An old style Lord of the Rings Orc army project.

   A long time ago in an ancient age (well 1995) as dark power gathered it's forces...

At that time I was bored with 2nd Edition 40k, unimpressed with 4th Edition Warhammer fantasy, and unhappy with the direction of design of Citadels miniatures ranges, and many of the copy-cat companies. I had always collected other companies miniatures, some of my first purchases were Grenadier Undead, but I had always based my armies in the Warhammer setting.

Now strange as it seems I had never read the Lord of the Rings until my early 20's (in the mid 1990's) although I had seen the film, the 1978 Ralph Bakshi film that is, and had had a copy of MERP for years. After finally reading the Hobbit, the Lord of the Rings, and the Silmarillion I was inspired to build an Orc army. A big Orc army, big enough to Wreck Lake Town or smash Gondor or besiege and ruin Gondolin.

So over the course of a few years in the latter 1990's I collected several hundred Orcs, as well as many Trolls, Hobgoblins, Giant Orcs, and generally other useful things, from a variety of companies such as Harlequin, Grenadier, Alternative Armies, Ral Partha, and of course the old 1980's Citadel ranges. Anyway, I had abadoned the idea by 2000 as I had other projects on my mind and had also collected a Mithril Miniatures Orc army to represent Mordor. By 2001 the Peter Jackson films were released and I was gaming that for a lttie while, and also back into playing lots and lots of 40k.

Recently, after finishing my Space Slann and wanting a change from sorting out the Squat army and was idly looking on Google and chanced across people who had done exactly what I had planned 20 odd years, ago!!

 This fired my imagination to revisit my old project, and so I have, and painted the following over the last week to ten days. I have'nt painted the emblems on the shields as of yet as I am unsure how to proceed. I am not sure whether to keep them blank so they can represent Orcs from the earlier Ages of Middle Earth, or go for the classic Orcs of the Red Eye for the Third Age of Sunlight. If I go for Third Age, some of the Orcs will have the White Hand of Saruman on the shields, and so I will have to wait until the army is sorted out in to regiments before painting the shields. I would have liked to have done the whole army as Saruman's army of the White Hand, but it limits them to killing Rohan and kidnapping Hobbits!

Enjoy :) 

The start of my attempt to cover the the whole of Middle Earth in second Darkness.

Orcs.

I have mixed different manufacters together to create that rag-bag gentic mix that are Orcs. 

I had orginally intended have the Grenadier miniatures in a seperate army, but they mix well with each other .

Close up of the 1980s Citadel Lord of the Rings range of Orcs. 

I have gone for a dark and limited palette for all of the Orcs, using Vallejo Field Grey for the flesh tone, and mainly browns or the occasional dull red for cloth.

Citadel solid based C-Series/Fantasy Tribes Orc range.

I love these old ranges as the Orcs are really characterful and fit well with my mental image of Tolkien's  Orcs.

Some of Nick Lunds excellent Grenadier miniatures Orcs.

A mix of late 1980's Citadel Orcs.

Iron Claw Black Orcs. 

I am going to use these as Uruk Hai. 

I love the detailing on the shields which always remind me of Ian Miller's illustrations. In that vein, I painted them green with red eyes, similar to some of his illustrations.

Like the Orcs, I have avoided the Peter Jackson paint flesh tones, and gone for one more based on the books.

More Uruk Hai, courtesy of Iron Claw.

A few more Uruks, this time a Maruader Miniautres one on the left, and a shieldless Iron Claw one on the right.

WIP Uruk Hai.
Left a Grenadier Giant Orc, and right an old Harlequin Giant Great Orc.

The Orc breeding pit WIP/sorting shelf.
I have at least three times as many Orcs as this to add to the army. I did'nt get time to sort out a proper photograph, but will for next time.

Yuk!!!

 A couple of the Orcs with the old 1995 paint scheme. Same principles of dark palette and greyish skin, but I hope to make a better job of it this time. .

Next update I will hopefully have the time to do a proper in depth look at the miniatures, and do a step by step painting guide.

It's been a little while! Now what to do.

...yes, it's been about three weeks since I last updated my blog! 

At first my main distraction was having building work done at home which turned out to be a less than happy experience with the builders. However, just over a week ago I was ready to update but felt unwell, which turned in a very bad case of gastroenteritis which left me unable to paint or blog, and for a several days confined to bed. Sorry to say but my only forrays into my hobby were the occasional post/like on the Oldhammer Facebook Group, and of course a little bit of e-bay :)

But I'm back and (mostly) alive and well and looking forward starting a new project.

After the great success with the Space Slann project I have been comtemplating the following projects for the coming year (in no particular order):

• finishing off the Squat Army re-dux, with the repainting and rebasing of the army and painting the 'new' items which I have bought.
• a small Rogue Trader Tyranid project. I already had some 'nids from the era, and have recently picked up a few more odds and ends. In total I have 10 Zoats; 12 Warriors; 8 Termagants; 3 Screamer Killers; 20 or so Genestealer Hybrids; lots of Genestealers (about 100).
• Painting my 3,000 point 3rd Edition Warhammer Empire army. 
• Painting my 3,000 point 3rd Edition Warhammer High Elf army. By doing this and the Empire army I will have completed my Warhammer Armies project, one usuable 3,000 point army from each of the army list entries. 
• Goblins. There are always Goblins to paint! And I have missed painting them for a while. 
• My 18th Century alternative history army. I have always been interested in the premise of the English re-adopting the Longbow (Warbow) after switching to Firearms and Pike. I would like to convert up an English/British army, either using War of The Spanish Succession miniatures, or Seven Years War miniatures, and using a mix of Longbows, English Bills, Pikes, and maybe a few Muskets and Cannon.
• Paint my Lord of the Rings Orc army, which consists of Nick Lund sculpted models, from his Chronicle ranges to his Grenadier work. I still need to buy a few Half Orcs and Archers, but the army is largely collected.
• Finish of the Preatorian Imperial Guard army. I also have Catachans to finish too!
• I have both a Chaos Nipponese army to attend to, as well as lots of 1980's Chaos Warriors I would like to paint. I want to approach the Chaos Warriors more as an unusual painting project with scenic bases. Similar in approach, but different in style to Don Hans excellent work, which can be found here: http://realmofcitadel.blogspot.co.uk/  .  I was thinking more of a Tzeentch style for mine, but I'll see.
• Maybe, just maybe, finish more Fantasy Slann this year.

I am sure there will be a few more high point 3rd Edition battles with Justin, and I am bound to end up buying stuff from somewhere that I will want to paint as well.
Also at some point I want to start sculpting. I have several ideas but need to organise things. 

 Catachan in the Jungle.

 Three squads of eight Squat Bikers in need of painting and re-basing.

 Converted Squat Heavy Weapons Trike. 

There are many weapon mount options in the Squat army list, but as the model comes with e Multi Melta most people opt for that. Most of my trikes have Multi Metlas but I decided to choose a D-Cannon for this one, using a spare D-Cannon from the Rogue Trader Eldar set. I intend to add a Missile Launcher from an old model Helicopter to another, and I have already added a Las-Cannon from the Rogue Trader Ork Wartrakk onto a third.

 Squats!

The Brighthelmstone Squat League infantry, consisting of eight Brotherhoods of a Warlord, four Hearthguard, three Comabat Squads in each.

 Tyranid Warriors from the Space Crusade/Rogue Trader era.

 Indomitable Gnome Fighter, from Citadel's BC 1 Adventer Starter Set. 

I painted him in about an hour for the 'I've never painted a ....... before -The Fantasy 100 Club, on the 'Oldhammer Forum':

http://forum.oldhammer.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=5006

Turns out I had never painted a Gnome before!

 Grenadier/Chronicle Goblins sculpted by Nick Lund. 

Nick Lund Orcs! 

The next update will be on the project which I have decided to start first, and will be a lot sooner than three weeks! :) 

Space Slann painted

It's been a good start to 2015 as I have finished painting my Space Slann force in about a fortnight. Some of the Space Slann were painted before I embarked on this project, but I wanted to re-do or refine the painting I had already done on those, as well as painting the others from scratch. They all needed rebasing too.

After collecting the Space Slann at the time, and on and off over the years, I had at last got my Space Slann collection finished in 2013 with an e-bay purchase of 'Quinletz', meaning I had at least one of each of the orginal twelve models released (but alas not the unreleased Slann, yet).  So, I had enough other Slann by the end of 2014 to create a small but usable Rogue Trader force.

I like the Slann. As evident from my fantasy battle army collection I have always liked the Von Daniken-sque' idea of an ancient mystical spacefaring race. When Rogue Trader was released I was eager to use a Space Slann army (which I did for a while, much to the annoyance of the local GW at the time!). I liked the fact that the 40k models background, and design concept linked them to the mystic Pre-Colombian looking feel which typified the fantasy range. I like the idea that the fantasy Slann and Space Slann could be used together, the small Space Slann force perhaps supporting the larger primatively equipped Slann army.

When painting the Space Slann I wanted to keep that look in mind, painting them in bright colours, and using some of the skin colours which I had used in my fantasy army, but like them, keeping green as the domiant colour. In addition I also wanted to give the Space Slann an added element of kitsch, and a 1960's/1970's sci-fi feel, and so I painted some of the furs, equipment, and weapons even brighter, unnatural colours, or off/white. Think Original series Star Trek meets Roxy Music, meets Steve Harley, with Aztec additions!. I also decided to base them the same as my fantasy battle army's Slann Scouts, with long grass/reeds and flowers on the bases, to give that added skirmish feel to them.

In the Rogue Trader rulebook you can randomly rolls up the size of the squads, number of heavy/special weapons, and equipment. In this I cheated a little bit and for ease sake and organised the Slann into five squads (or Warbands as they are referred to) of five Slann, and have two independent characters. I do still have a converted fantasy Slann Wizard on a Palaquin I will paint at a later date, but I wanted to just focus on the TSF 18 Range of Space Slann for the moment.

Concerning weapons, I had some damaged models (I had in times past converted three of them up to act as character models in my fantasy army, but decided to re-convert them up to 40k) which I had now earmarked for converting up with heavy weapons or other weapons, and so I just rolled for them on the relevant charts. I have'nt rolled for the rest of the equipment, or worked out an actual army list, but given the high previlance psykers and access to exotic equipment, the force would cost more points than one might at first think. I will sort out an army list in the near future.

Enjoy :)

 The complete Space Slann force, 27 Slann.

5 Warbands of 5 Slann, and two independent Warleader characters.

I am very happy with the colourful look and the overall feel of the army.

 On the left the overall Warbands leader, 'Quinletz'. 

I have painted him up as an albino as the Rogue Trader rulebook suggest that albino or brightly coloured Slann might be gifted in some way.

On the right is 'Huvez', acting as the second in command.

Rear view.

The first Warband

The Warband leader of the first Warband, 'Capt.Haxl'. 

I am unsure what his pistol is, but I like his headress.

On the left a converted 'Holx' miniatures, armed with a Space Marine/Imperial Guard Conversion Beamer. I have used several really Rogue Trader Imperial items. In the background it suggests that Slann trade with all races for items, and use similar items to the Imperium. 

I painted his wrist bangles with Vallejo fluorescent green as a change from the gold, and to give a slightly more sci fi feel.

On the right is 'Scotiz'.

 Rear view of the converted Holx. I added a couple of RTB101 Space Marine bits to bulk out the rear of the model and fit better with the Conversion Beamer.

On the left 'Sgt.Yotiz', and on the right CMMR. Xix.

 The second Warband.

 The leader of the second Warband, 'Ixtacha'. 

 On the left, a 'Holx' miniature.

 I have painted him with a more uniform look, and used a dark green mixed with Vallejo's "Metal Medium".

On the right is another CMMR. Xix.

 Left is Sschoi, armed with something which I think might be either a Las-gun, Gravition Gun, or Needler.

On the right is a 'Olassa' Slann, painted up to look a little like a Strawberry Poison Dart Frog, which is the same paint scheme as two units of Venom Tribes in my fantasy Slann army.

The third Warband.

 'Xvarn', the mottled skinned leader of the Warband.

 Another 'Scotiz' miniature (right), and 'Olassa' (left).

 Another 'Sgt.Yoitz' armed with an Imperial Las-Cannon. 

Like the Holx miniature's green armour earlier I have painte it using dark green and Vallejo Metal Medium to give a slighty more sci fi and less Imperial feel to it. 

On the right is another 'Holx' miniature.

 Right view of the converted 'Sgt.Yoitz', like the Conversion Beamer Slann, with some RTB101 equipment.

 The fourth Warband.

Warband leader 'Llamas', armed with the mystery rifle. 

 Another pair of 'Olassa' and 'Scotiz' miniautres. 

I have photographed them from this angle to show the rear of these models. You can see front shots of them from the Warband group photogrpah above.

 Left, a converted 'Ixtacha' miniature with a converted Chaos Space Marine/Renegade Grenade Launcher.

On the right is another 'Sgt.Yoitz'. I have painted him up similar to the Slann on page 12 of the Rogue Trader Rulebook.

 Warband five.

The leader of Warband five, a 'Xvarn' miniature with a Space Marine Bolter.

 Another CMMR.Xix (left) and 'Sschoi', which I again also painted in a similar fashion to the Slann on page 12 of the Rogue Trader Rulebook.

 Yet another pair of 'Olassa' and 'Scotiz' miniatures.

The 'Scotiz' Slann is the same skin colour as one of my fantasy Slann Scout units.

 The two Slann I painted in homage to the Slann on page 12 of the Rogue Trader Rulebook.

Space Slann emerge from the jungle and ambush Necrons,

another encounter in the ancient struggle between the 'Old Ones' and the slaves of the C'tan.

The 1987 Rogue Trader release sheet for TSF 18 Space Slann release. 

Now that I have finished my first project of 2015 I plan, despite the tempation to paint the rest of the fantasy Slann army just yet, to revisit my Squat Army project.

60,000 views and the Space Slann project.

I've had a great start to 2015, as of today my blog has now reached 60,066 views. So again, a big thank you to everyone who has taken an interest in my blog and miniatures.

Secondly, after engaging in conversations on the Oldhammer Facebook group, and chatting with Andy Hoare about his current Space Slann project, which is located here:

 http://talesfromthemaelstrom.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/even-more-space-slann.html

 ...it has inspired me to tackle my own Space Slann.

It is a project I have been meaning to do ever since I managed to buy the final Space Slann I required for the complete set last year.

My Space Slann force consists of 27 Slann, formed into five squats of five, and with two independent Warleaders. I have always loved the Space Slann, both as a concept, and as a miniatures range, and have been wanting to paint them. Like my fantasy Slann army I have chosen to paint them in bright colours and to vary the skin tones, but have tried to keep the majority green skinned, although not to such a great degree as the fantasy army. 

Since starting the project on the 2nd January I have managed to paint up 21 Space Slann! I still need to varnish and base them, and will base them the same as my fantasy Slann.
Once I have painted them all I will do a proper update with them all in squads, and going into the Space Slann range and background in more detail.
Enjoy :) 

 21 Space Slann in the jungle.

 On the left, Quinletz, the Warbands Commander.

 I have painted him up as an albino Slann as the background suggests that brightly coloured or albino Slann can be extrovert, talented, or noteworthy in some way.

On the right is his second in command, Huvez.

 Two Sschoi. 

I have painted the one on the left similar to the Slann on page 12 of the Rogue Trader rulebook.

 Two CMMR. Xix 's .

 Another CMMR. Xix, and Llamas. 

I am not sure if Llamas's gun is a Las-gun or a Graviton Gun, or maybe even a Needler?

 Two Holx's .

 Another Holx, converted up to carry a Conversion Beamer. I had orginally converted this model up (yes, I chopped up a Space Slann!) to act as an army general for my fantasy Slann army, but I decided to go for Gurggl Greenwake instead. So I thought a Conversion Beamer might look good for him, and add some firepower to the Warband. 

On the right is Xvarn, who will act as a squad leader.

 Two Scoitz's.
I painted the one on the right the same as one of my fantasy army's Scout units.

 Another Scoitz, and a Olassa.

 Two more Olassa's.

 Final Olassa. 

I have painted him up similar to the Strawberry Posion Dart Frog, which I also used as a basis for another pair of fantasy army's Slann units.

The painting table, only eight left to paint. :) 

Next blog update will be the finished Space Slann. I have a lot more time free now that Xmas is over, so I can get busy painting :)