"Gut You Like a Bonefish!" - Beginning of an Orc army (Archers 9/7/25)

[Garanhir]

They look splendid, really vicious-looking nasties.

Regarding the  "knuckledusters", they are indeed shield bosses. The listing for the "Armoured Orc Warriors" pack says that weapons and shields are included, and that you get a random assortment.

So I'd say there were supposed to be shields in the pack that were left out by accident. I'm sure if you drop Hobday & Hicks a line they'll get you sorted out.

[JollyBob]

These look great, proper grubby nasty orcs as God (or Morgoth) intended...

Re: replacement shields, I have bought several from this eBay seller:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/str/warpigmodels/WarPig-Shields/_i.html?store_cat=4131204619&_trksid=p2334524.m570.l113337

They come in a variety of styles and options for central holes for pre-attached bosses. The round ones would probably work a treat.
Pretty reasonable prices too.

[mikedemana]

Thanks, everyone for advice or offers about the shields. There are only 4 total orcs that would need the shield. The rest of my purchase was of Gripping Beast metals. These were the only Hicks & Hobday ones. So, I'm ambivalent about sending off to get them -- especially if that would be overseas (I'm in the States), with all the shipping mess going on, now.

Anyway, appreciate the encouragement and kind words. The second batch is about done muttering something about having "... nothin' but maggoty bread for three stinkin' days!"

Mike Demana

[mikedemana]

I got the Warhost Orc archers done this past week. As I figured they went much faster than the Linebreakers, which started off this thread. They're still amazing figures -- love the poses, variety, and details.



I liked how the Linebreakers came out, so I used the exact same recipe for Orc skin -- Walnut base coat, medium leather dry brush, and khaki highlight. One thing that makes this flesh tone look particularly orc-like is that the Walnut base coat is not 100% opaque. Somehow, combined with the other colors, it gives a nice, dark olive-toned flesh. Honestly, I lucked into this combination more than anything else. However, I will likely use it for the entire project.



I picked out a base coat color for each orc's main article of clothing. Earlier, I had made a list of my paints that I thought would look appropriate for orcs. I set the bottle behind each figure. Typically, when painting 28mm Dark Ages or other figures, I will glue them to a square of cardboard first. I would then scribble down on the cardboard what color I would use for the tunic, trousers, etc. With the orcs, I can't do that since I am basing them up first. I'm actually not sure why I decided to change my usual method and glue them first to their 1" plywood circles with magnetic bottoms.



From this point on, it was a matter of adding in a new base coat followed up by a dry brush for each color of clothing. Some had only one article of clothing, so only one color combo. Others had several. Either way, the variety of poses added not only interest and variety to the painting process, it made me focus and be more careful.



I am happy with how the "Orcses...filth!" (as Gollum would say) came out. I am looking forward to seeing how the Gripping Beast metal figs paint up, too, whether similarly or differently.



Thanks for all the kind comments to the first batch. I hope you guys like the archers, as well...

Mike Demana

[Little Odo]

Great additions to the growing orc horde. The archers turned out splendidly.