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I finally decided to get round to organizing my growing horde of Orks into an actual painted army. Here is the cronicle of my Ork army from inception to completion. When starting this army I had a few stipulations I wanted to adhere to.

Firstly, I wanted to use my existing stock of miniatures as much as possible. When organizing a pile of old miniatures into a viable army there tends to be a great urge to go out and purchase loads of new models in order to expand the range. This can quickly get out of hand and next thing you know, you've purchased a completely new army.

Secondly, this army was maily being painted up for my wife to use. Its the army that interests her the most (on the account of the humour and character of the Orks) and her only request was that hot pink be used as the primary colour scheme (shudder).

The first order of business is to come up with an army list. When I build an army I always start by collecting the units that interest me the most. After I’ve assembled a goodly amount of figures I then start to ponder how to make an army list out of them. It's going to be a bit different for the Oks because I've already got the models. Now keep in mind, I haven’t really played Orks since 2nd edition and it is from this era where a good chuck of my model range comes from. Looking over the models I have available some obvious choices come to mind.

The Warlord, Stormboyz, Kommandos (the older Blood Axe models = cooler), Buggies, Wartrakks and a healthy supply of Ork Boyz mounted in Trukks would all be included for sure (my wife also agreed). Things I wanted to squeeze in the army but weren’t sure about are the Gretchin (grot) mob, the Big Gunz and the Dreadnought (now called a Deff Dread).

After pouring over the new codex, it was decided the Gretchin were out. You now need a slaver to control every 10 grots you have. Since I have no slavers at all (and I wasn’t about to go out and pick up three blisters of slavers) they would have to sit on the sidelines. Besides, I never really liked my Gretchin models en mass (the old 2nd edition plastic ones - all the same pose). Maybe when the new plastic kit comes out I'll be ready to expand this army.

The Big Gunz would also have to be excluded. I have three different Big Gunz. A Kannon, A Zzap gun and an old 2nd edition shock attack gun (looks like an autocannon). While I like the look and effect of all these models (and their grot krew) the new codex states that each Big Gunz unit must consist of 1-3 gunz of the same type (either a Lobba, Kannon or Zzap gun). This means I’d need to go out and buy (or convert) two additional Big Gunz of one type.

The Dreadnought was cool but it didn’t really fit in to the theme of the army forming up. The army is a highly mobile attack force. All the squads ride in trucks or a battlewagon and the fast attack choices are buggies and wartrakks. The only foot troopers are the Kommandos (infiltrate) and Stormboyz (rokkit packs). It would be better if the Deff Dread had the fleet of foot rule (much like the new Chaos Defiler). Then I could see trying to squeeze it in, but as it stands I don’t like the idea of the dread slowly advancing along while the rest of the army surges ahead. Also, I noticed that the older 2nd edition Dread model is now actually the same size as the Killer Can models. The Deff Dread is even bigger. So really all I've got is a single can (with four arms). So for now it’s gonna miss the big game.

So, taking what I’ve got and punching up some numbers I end up with the following 1500 point army list.


The first Ork Boyz squad will ride with the Warboss in his Warwagon (kind of like his retinue).

The idea behind the army is that the Blood Axe Kommandos have scouted ahead of the main army and spied the enemys' location. Once they get a fix on the enemy they call in for support and the Warboss and his army comes tearning in. The army will rapidly advance with the Battlewagon, Buggies, Wartrakks and Looted Wagon all shooting the hell out of the enemy. Once close quarters is reached the Boyz will leap out of thier Trukks and press home the assault. This will scatter the enemy and secure the win. All those mobile units wil be good at siezing objectives too.

That's the plan. Now all I need is a deck of cards.

So I’ve painted a single Ork model as a test figure for the army colour scheme. The only stipulation that my wife had is that hot pink would be the unifying colour scheme. At first I was a bit mortified, but then I realized that it’s her army and after all and she would be helping me get them painted once I started. To this end I set out to paint a figure sporting pink pants. To my surprise, I’m actually pleased with the results.

The next order of business will be to sort out the Ork vehicles. The problem with the Ork Trukk model is that it is way too small. It’s capable of transporting 12 Orks but you’d be lucky if you can fit five Orks into the back of the model. I’m talking about the old plastic Ork Trukk here (the Gorkamorka one) and not the brand new kit. The new trukk model is pretty cool, but it also has a problem transporting more than 5 figures. So, after much chopping, filing, gluing, scraping and general kit bashing. I’ve come up with a Trukk that can actually transport 12 Ork models comfortably (well, comfortable for an Ork anyway).


And here are the other two Trukks under construction


Trukks nearly completed (note the chassis changed to a three axel arrangement)


The Warwagon posed similair difficulties. I had already converted an old WWII German SP artillery gun kit into a Warwagon, but the cargo area was way too small. So, I enlarged the cargo deck and up-gunned the turret gun with an Imperial Griffon motor. I also added a Zzap gun on the side and generally spruced up the model.



Here are the previous models loaded with Orks


Finally, I had envisioned the Looted Wagon to be a siege tank. Kind of an Orky version of the Vindicator. I used the Griffon (Chimera) chassis as the hull of the tank and then just went to town with bits.



Lots of detail work still needs to be done (read: rivets). After I finish constructing the vehicles I'll paint one up to see how it looks. Meanwhile work prgresses on texturing the Infantry bases in preparation for spray priming.

Ace conversions! You've done great things with that old trukk model, and the battlewagon looks even better. I really admire the fact that you can actually fit the right amount of models inside the transports! The intimidation factor increases when you can see all of the orks in the trukk racing across the field toward you.

Seconded. All of my ork trukks and battlewagon fit the necesary number of orks. It is a must in my book. Great conversions! Simple, yet quite effective. YOur trukks are sweet!

Meph

Here's the painted Battlewagon:


Here's a close up shot of the Warboss:


Here's a squad of Boyz and their trukk:


Here's the figure I customized to represent Zagstruk:

ahhh! its pink orks!

besides the OMG factor at seeingt pink on an ork, the models, conversions, and paint jobs are all ace.

what did you use to make the army list (like the boxes, etc)

It's fabulous!

seriously dude pink?

Awesome army. Don't listen to the nay-sayers. They look great in pink.

he said it was for his wife, and pink by request. Good job! ;]

Hey, with a paintjob that nice you could probably get away with any colour.

I must admit I'm digging the pink. Didn't expect to, but it seems to work.....

I used a watered down scab red to paint my trukks the night before a tournament and was horrified when they came out pink. Just not proppa unless yer a Freeboota

I like the conversions...but I still think they look to clean. Some more armor plates and battle damage would have really brought these nice conversions to the next level. I do have to applaud you on great use of gubbinz!

Here's some completed Killa Kans (including one converted oop Ork Dreadnought). The army is entirely completed (more pics coming) and so the Killa Kans ended up getting painted also.

Here's the rest of the Orks.

First some Fast Attack:


Followed by my Looted Wagon with boom gun:


Next we have the Stormboyz:


Here's a close-up of how the Orks can ride in style in the back of the Trukks:


A group shot of Da Boyz in their rides:

Sweet pajeebers, those are very good and a good colour scheme to boot. Who ever said orks don't like pink? lol

what did you use to dip these in?

These were dipped/brushed with woodstain. Specifically Minwax polyshades, Antique Walnut.

very nice.. do you thin the stain or use it full strength?

epic

Massive thread necro...

Although i'm glad i got to see the old models, and the somehow decent use of pink... It grows on you.