28mm Orc army for KOW - update: More Wolf Riders (21/12/2024)

[Philotep]

Hi!

If you've read my (very few) previous posts, you know that the figures I paint are mostly 1/72 plastic. But I also have an old collection of 25/28mm metal figures, that I began to gather in the 80s when I discovered RPGs and wargames (almost at the same time). I painted a few of them, but I was a really poor painter at that time, mostly unhappy with the result, so many figures remained unpainted.

These days, my son, who has a large Undead army, and I, are playing a series of Kings of War battles, which gives us the opportunity to paint, of finish, or even re-paint the old figures we had, so my Orcs were taken out of their boxes and dusted off to get some colors before being sent into action.

Only one small unit is finished so far:


They have been based using the same method as for my 1/72 Romans (see here). These figures were made by several manufacturers, including Citadel, Ral Partha, Grenadier, Alternative Armies, Warlord Armies (the only plastic figure of the unit)... and even one I don't remember.

Most (but not all) of the other figures have received some paint, as you can see below.

Ordinary warriors:


Wolf riders, heavy and light:


Elite warriors (Rackham figures):


Archers:


Trolls (plastic figures by Dark Alliance, a 1/72 plastic Fantasy manufacturer - I've seen in others topics that everybody knows that already  )


Goblin reinforcements: a catapult and a Goblin king on his war chariot - old GW figures from the late 80s or early 90s


Some finished figures, at last! Vorak, the orc general, and a wizard - Rackham figures


The result so far is a very motley crew, but I have a chance to use them all at last, and that's very pleasant. I will add new pictures in this topic as the works progress.

[Hobgoblin]

Fantastic - armies like this with disparate figures united by colour scheme are wonderful, and this is a great example!

[Pattus Magnus]

I completely agree with Hobgoblin, you have a great army underway! I like how the first complete unit has figures from a few manufacturers, and some conversions, and they blend together. I also enjoy seeing some of the old figures in the mix!

[Morts]

Loving seeing the old ghost miniatures orcs and chronicle hobgoblins in mixed units. Great looking irregular Orc army!!

Morts

[Philotep]

Thank you very much for your comments!
@Morts: thanks to you, I could identify the Old Glory Ghost Mini Orcs! I bought these long ago, second hand, and didn't know who made them. Now I know 

[Philotep]

Hi everyone!
I've been painting Orcs from time to time all over the year since the previous post, but I have been waiting for the end of the year to do the bases and the movement trays.
Here you are one more unit, a troop of archers:




Some close-ups to show the variety of manufacturers:



This Citadel Orc is very special to me since it's one of the first metal figures I've bought, back in 1984. He had been painted with Humbrol paints at that time, and now he's got a second skin with acrylics.

The next one is a Grenadier figure by Nick Lund, bought in the early 90s. Since I wanted to build an army with all my old figures, you will find no less than 3 copies of this guy in the unit.




For the one below, I am not sure, but I think that he is a Ral Partha figure, maybe not sold as an Orc. I've been reading several Ral Partha catalogs lately without finding him, could one of the scholars of this forum help me to identify him ?




For the last picture we dive inside the unit to have a look at the leader - figure by Old Glory.



Hope you like them 

More pictures and explanations here: https://philotepsfigures.blogspot.com/2023/12/the-green-horde-troop-of-archers.html.
See you tomorrow for the net unit to display!

[Grumpy Gnome]

Some great figures with excellent brush work bringing them to life. I can not identify that possible Ral Partha Orc in the leather cap but that is a brilliant sculpt.

[**GS**]

I love those old sculpts and the way you breathed live into them with your paint jobs. Keep them coming!

[OSHIROmodels]

They look grand 

[Hobgoblin]

These are superb! I love seeing disparate miniatures united by a common colour scheme - and it works so well here!

The Ral Partha guy is an Orog (orc-ogre crossbreed) by Bob Olley, from Ral Partha's AD&D range.

[Philotep]

Thank you very much for your kind comments!

The Ral Partha guy is an Orog (orc-ogre crossbreed) by Bob Olley, from Ral Partha's AD&D range.

Yes that's him, exactly, and I have the other two Orogs to paint in a near future! Thank you very much for the link.

[Pattus Magnus]

Great work on your motley orc horde (the best kind of horde)! The archers look excellent, crisp painting and the basing suits them well.

[Morts]

Love the mix of makers in all of the units on the posts.
I recognise many who have passed through my collection - probably because I didn’t get a cohesive scheme for then.

Brilliant painting as well.

Morts

[Philotep]

Thank you again for your kind comments!

As announced, here you are another unit of the Green Horde, a troop of Heavy Wolf Riders.



As for the archers, a mix of several brand: Alternative Armies, Grenadier, Old Glory and RAFM.

A few close-ups: first, a Wolf Rider by Grenadier



Then a rider by Old Glory on a Grenadier Wolf:



Then a leader, Takka the Head Cutter, by Grenadier:



Hope you like them More pictures here: link

See you tomorrow for the next unit!

[LouieN]

A fantastic unit.  Well done