Merch / Heritage Miniatures Ralph Bakshi Lord of the Rings Orcs.

Something a bit older for this blog update. 

I have always loved the Ralph Bakshi Lord of the Rings animation film, especially the Orcs. Now an American company, long out of business now, used to produce some miniatures based on the style from the film. Elan Merch was the company which owned the licence for the production of Lord of the Rings merchandise, but he the actual miniatures were produced by Heritage Miniatures, from 1977. Heritage went out of business  in 1983, and so I assume that the miniatures were produced in that time period. The Lost Minis Wiki site has more details on this here:

https://www.miniatures-workshop.com/lostminiswiki/index.php?title=Elan_Merch

and

https://www.miniatures-workshop.com/lostminiswiki/index.php?title=Heritage

All this was before I started collecting (I started in 1986), but I always wanted some Orcs in the film style. I have toyed with the idea of converting some from other miniatures, but I never really got around to it. Anyway, some months ago I managed to buy, very inexpensively, a set of six Heritage Miniatures Orcs. A couple were broken, with missing weapons replaced. So I purchased them, and set about a mini miniature project.

The miniatures themselves turned out to be from two different packs. Two of them were from 1808 Saruman's Urak-Hai Orcs of the White Hand Spearman, whilst the other four were from 1820.Saruman's Guards - Guard Orcs with Two-Handed Axes. Of the two broken miniatures, both from the 1820 pack, one had had his axe replaced with a nice looking halberd, and whilst the other had a wire pike. I kept the halberd conversion, and swapped the pike for a Essex Miniatures bill. 

As for painting, I wanted to get as close to the animation look as possible. I kept the paining very simple with a drab earth tone for the clothing, grey for the weapons, grey/black for the skin tone, bright red eyes, and white(!) fangs/teeth. Basing (on 25mm square bases) I wanted to keep them drab and dark, and so went for a drab, rocky look, again similar to parts of the film.  

I am very happy with how they turned out. I was a true joy to be able to paint some miniatures based on the films style of Orcs, and from an earlier era of wargaming and miniatures. I would probably buy more if they were still in production (I believe someone does own the rights, but rarely casts), and I will probably try to pick up any odd and ends on e-bay over time, although it's not a high priority. 

Enjoy :) 

Ralph Bakshi Lord of the Rings animation film on DVD, and a 'Foto Novel' of the film. 

Orcs from the film. 

More Orcs. 

More Orcs again. 

Orcs! 

My little group of six Orcs. 

1808 Saruman's Urak-Hai Orcs of the White Hand Spearman.
(1808a, vertical spear).

Rear view.

1808 Saruman's Urak-Hai Orcs of the White Hand Spearman.
(1808b diagonal spear). 

Rear view.

1820.Saruman's Guards - Guard Orcs with Two-Handed Axes.
(1820b)

Rear view. 

1820.Saruman's Guards - Guard Orcs with Two-Handed Axes.
(1820b, converted with unknown halberd). 

1820.Saruman's Guards - Guard Orcs with Two-Handed Axes.
(1820a)

Rear view.

1820.Saruman's Guards - Guard Orcs with Two-Handed Axes.
(1820a converted with Essex Miniatures bill). 

The next update, and many more in the near future, will be on 3rd Edition Warhammer slotta based Slann. I have been painting quite a few over the last few weeks with an aim to finally finishing the slotta based collection.