em4 Miniatures Grenadier Orcs challenge

[Red Orc]

I didn't mean the plastic, more the style. Yes, the plastic on the HQ minis is pretty horrendous. Having done a few goblin conversions, it's not great to work with in my opinion. But the styles might work together (I've not been up in the loft yet to get the relevant boxes down).

[sukhe_bator]

Yep - I reckon you're onto something there - a compatible mash up of the different ranges would look pretty good I reckon.
I've also used accessories from the Zvezda Ring of Rule Orc set with some success....

[beefcake]

I've never been able to find a seller of the ring of rule stuff.

Also you know you are going to spend more on paint and greenstuff than on the actual minis

[maxxon]

Wonderful collection and a great project.

I really like these figures as well (orcs more than the dwarves, actually).

I painted about 50 of them last year to clear some of my backlog but I didn't venture into conversions. I have previously used regular plastic glue on them but it is true that it has a hard time with this material so I switched to superglue.

[Jevenkah]

Glad to see you pick up this project again! It was an email from this thread that started me catching up on my LAFfing this week. It's been too long!

Can't wait to see some pictures. I love me some Lund/Lund-look-alike orcs!

Jevenkah

[sukhe_bator]

Maxxon - I'm liking your paintjob on those swordsmen! I really need to make a start on painting some of my horde up. I know they will be a breeze to paint. I'm now down to the last dozen or so conversions, but I'm finding scooping out the backs of the separate shields to take the hands a real chore. I've taken to using a large diameter drill to start them off, then finishing up with a scalpel.
Also something to beware of if you opt for conversions is when you separate the L arm from the spearman figure you always lose some detail around the knuckles of the L hand. That makes a kinda awkward shape to glue to so needs some extra trimming. Most of this will be hidden behind the shield in the finished mini so won't show. 

Jevenkah - I promise to post some pics soon. I'm having to do that kinda thing at home since the work pc doesn't like photobucket. The problem then is prising my wife off the laptop long enough to download some pics!

[maxxon]

Thanks.

It's actually a pretty quick and simple "dip job", with most of the figure washed with Vallejo sepia wash after blocking in base colors. Basically just the sword blade, the teeth and the shields were done separately -- I find this helps give the figure some definition.

[sukhe_bator]

Maxxon,
I use practically the same technique but use Windsor & Newton peat brown ink as a wash/lowlight, then add highlights metals drybrushing etc. Looking forward to doing some piebald and skewbald hide and furs

[sukhe_bator]

Finally able to post some pics of the Em4 orc horde

The spearman block

The spearman block

Swordsmen with fur cloaks

Swordsmen various

Armoured swordsmen

Standard bearers various

The rhythmn section

The archers en masse


Archers with scalplocks

Armoured archers

Archers with cloaks and fur caps

Swordsmen from spearmen

[sundayhero]

Too cool ! I really like what you did with plastic minis. I like the old school flavor also. Can't wait to see them painted !

Something interesting also would be to know how much this army will cost you finally !

[sukhe_bator]

sundayhero
£30 for 50 x archers, 50 x spearmen, 50 x swordsmen, 1 pk 100 shields from Em4
£5 for Green stuff
£5 for brass rod (for pinning and glueing & for spear shafts)
Superglue x 1
Cheap contact glue x 1
Instant Polyfilla x 1
Scrap card
£5 magnetic basing material (fully magnetic L plates from amazon)
The rest is from my bits box.
Probably £50 all in

[Mason]

That is seriously impressive, mate.
Well worth the effort.
 

A fair old horde that I am looking forward to seeing with paint on.

[sundayhero]

That's a pretty decent price for a  complete army. Now I want to see this painted !

[OSHIROmodels]

Impressive 

cheers

James

[weismonsters]

I am deeply impressed with the way you transformed 3 sets of monopose into such a variety of interesting troops.