Glyn's Night Goblins - Month 1 - SQUIGS!!! (136 points)

Well, a new year.....and nothing new here in the dystopian nightmare that is the dying husk of the UK. Did I say nothing new? Well, not quite nothing..... 😉

Long have I wanted to paint up my Night Goblin army, but for an equally long time have I pondered over what colour scheme I wanted to use. Most of my musings rested on the question of how to paint black and, of increasing importance since joining the OWAC last year, how to paint black in a realistically fast way. I had initially planned to do my goblins for last years OWAC, but I couldn't find a way of painting black that I really liked or felt comfortable with. But then I stumbled across a tutorial by Vince Venturella on YouTube and eureka! I liked the method, felt even I could do it, and loved the result!! My second question related to colour. An army of black could look somewhat uninspiring....how was I going to give it some brightness?? You guessed it.... Squigs!! 😀

And so, weighing in at 136points for month one, I give you 2 Squig Herder teams and their 6 Squigs!

I must at this point give due credit to a fellow challenger, Chris (Blue), whose goblin skin recipe I have stolen, but not executed anywhere near as well as he does!! But I do like it....a lot! 

I hope you all enjoy the Squigs as much as I enjoyed painting them 😀😄 loads of fun! I'm pleased with how they've turned out and I'm quietly encouraged by the black of the robes ☺️

And as you can see......i am still crap at photos! 

You may recall from my introductory post that I mentioned the possibility of a 3rd archer unit. Gork and Mork have smiled on my Waaaaggghhhhhh (together with the postman working with me to make deliveries as surreptitiously as possible during lockdown!😉😳) and the third unit has materialised. For transparencies sake, my three units currently look as below and next months offering will be one from these 👍😀

Glyn's Night Goblin Army - it's a bad moon that heralds doom!

Well, just when you thought 2020 couldn't get any worse, 2021 arrives and a black tide of spiteful, cackling menace washes over you!

Those of you who participated in OWAC III least year will know that I started upon a quest to paint up the forces of Skarsnik, as present at The Battle for the East Gate of Karak Eight Peaks and as set out in the 4th edition Dwarfs Army book. I focused on the orc contingent last year but this year my attention is wholly upon Skarsnik's nasty, black clad little gits. 

Turning my attention to the aforementioned army list, I noted that I could compile both the North and South forces (see below) which, together with Skarsnik and Gobbla would give me the required points. 

Obviously, my points will not reflect those given above as I am not including the magic items and my infantry blocks are rounded to 30 goblins in each case. 

And so, my command group: 

Skarsnik & Gobbla (205); 2 x Big Bosses (72); Shaman Champion (28); and a BSB for the force (68).

My infantry blocks consist of 30 night goblins armed with Spears and Shields (Inc boss, std & mus) plus 3 fanatics (215.5) & 30 night goblins armed with Sword & Shields (Inc boss, std & mus) plus 3 fanatics (200).

These units are supplemented by 2 blocks of 20 archers, each with short Bows and shields and including full command as above. (90.5 each) 

These units are supported by 2 squig hunter teams with 3 squig per team for 136 pts. 

In total this provides for 1105.5 points. 

Depending on how favourably the painting gods look on me, I have a couple more infantry units which I could paint; 2 units of 4 squig hoppers; 2 more squig hunter teams and, deliveries permitting, perhaps the 3rd archer unit to complete the night goblin contingent for the wider army in this scenario. 

I wish my fellow challengers the best of luck and I can't wait to see the resultant armies. 👍

My offering, noting the Overlord's preferences, is this Eldar Swooping Hawk. Never painted anything 40k so this was quite fun 😀

Glyn's Orc Waaaaggghhhhhh! The conclusion

So, 6 months, lots of paint and paintbrushes, some serious threats to sanity and one global pandemic later, I'm done!! 😀

I said at the outset that my involvement was a result of a new year resolution to challenge myself to see if a) I could do it; and b) do the challenge and the miniatures justice through my efforts. I am pleased to say check to a) but I'll leave judgement on b) to my fellow challengers.

My painting went pretty much to plan other than swapping my planned month for the trolls due to Covid impact upon the availability of the blue I wanted to use. I have had such a great time doing this. Really enjoyed the banter with you all, drooled at the quality of what you guys have produced, marvelled at the speed some of you can paint and been stunned at the volume of minis you can complete! Massive thanks has to go to our esteemed overlord, Iannick Martin, for his excellent marshalling of the event and ready advice for panicking participants! 😀

So, I set out to complete components of Skarsnik's forces at the Battle of East Gate at Karak Eight Peaks and at the end I have the required Orc Big Boss; Big 'Uns; the Shaman and the Stone Trolls. So a nice start! 🤘😊 I wanted my orcs to have a bit of a battle hardened and grimy look and I'm happy I feel I've achieved that. Pleased that the force seems pretty visually cohesive too. Force is (from 4th editition army book) :

Black orc Warboss 'Balgagz Gargul' 143 points
Orc Shaman Champion 'Gunky Bungole' - 118 points
Gorfang Rotgut - 90 points leading,
21 Orc Big 'Uns - 310.5 points
Oorni Bughah's Red Skullz Orcs - 235.5 points; and
6 Stone Trolls - 390 points

= 1287 points +25 points for the gift to the Overlord = 1312 points.

And so, some shots and the required pose.

I am still crap at taking photos but you'll see that I refrained from getting a haircut to make the pose more authentically Ansellesque 😂😂

Between now and when we meet again, I've got this little lot prepped to get on with 😳😂 (I know I've some mould lines to deal with, but I find it easier to see and sort them after undercoating 👍)

Thanks everyone. Wales, out 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Glyn's Orc Waaagghhh - Hey Stoopid!! (390pts)

It seemed appropriate that my title this month referenced a great rock track! 😆 I have had so much fun painting these guys.... and it was a welcome break from green!!

Everyone knows that a trolls most 'endearing' trait is that of stupity! This being the case, I had to come up with suitable names. As most of the painting was done to the accompaniment of the classic 'Magnificent Seven', I toyed with using 6 of the names of the 7 (trolls are stupid and can't count) but these trolls are not good guys, so I dropped that plan.

I considered the firemen of Trumpton (Pugh, Pugh, Barney McGrew, Cuthbert, Dibble & Grubb) but whilst the number was correct, the Stoopid level wasn't high enough.

But then...... Eureka..... I remembered that we live in unprecedented times and, against this backdrop, especially if you are English (I'm not!! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿), they don't come much stoopider than the UK government.

Therefore, and hereinafter any resemblence to persons living or brain dead is purely coincidental, I give you.......
Boris, Rarb, Go!ve, Wonky Eyes Cummings, Handonkok and Pritti (Vacant)!

So, 6 stone trolls weighing in at 390 points takes my army past the magic 1000 points, for a total of 1294 points. I'll save the recap and reflection for next month and leave you with a rank by rank and group shot. 

See you next time, and remember........ when you're stuck between a rock and a hard place..... talk nice..... the rock might be Stoopid enough to move! 😂

Glyn's Orc Waaaaggghhhhhh - Oorni Bughah brings his mob of Red Skullz to the Waaaaggghhhhhh (235.5 pts)

Well, having shamelessly sought refuge behind a combination of a mulligan and the garage last month in the face of lockdown meltdowns, I am happy and relieved to report that whilst skulking in the shadows, I was accosted by Oorni who demanded I show him the way to the Waaagghhh!

This unit of boyz is a combination of Citadel and Heartbreaker sculpts. I have long been a fan of the sculpt originally produced as the commander of the rock lobber but I think he's wasted overlooking the loading of rocks into a contraption almost guaranteed to be the cause of a premature death! A helmet like that deserves a position more befitting 😀 and so I have repurposed him as Oorni Bughah, the Boss of the Red Skullz tribe! He is armed with a sword, carries a shield and wears light armour for 36 points.

This guy is the standard bearer which I personally think is a great sculpt. So much detail but so well constructed it was a joy to paint him up. I opted not to modify his standard to include a banner, opting to just retain the totem as the standard for this unit. He is armed as Oorni and weighs in at 17 points.

My musician is a heartbreaker sculpt that simply oozes charisma.....and the biggest set of googly eyes I think I've ever seen on an orc! I really enjoyed painting the shield used as a gong. I decided to use the same oxidised bronzeish colour I've chosen to use in a few of the front rank sculpts to this unit. I'm rather pleased with how this has turned out.  He too weighs in at 17 points.

These 2 character packed guys complete this Orcy Pontypool Front Row of thuggery. I am again happy with the armours on both of these miniatures and especially enjoyed trying to make the skull cloak actually made up of skulls. I'm not 100% sure I've carried it off that well, but it's the enjoyment that matters right? 🙄

The remainder of the unit is made up of these 3 ranks and with the 2 guys from the front row, add up to 144.5 points. They are all armed with a hand weapon, carry shield and wear light armour.

The unit as a whole weighs into the Waaagghhh at 214.5 points for the month.

I'm also mindful that I haven't given a whole army shot as yet. I've remedied it below. So far the army stands at a total of 889 points.

Lastly, and in no way whatsoever so don't say it is or I'll kick you, my apple for the teacher 🍏 a Black Orc with a massive chopper!! I'll see it gets to you safe and sound Iannick.....and I'll claim the bonus 25 points for the month! 👌👍 giving me a total of 904 points.

My god, I wish I could take better pictures 🙄

Next month will see the introduction of some grit to the waaaaaaggghh.....my 6 stone trolls! 😉

Til next month.......

Glyn

Glyn's Orc Waaaaggghhhhhh - The Boyz are back in town! (241.5 points)

'Guess who just got back today

Them wild-eyed boyz that had been away

Haven't changed that much to say

But man, I still think them orcs are crazy'

A clatter of steel, the clang of shield rims one heavily armoured and muscled mountains of green flesh and a feral roar of approval greated Balgagz orders. The big uns of Gorfangs Red Fang tribe swarmed behind Gorfang at whose growled command they surged forward....

So, thanks to the rats of Clan Pestilens, painting time has been much more readily available this month! 😳 As promised last month, I present you Gorfangs Big Un's. These guys are a mixture of the early 90's Citadel and Marauder orcs; spear welding orcs from the former Heartbreaker miniatures range (now available via RalPartha Europe); and the boss and standard figure from the Citadel range of the early 2000's. With the exception of the Marauder and latter minis, all from the fantastical mind and supremely talented hands of the immortal Kev Adams 🙌🙌


So, by rank..

The last of the front rank heavies! I might even make this guy my boss (in preference to the spear armed Marauder mini)

The second rank. From left to right as viewed, 4 x citadel and last one a Heartbreaker mini.

The third rank. 4th along is also Heartbreaker.

Rank 4

Rear rank

Got to say that I have really enjoyed painting up these guys. Tried to keep them earthy and dirty, using red or blue to add a splash of colour here and there to the minis. Below are a couple of group shots. The shields were added after these shots were taken. Group shot below

And so, this month I give you 241.5 points of big 'ard Orcy menace! 21 big uns armed with double handed weapons, light armour and shields at 11.5 points per mini. Added to the points for last months command minis (69) and Gorfang (90), a unit of 400.5 points.

Next months plan was to do 3 stone trolls......but with a concern about the level of blue and grey paint presently in stock, coupled with COVID - 19 seriously impeding my movements, I'm going for the a unit of 20 boyz inc. Boss, Std & Mus, with sword, LA & Sh for 195.5 points. I'll be making up the shortfall in points with a little something for our mighty overlord 😉🤔 

See you next time guys 👍💚