Lead Adventure Forum

Miniatures Adventure => Fantasy Adventures => Topic started by: Alan Mercer on February 09, 2019, 08:51:05 PM

Title: My Middle Earth Orcs - updated 17/02/19
Post by: Alan Mercer on February 09, 2019, 08:51:05 PM
There are my first Middle Earth Orcs - intended to be from Angmar at the time of the Witch King's Realm. I like the look of marching figures, but nobody does them the way I wanted, so I bashed some of my own.

They are mostly based on Oathmark torsos, with a couple of Fireforge and GW torsos in the mix. Heads are mostly Oathmark, with some WF and GW and Perry. Arms are mostly from the Perry Mercenaries set, pike arms, with the pike heads trimmed and heads added from Fireforge halberds and polearms. Any unsightly gaps are covered up with Greenstuff fur.


I have another similar unit in progress, with a couple of command bases too and a command base with the Witch King himself.


Hope you like em.

Title: Re: My Middle Earth Orcs
Post by: OSHIROmodels on February 09, 2019, 08:59:03 PM
They look great  :)
Title: Re: My Middle Earth Orcs
Post by: GordolftheBright on February 09, 2019, 09:58:53 PM
Great work, keep at it!
Title: Re: My Middle Earth Orcs
Post by: Nordic1980s on February 09, 2019, 10:17:40 PM
Echoing the two earlier commentators, they look perfect! Like straight out of John Howe's paintings The Uruk Hai (http://fantasy.mrugala.net/John%20Howe/John%20Howe%20-%20Orcs.jpg) and In Mordor (https://corecanvas.s3.amazonaws.com/theonering-0188db0e/gallery/original/91tcal_02.jpg).
Title: Re: My Middle Earth Orcs
Post by: Arundel on February 09, 2019, 10:27:36 PM
I agree they look awful - just as Orcs should! Splendid work! 
Title: Re: My Middle Earth Orcs
Post by: Hammers on February 09, 2019, 10:28:09 PM
They look very much the business.
Title: Re: My Middle Earth Orcs
Post by: armchairgeneral on February 09, 2019, 10:34:58 PM
They look excellent. So much character  :)
Title: Re: My Middle Earth Orcs
Post by: Daeothar on February 09, 2019, 10:42:06 PM
You sir, are a legend... 8)

This is exactly the way I'm planning to do up my own ME orks, with the addition of Wargames Factory ork parts.

I'm happy to see the kitbashing approach is viable; this gives me confidence for the time when I finally get to start my own project.

Please keep it up because they look amazing!
Title: Re: My Middle Earth Orcs
Post by: Blackwolf on February 09, 2019, 10:49:23 PM
Great work!
Title: Re: My Middle Earth Orcs
Post by: Captain Blood on February 10, 2019, 12:45:13 AM
They work a treat. Great kitbashing and the painting scheme is perfect for their character.
Title: Re: My Middle Earth Orcs
Post by: twrchtrwyth on February 10, 2019, 02:42:32 AM
Brilliant realisation.
Title: Re: My Middle Earth Orcs
Post by: mithril on February 10, 2019, 03:04:05 AM
An army worthy of Mordor.
Title: Re: My Middle Earth Orcs
Post by: LouieN on February 10, 2019, 06:35:10 AM
Well done
Title: Re: My Middle Earth Orcs
Post by: Sunjester on February 10, 2019, 07:59:41 AM
Really nice job, lots of character!
Title: Re: My Middle Earth Orcs
Post by: beefcake on February 10, 2019, 08:04:32 AM
Very nice. I want to see more.
Title: Re: My Middle Earth Orcs
Post by: Nord on February 10, 2019, 09:20:39 AM
Lovely idea. You need an orc at the back with a whip.
Title: Re: My Middle Earth Orcs
Post by: Duncan McDane on February 10, 2019, 02:27:38 PM
Yes, pretty impressive, those different polearms raised. Love them  :).
Title: Re: My Middle Earth Orcs
Post by: Spooktalker on February 10, 2019, 08:27:15 PM
The pile of praise keeps growing.  :D I agree you nailed your intended look and wish I was looking at a straight build of a kit so I could go out and buy it!  :-*
Title: Re: My Middle Earth Orcs
Post by: Hobgoblin on February 10, 2019, 10:20:19 PM
Those are superb! The massed, irregular polearms work tremendously well.

Are they based for any particular game?
Title: Re: My Middle Earth Orcs
Post by: Alan Mercer on February 11, 2019, 06:11:05 AM
In a stroke of genius, I based them in 6s before deciding which rules I would use. Force of habit as all of my other stuff (Napoleonics etc) are all based in 6s.

I got the urge to start converting after reading Graham Greene’s articles. Inspirational stuff.
Title: Re: My Middle Earth Orcs
Post by: Elk101 on February 11, 2019, 07:25:10 AM
That's a great idea well executed. You don't often see orcs with that sort of vibe about them, really nicely done.
Title: Re: My Middle Earth Orcs
Post by: Cubs on February 11, 2019, 09:19:48 AM
Perfect Middle Earth uruks. That is John Howe's vision (which I see as Tolkein's vision) to a tee.
Title: Re: My Middle Earth Orcs
Post by: Dr. Zombie on February 11, 2019, 12:02:03 PM
Those are magnificent! Keep up the great work and keep showing us.
Title: Re: My Middle Earth Orcs
Post by: Hammers on February 11, 2019, 05:48:30 PM
The massed, irregular polearms work tremendously well.

Exactly.
Title: Re: My Middle Earth Orcs
Post by: Shaved Dwarf on February 12, 2019, 11:13:45 PM
Wonderful variety and well done.
Title: Re: My Middle Earth Orcs
Post by: Dr Mathias on February 13, 2019, 03:51:37 AM
I like what you've done here, excellent kitbashing.
Title: Re: My Middle Earth Orcs
Post by: Abbner Home on February 15, 2019, 04:43:42 PM
so stealing this - thanks for sharing the kits used.  Best of all I have all the kits you listed sitting in my work area awaiting the right project. That project has been found!

Really impressive and evocative unit you've put together.
Title: Re: My Middle Earth Orcs - updated 17/02/19
Post by: Alan Mercer on February 17, 2019, 09:41:36 AM
A couple of shots of the witch king base.
Title: Re: My Middle Earth Orcs - updated 17/02/19
Post by: Commander Carnage on February 18, 2019, 02:33:25 AM
I like your take on the witch king.
Title: Re: My Middle Earth Orcs - updated 17/02/19
Post by: Atheling on December 06, 2021, 07:16:31 AM
Did you ever add to this project Alan?

I would love t0o see more  :)
Title: Re: My Middle Earth Orcs - updated 17/02/19
Post by: Alan Mercer on December 07, 2021, 09:35:35 AM
Sadly it is on an indefinite break. I have become a dedicated 40mm gamer, but Orcs, and fantasy in general, are not well catered for in that scale. I haven't given up on these quite yet though - if I really can't find suitable alternatives in my chosen scale (the Combat Hex stuff is based on the movies and not quite what I want), then I may revert back to good old 28s.
Title: Re: My Middle Earth Orcs - updated 17/02/19
Post by: Alan Mercer on December 08, 2021, 10:58:31 AM
A proper update this time. The photos show where I had stopped. I had increased the size of the first unit to 36, and included a command base. I had another 16 (needed to create a few more), in the paint queue - I planned to have a massive unit of 54 figures, or split it into 2 smaller units. I then thought I might have a more dynamic unit, in charging/attacking poses, so prepared a sample base to work from, which I quite liked. Then I ran out of steam.

Having re-visited this, I now think I can do better, the painting isn't as good I thought it was at the time, and some of the conversion was a bit crude.

There are even more kits available to work with then there was in 2018/19 so, for the new year, I think I'll plan out getting this going again.
Title: Re: My Middle Earth Orcs - updated 17/02/19
Post by: Grumpy Gnome on December 08, 2021, 12:22:28 PM
I think they look great!
Title: Re: My Middle Earth Orcs - updated 17/02/19
Post by: Hobgoblin on December 08, 2021, 12:33:04 PM
Yeah, they look ace - both in close-up and - especially - en masse. I bet they look brilliant on the table too.
Title: Re: My Middle Earth Orcs - updated 17/02/19
Post by: Little Odo on December 09, 2021, 12:13:08 PM
Agree with the others - a great job there! I like the run-down, grab-what-weapon-you-can look. Makes for a suitably motley band of orc fighters.