The Zen of Converting Orks

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**Pipboy101**

I think this is the trukk your were talking about.

I built this because I saw the picture of the one in the Apoc Reload book and thought it was just to over done. The gun was huge for only S7 AP 4 and it was just to beefy for AV 11 open top. So I was able to connect the rear half of the battlewagon to the truck chassie. There is no reason to add any ork glyphs or armor platting if you are primarly using ork production parts. There is only a couple of non-ork production parts such as the razorback/rhino turret hatch and a part of an bassy platform which is part of the flakk cannon turret motor.

**tankworks**

Using the terms 'correct ratio' and 'balance' in relation to any Games-Workshop models? Give me a break!

**Pipboy101**

To tankworks:
Hmmmm... ok.

**CadianXV**

I actually meant this model:

Credit to TheSecretSquiq

But yours is an excellent example as well- two different styles, both highly effective.

**Pipboy101**

That is a great Flakka Trukk. TheSecretSquiq did not over do it which is great and wonderful work.

**BOSS_PIMPALOTZ**

My Skullhamma inspired by a piece of fluff in Apocalypse where a warlord invades a shrine world and uses pieces of litteral stonework to reinforce his veihicles.

My Tank is covered in armour plates,Glyphs,Draincovers,Graiting,wall sections everything to signal that its a cobbled vehicle exact proportioned Ork veihicles dont exactly make me think yea thats orky the whole theme of built on the fly is removed.

But you do what your doing as their are perfectionists out there.

**tankworks**

Re: Flakktrukk, it looks cool, thats all that matters. There, you cannot get more subjective than that!

**PWC**

BOSS_PIMPALOTZ wrote:My Skullhamma inspired by a piece of fluff in Apocalypse where a warlord invades a shrine world and uses pieces of litteral stonework to reinforce his veihicles.

My Tank is covered in armour plates,Glyphs,Draincovers,Graiting,wall sections everything to signal that its a cobbled vehicle exact proportioned Ork veihicles dont exactly make me think yea thats orky the whole theme of built on the fly is removed.

But you do what your doing as their are perfectionists out there.

Yes, but I would like to once again bring up that covering your trukk with a plethora of detritus doesn't automatically mean that the zen of balance and ratio is pierced. The problem that the OP brings up is an aesthetically (relative to the human perception) over-the-top presentation of such.

@the flakk trukk: It does look bad-ass and awesome looking. Does it fit pow 7 ap 4, av 11? Hell no. But it does look awesome and that is all that matters. However the more over-the-top a model gets without distributing balance takes away from the "Awesome Factor" and instead adds to the "This is Dumb Looking" factor. Of course its all subjective so whatever.

**Orlanth**

Listen young grazhoppas, only thru focus is da waargh achieved. Emty your mind of all fortz

**Regnak**

Pipboy101 wrote:That is an AoBR Deff Kopta with TL Big Shoota done for a contest for Dakka a year and half ago. It is built with the rear section of a Tau Ion Cannon for the engine, the fenders from an old Ork War Trukk, One SM Bike Foot rest, Leman Russ Exhust Stacks under the fenders for exhust, the wings from a Revell Apache Helicopter model and 2 Heavy Stubbers. The parts are clear on the WIP photo. That is all that the model consists of. Like I said above it is that it follows all the rule I set forth. There is so much I could have done extra to the model but it would have thrown the model out of balance and zen. If you are in the Kansas City, MO area the model can be viewed at Tabletop Games and Hobbies in Overland Park, KS.

Here is a WIP photo

Right side

Left Side

Front On

Excellent idea. So simple yet so effective. Might try something like this, I haven't even got my Black Reach Orks off their sprues!

**Tim the Biovore**

Yes, but no. Sure you are right, but sometimes we need an out of proportion part of the model to make it interesting.

**Nurglitch**

Tim the Biovore:

Could you explain how "out of proportion" makes something "interesting"?

**HadoukenAvenger**

I disagree with one main point in the tutorial.
That would be that, IMO, there ARE no rules when converting Orks. Orks are meant to be fun! I see no reason to refrain from putting a boyz head on a warboss body, if that is the look you are aiming for. But seriously, thanks for the tut. It helped quite a bit, specially with balancing out features 'n' gubbins.

Cheers!

**Nurglitch**

Of course there are no rules when it comes to converting Orks. You're perfectly welcome to make ugly models. If you don't want ugly models, then voluntarily adopting the rules enumerated in this thread is a good place to start.

**MasticatorDeelux**

Great article. Beats the "Slap gak together and apply glue" method to conversions.

**Corpsesarefun**

Nurglitch wrote:Of course there are no rules when it comes to converting Orks. You're perfectly welcome to make ugly models. If you don't want ugly models, then voluntarily adopting the rules enumerated in this thread is a good place to start.

Orks arnt meant to be beautiful nurglitch.

**Nurglitch**

corpsesarefun:

I agree. Fortunately Ork models are a different matter entirely.

**Mewiththeface**

I wouldn't say rules as much as guidelines to help make the model look good. Which, anything breaking those points looks bad. At least to me.
Same goes for nids.

**Corpsesarefun**

Ill agree that random kitbashing is bad but when a master breaks the rules it can work well, look at picasso for an example he could paint any other classical artist into submission by the age of 12 but in his adult life he created mostly absurd and simplistic paintings which were none the less superb.

**Tim the Biovore**

Nurglitch wrote:Tim the Biovore:

Could you explain how "out of proportion" makes something "interesting"?

Well, not 'interesting', but eye-catching for a good reason. Most Ork players want at least one model with an oversized gun on it.

**Boss 'eadbreaka**

An interesting article, with plenty of valid points. This would work for any other army other than Orks.
Orks are supposed to have huge guns and glyph plates. Take that away, and you don't have Orks anymore.

**MorbidlyObeseMonkey**

Thank you so much Pipboy, this really helps me with my Loota-themed Ork army.

**alexwars1**

I embrace all the ideas in this tutorial. This will very much help me with conversions. Thanks Pipboy101!

**CT GAMER**

Pipboy101 wrote:Here is two more examples of of my concepts in the article. First is an example of a Big Mek made from an AoBR Nob body using a AoBR Warboss Power Klaw. This is in violation of the one up rule since a Warboss bit was used on a model one step down. So this makes the model out of ratio and balance since there is not another bit or section of the model which balances out the oversized bit. The right arm looks weedy without any bulking out with Green Stuff work compaired against the Power Klaw arm.

I agree froma modeling standpoint, but one could argue:

Ever worn a heavy giant metal "glove" on one hand and nothing on the other and then undertaken repeated strenuous exercise with said glove while doing so?

The arm with the giant heavy glove will indeed get much larger than the one without...

**Sveinn Shieldsbane**

Got to give you huge props. Your ork conversions are masterful and not sloppy like I have seem in many other armies.