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Author Topic: Shanka/Flatheads Sourcing  (Read 954 times)

Offline Olsson

  • Librarian
  • Posts: 186
Shanka/Flatheads Sourcing
« on: June 30, 2020, 05:25:23 PM »

I've recently been playing with the idea of converting and painting up some miniatures set in the world of The First Law series. In general this is easily enough done, since the different cultures are pretty easy historical counterparts to source parts from. But the "orcs" of that world, the creatures created only for war and little else are called shanka or flatheads and are a bit different.

To quote from the book "The Shanka are "something between a man and an animal". An ape-like creature, with twisted claw-like hands at the end of their long arms. Their faces are grey with flat snouts and forehead, hairless brow, and over-sized teeth." My mind first goes to various beastmen and their like for bodies/torsos but heads is where I am uncertain and was wondering if anyone has any suggestions?

Offline Munindk

  • Mad Scientist
  • Posts: 642
  • Denmark
Re: Shanka/Flatheads Sourcing
« Reply #1 on: June 30, 2020, 05:56:31 PM »
My only suggestion is Frostgrave Gnolls, maybe some Oathmark goblins and GW Beastmen parts thrown i.
Perry Mahdist Ansar bodies and arms with Gnoll heads maybe?

Not sure if the Gnoll heads are too big? That might not be a bad thing though, the Shanka er supposed to be malformed.

The gnolls are the closest I've seen to the "doglike" heads of the shanka. Gnoll heads, GW beastmen heads, maybe some GW skaven heads on whatever bodies that might fit.

Offline jonw

  • Student
  • Posts: 13
Re: Shanka/Flatheads Sourcing
« Reply #2 on: July 01, 2020, 07:47:59 AM »

Offline Mammoth miniatures

  • Mad Scientist
  • Posts: 565
Re: Shanka/Flatheads Sourcing
« Reply #3 on: July 01, 2020, 08:01:38 AM »
From the description i wonder if the GW goblin town goblins would work?

Offline Munindk

  • Mad Scientist
  • Posts: 642
  • Denmark
Re: Shanka/Flatheads Sourcing
« Reply #4 on: July 01, 2020, 10:41:52 AM »
One of the nice things about Shanka are that they differ so much, a few runty goblin town Shankas would easily fit in with some beefier Corelocks :)

Maybe there are other neanderthal'ish miniatures out there that would work?
Add some crude  metal weapons here and there and maybe elongate the mouth/nose to be more canine?

Offline Olsson

  • Librarian
  • Posts: 186
Re: Shanka/Flatheads Sourcing
« Reply #5 on: July 03, 2020, 10:14:24 PM »

The Corelocks look splendid for what I envisioned in my head jonw, thank you! Had never heard of that company before.

And the point about there being a lot of variation among them is valid. Many thanks to all for answering.

 

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