Ramshackle Games : A Kustom Shop made for Orky Vehicles!

Introducing Ramshackle Games, a Independant model and game shop which has rugged vehicles and parts, suitable for the Orks! Check out their website and online store. Here are some samples of some Orkified vehicles using the parts from their shops :

All his stuff are resin casted, which is better than metal for modelling purposes. You can also buy mis-casts from the owner (resin casts that are not perfect), seperate vehicle parts, and bike bases for cheap.

He also has Orcs , goblins and Giants for use of Warhammer Fantasy :

Check them out now! There are loads more stuff on their website, and maybe you can find some ideas of making your own Ork vehicle/armor/wat not. Its nice to save up some pennies (GW please stop the price increase...!) and convert some Orky vehicles on your own. And don't worry, he accepts International orders. :)

One of the best ways to write a Battle Report : Battle Chronicler

One of the best stuff people get attracted to war games such as 40k is the fluff and battle reports. Who doesn't like a good battle report? Seeing your favourite Ork waaagh kicking another army's butt, with pictures, descriptions and some fluff fun thrown in is golden. It should be shared around the online community for good measure!

Everything is digital now and even if you didn't snap enough pictures of your miniatures, there is this program that I find useful for making good battle reports. Its the Battle Chronicler, a new and free software with friendly GUI features. Check them out here!

Features of Battle Chronicler

• Easy to use
• Movement arrows and measurements
• Replicates a real game
• Good graphics
• Easily exportable to a HTML file (complete with jpeg), text file or Image file.
• Highly customizable with colors, symbols and own images for your terrains and units

Additional terrain files which can be downloaded here

There is also a sample battle report here. The website has video tutorials and files that can help you jump right in. This software is good for 40k, fantasy and any war games as a matter of fact. The best thing is, its free! Go try it now... :)

New Forgeworld Ork Meka Dread out!

Just when I thought the Ork wave from Forgeworld is over for now...here comes another one!

Forge World is sure trying it's best to push the sales of Imperial Armour 8 with awesome looking models in the book. Damn you FW!

Presenting...Da New Meka Dread!

Description from da Meka Dread body from Forge World :

These modified Mega Dreads replace the big shootas with multiple tool-equipped servo-arms for battlefield 'fixins'.

The Meka Dread Body is also supplied with a Big Mek pilot, holding the 'complex' Kontrol system of this unique war machine. Complete resin kit, arms shown for illustration purposes only and are sold separately. Model designed by Phil Stutcinskas, crew model designed by Mark Bedford.

Desciption of the Shunta Arm :

An outlandish experimental energy-hungry weapon, the Shunta is a compact magneto-gravitic 'traktor' gun. Similar to the Lifta-Droppa it can hurl a bubble of energy that smashes targets aside like a giant hammer. Complete resin kit for the Ork Meka Dread. Model designed by Phil Stutcinskas.

And the description of the Kil Saw Arm :

Huge saw-blade arms are often seen on Mega Dreads. Their pilots love seeing them rip through even the strongest of armour. Compete resin kit for the Ork Mega or Meka dreads. Model designed by Phil Stutcinskas.

The body set of the Meka Dread is priced at £35.00 (~USD 51.80). The inclusion of a Big Mek pilot is sure a good bonus...  :P

Basically the legs are the same as the previous Mega Dread from Forgeworld, it's just the upper body and both hands are new. The Shunta Arm and Kil Saw Arm are priced at £18.00 (~USD 26.60) and £16.00 (~USD 23.70) respectively. The Meka Dread body and both new arms are interchangable with the previous Mega Dread and it's Kil Kannon and Rippa Klaw Arm.

I like both the newer Arms over the older ones, but the older Mega Dread does look a bit more menacing than this new one with its huge gob jaws.

So in total, to get the whole Meka Dread runnin' you need to spend £69.00 (~USD 103.60).
 
I might consider getting this in the future if it's in the new Ork codex...please let this and the Grot Tankz be in!

Full of Orkyness in Imperial Armour 8 : Raid on Kastorel-Novem

Imperial Armour 8, the latest expansion from the series is full of Orky stuff! If you didn't get to know the earlier books, this is probably the best set to pickup. In this volume, it tells the story of the Raven Guards and 181st Elysian Drop Regiment trying to push back the might forces of Warboss Garaghak in the Ork territory of the Forsarr Sectior. Yes, those beakie boyz and humies are both trying to put a good fight wif us!

Here is the description of it from Forge World :

"Waaagh! Garaghak is gathering pace across the Forsarr sector. Several of the Imperium¹s worlds have already fallen to the rising green tide of Orks, and now the sector¹s primary hive world has been invaded. Garaghak¹s hordes seem unstoppable, except that the Raven Guard¹s Scouts have discovered a secret behind the Goff Warlord¹s unending warbands ­ - an Ork technical genius called Mek Boss Buzzgob who has created his own factories on the former Imperial refinery world in the Kastorel system.

This book contains a detailed history of the Raid on Kastorel-Novem and the rise of Warlord Garaghak. There is a complete Elysian Drop Troop Imperial Guard army list, including the Vulture gunship, Valkyrie Sky Talon and the Tauros and Tauros Venator rapid assault vehicles. There is also background information on the Raven Guard Space Marine Chapter, along with a new special character, Shadow Captain Korvydae. Rules, background and technical details are included for all of the recent Forge World Ork releases.

This book is heavily illustrated with over 50 colour pictures, 60 full colour vehicle profiles, over 30 technical drawings, plus colour profiles for the Elysian Drop Troops, Raven Guard and the Orks of the Goff, Evil Sunz and Death Skullz clans, all to add new depth and detail to the Warhammer 40,000 universe.

Also included in this book is a folded copy of an A1 Ork poster featuring artwork by Paul Bonner, Sam Lamont and Kenton Mills

To view the books contents click here."

This hard-cover expansion book contains 224 pages and retails at £45.00 (~USD65). The Ork poster is a good bonus for us too! Less beakie posters please...they are everywhere. There are a LOT of detailed ork units and klans covered in this book, from the book contents PDF provided by Forge World here. Goffs, Deffskulls, Evil Sunz, Zhardsnark the Biker Warboss, Mekboss Buzzgob, Tanks (GROT TANKS!), Chinork, Bommas, Trukks, Gargants, etc...all this will leave any dedicated Ork player drooling and wish they could get stuck in A.S.A.P. By the way, Zhardsnark is a unique Ork Warboss on bike model which is an alternative to Wazdakka Gutsmek, for he can bring in warbikers as troop choice too.

There will be a new Dread Mob army list that contains full rules for the entire range of Forge World Ork models which means lots of Kans, Deffdreads and also the new Mega-Dread!

There are story campaigns for you to have that RPG feel while playing and some Apocalypse battle formations and appendix as well.

Here are some pictures from Forge World :

Very colorful and attractive eh? Imperial Armour is definately a good way to spend time with your Orks out of the regular WH40k game, and to play new units and formations with some good story background.

Help Waaagh! Garaghak into stomping the humies now! According to sources, the first 500 copies ordered will be signed by Warwick Kinrade, the co-author of the book.

Grot Tanks are 'ere!

Forge World just updated their website available to pre-order your Grot Tanks, which will be released on the end of June. The Grot Tanks was first spotted in Forge World Open Day earlier this year, and it has finally been put up on the website recently.

To play the Grot Tank, you need to get the Imperial Armour 8 : Raid on Kastorel-Novem  book from Forge World, in which it will be described under the Dread Mob section. But the designer was good enough to give a free Apocalypse Grot Tank formation sheet here.

The description from the Forge World website :

"The lunatic product of the deranged imaginations of grot riggers and scavs that have spent far too long basking in the insane genius of the Big Meks, Grots Tanks are diminutive armoured vehicles made to imitate the far larger Ork Wagons and Tanks. The set contains four different variant chassis, tracks, exhausts and turrets as well as four fantastic Grot Tank Kommandaz and 5 different, incredibly shooty, weapon options. Models designed by Daren Parrwood, Crew models designed by Mark Bedford."

So Forge World retails the price of this set at £58.00 (~USD 83.80). So a Grot tank will cost about £14.50 (~USD 20.90).

 Taken from Forge World open day - All Grot Tank parts are interchangable!

According to designer Daren Parrwood on the Games Workshop blog, he has taken care to ensure the kit is fully modular – all of the chassis, turret, exhaust, track and weapon options are completely interchangeable. This allows more than a thousand individual tanks to be built from the kits, that means you can attach regular ork weapons from your bit box, and other items in the Forge World range, such as Gretchin Crews and the recently-released Weapons Set.

Speak of the Forge World Gretchin crew, it consists of 11 different resin models for £22.00 (~USD 31.79), which means £2 (~USD2.89) for each grot model. There goes our wallet again...:P

Unfortunately Grot Tanks is an Imperial Armour unit, so it can't be played on normal games...I hope the next codex, they will include Grot Tanks as heavy support units! We can't let these grotz be mucking about!

Incorporating Fantasy Orcs model into WH40k Orks Part 1

Its great that Games Workshop made both Fantasy Orcs and 40k Orks to be similar in looks. The better

news is that most of the Orc pieces are the same size as their 40k counterpart. Many veteran Ork modellers definitely will have some Fantasy Orc bits incorporated into their 40k Orks (and some vice versa). In this post, I'll go down the some of the potential Orc pieces that can be used in your Ork army.

Warhammer Fantasy Black Orcs

Description from Games Workshop:

Black Orcs are the biggest and strongest of all Orcs, and get their name from their dour, grim demeanour as much as from the colour of their skin, which is extremely dark green or black.They take war much more seriously than other Orcs and have the best equipment. Many of their fearsome weapons are captured in battle, and carried as a mark of their self-evident superiority, while others are paid in tribute by subjugated tribes.

This multi-part plastic boxed set contains 10 Black Orcs, which can be assembled with double handed weapons or choppas and includes options for a Champion, Standard Bearer and Musician.

Retail Price : USD28.00 / GBP17.00
Amazon Price : ~USD18.99
 

These guys make good Nobz in 'eavy armor and comes together with big Choppas (double handed weapons). You can make swap it by adding Nob sluggas and Power Klaw bits. There are people around the net who uses it as a 'ard Boyz squad too. They will also look great as a Warbiker Nob by doing some modifications to its legs to fit in a Warbike (or Warboar :P).

Flash gitz maybe possible too by adding in kustom made snazzguns, or getting them from a bits store online. Plus, the Ork Standard looks might awesome too.

Orc and Goblin Cave Squig Herd

Description from Games Workshop : 

Squigs are weird beasties - part fungus, part flesh, but mostly teeth and claws. Although they are wild and dangerous creatures, it is possible to herd them towards the enemy by means of pitchforks, firebrands and the beating of loud drums.

Retail Price : USD19.75 / GBP 12.00

You may need these metal blister squids for a few reasons, as Tankbusta Squig variant, Attack Squig for your Warboss, as a Angry Squig model if you successfuly turn a enemy IC using Old Zogworth's power, to accompany your Grotz and Runtherd, or simply stick it to your Ork vehicles for decoration purpose. Orks are a fun race, and squigs just add more flava into it. :D

Orc Warriors Regiment

* Sorry I can't able to find sprues of them around the internet...

Description from Games Workshop : 

Even the smallest Orcs pack a great deal of bone, muscle and bloody-mindedness into a body as tall as a man and substantially broader. Orcs are tougher than any normal man, although less nimble, and far less organised, which is why Orc Bosses have to be even more brutal than the Orcs they lead.

This box set contains 19 multi-part plastic Orc Boyz, which can be assembled with spears or choppas and includes options for a Champion, Standard Bearer and Musician.

Retail Price : USD35.00 / GBP18.00

Amazon Price : USD24.49

These guys look the same as your regular Ork Boyz. You are bound to have extra shoota or slugga arms for you can only make 10 shootas or 10 sluggas from a Ork Boyz set. The different look choppas and heads is also good to add more variety to your Boyz. Plus, 19 Orc Boyz for less than two times of the Ork Boyz box is already a good bargain. With some proppa modifications, you may even convert them to Tankbustas (add rokkits and tankbusta bombs from the Ork Boyz sprue) or Kommandos (by painting camo on them). They fit in any regular boyz' torso and legs so you're free to mix and match to fit them anywhere!

I've also mentioned the new Orc Boarboyz in the previous post, so its a good idea to get these guys too.

In the next part I'll scour more miniatures in the Warhammer Fantasy line that can be converted to fit in a WH40k Orks army. Stay tuned!

New Orc Boarboyz!

New Orcs and Goblins stuff is always good news for greenskins in the 40k millenia as well, since the both have the same looks! The new Orc boarboyz set looks good to convert as a Warbike and very suitable for a Snakebite/Feral themed Ork army.Check out the sprues on this thing!

Here is the description from the Games Workshop website :

Orc Boar Boyz are rough, tough and very determined. They ride into battle atop War boars - evil-minded creatures that will take every opportunity to maim, bite and kick the enemy of their Orc masters. Boar Boyz are the shock cavalry of an Orc and Goblin army, and they love nothing better that to gore, stamp and inflict damage on the enemy.

This box set contains five multi-part plastic Orc Boar Boyz. This set includes a host of interchangeable components that mean no two units need ever look the same. These include: three boar body types, five different boar heads, jaws and ears, a range of Orc arms, heads, weapons and shields, and all of the components needed to upgrade three of the Boar Boyz to a standard bearer, musician and Boss. Models supplied with 25mm x 50mm bases.


Five multi part Boar Boyz for retail price of $24.75 is a good bargain! (compared to 3 warbikers for $41.25 retail). Yes, there maybe no dakkagun on this set, but you can always get extra shoota bits from your bitbox or online bits shop and strap them on. There is a good 8 pieces of ork head and choppas in this set as well, where you can use it to add variety to your orks. The shields can be used as some orky glyphs as well. With some modification from a Ork Nob set and this one, you can make it look really good.

Good price, good number of extra bits, and boars make this set a winner!

Ork Lootas and Burnas Review

The new Ork lootas and burnas box look good on the outside, but is it good for the value you pay for it? Lets check out the sprues!

Bits :

General Bits

5 x Legs

4 x Torsos

1 x Torso w/ Hole (to attach backpacks)

2 x Ork Glyphs

Mekboy

1 x Mekboy Head

1 x Mekboy Tool Backpack

1 x Left Arm w/ Kustom Mega Blasta

1 x Right Arm

Big Shoota

1 x Big Shoota Backpack w/ Ammo Runt

1 x Left Arm w/ Big Shoota and Strap

Rokkit Launcha

1 x Right Arm w/ Rokkit Launcha

1 x Rokkit Launcha Shield

Burnas

4 x Burna Boys Head

4 x Burna Fuel Tanks

4 x Right Arm / Burna

4 x Left Arm

4 x Burna Straps

1 x Unknown Part

Lootas

4 x Lootas Head

3 x Right Arm w/Deffgun

3 x Left Arm w/ Deffgun Ammo

1 x Left Arm w/ Deffgun

1 x Right Arm w/ Deffgun Ammo

4 x Eye Scopes

4 x Deffgun grills

1 x Half of a Deffgun Barrel 

4 x Deffgun extra bits

2 x Flying Ammos

Hrmmm....5 units for the retail price of USD 22 seems a bit pricey. From this box of 3 sprues itself, you can make up to 4 Burnas + 1 Mekboy OR 4 Lootas + 1 Mekboy. But not to worry! Just get another 4 pairs or Torso and Legs and you'll eventually have...4 Burnas + 4 Lootas + 1 Mekboy = 9 ork units! 

The Rokkit Launcha and Big Shoota bits seems like a surprise though. They are incomplete and probably tend to be used together with the bits from the Orks Boyz box. The ammo runt on the bag is a nice bonus though...I always thought Grotz should always accompany Orks like how Goblins do with Orcs in WH Fantasy. :P

With the extra bits (or even the Deffguns), you can probably do some modification and make them into Flash Gitz and with the Rokkit Arm, Tankbustas . The Burnas is an optional upgrade for Kommandos as well, so you can possibly use them there with some extra touches on the paint and bits. The heads look very good on this sprues too especially the Mekboy and Burnas. 

These boyz look good on the table and there are minor details which is cool to paint with. Not to mention, the lootas are a menance in the game as well! But to make them effective you probably need at least 10 of those...which means you need to get about 3 boxes of it...or maybe you can hunt for lootas only sprues on ebay. Make sure to get torsos and legs as well!

Pros : Weapons and heads look detailed and good for painting, extra Rokkit and Shoota bits (with the Grot!) is a nice bonus, value for money if you have extra torsos + legs.

Cons : Not many extra bits, legs pose looks similar which maybe boring. Why didn't they include another 4 torsos + legs and just increase the price a little bit? 4 lootas isn't enough for the price paid since you need many of it in the game. Details maybe a bit difficult to paint for beginners.

Final Verdict : Ork Bosses should buy this box, and get more torsos + legs! Lootas are strong in the game. Burnas if used properly can be a real menace to mass army units (tyranids, other orks, IG) and can be used as a power weapon against high armored units.

Rating : 8/10

GW Retail Price: USD 22.00 / £13.50

Amazon Price : ~US $ 16.99  

Ork Nobz Box Set Review

     Its been a long time since we need a plastic mob of Ork nobz! Plastic kits are better in my opinion cause they are cheaper, lighter to carry around for gaming purposes, and easier to cut/modify for modelling purposes.

 Nobz Bits :

10 x Nobz Head

 5  x Nobz Front Torso
5 x Nobz Back Torso + Legs
2 x Empty Left Hand (for use with big choppas or Kombi-Weapons)
5 x Empty Right Hand
1 x Left arm w/ Drill
2 x Right Arm w/ Power Klaw
1 x Left Arm w/ Power Klaw
1 x Single Power Klaw blade
2 x Double Power Klaw blades
3 x Left Arm w/ Slugga
2 x Right Arm w/ Slugga
3 x Right Arm w/ Choppa
2 x Left Arm w/ Choppa
1 x Left Arm w/ Buzzsaw
1 x Right Arm w/ Kombi-Skorcha
2 x Right Arm w/ Kombi-Rokkit Launcha

Other bits

26 x Shoulder Pads
3 x Iron Gob
2 x Shoota Magazines
1 x Belt w/ 3 skulls
1 x Orky Pony-tail hair
1 x Orky Pony-tail hair w/skull
1 x Pistol w/ cover
1 x Pistol w/ cover + Machete
1 x Pistol w/ cover + Squig
3 x Bosspole
6 x Clan Symbols (Goff, Evil Sunz, Bad Moons, Snakebites, etc.)
1 x Empty Bosspole
1 x Ammo Runt (Grot w/Stikbomm and a bag of ammos)


There are quite a number of bitz in this set, but most of it are only suitable for Nobz, Flash Gitz or maybe the Warboss by giving him the ammo runt, squig, pistols and bosspoles and clan symbols (but it may make him look puny though...). Unlike the Ork Boyz box set, there isn't much extra bitz to add flavor to your minis, they just give you most of the necessary bitz that is usable in the game, such as all available weapon upgrades, ammo runt, attack squig, bosspoles and armor upgrades.

The other thing is that the Nobz torso is attached to the legs, so unless you do some cutting, there is no way you can twist its legs to your liking or swap it with the Ork Boyz' Nob. At least the nob heads have some unique designs which is good to swap with the ork boyz' nob though.

The big choppas look great and intimidating on the table. It's debatable whether the big choppas is good in the game or not, but I'll just leave the decision to you. There are extra weapons we which doesn't exist in the game, such as the buzzsaw arm (which looks like a 'dread/kan) and the drill arm, which looks pretty cool as well. I guess they can proxied as a power klaw...

There are 26 shoulder pads in this kit! You can put two on each of the five nobz and still have 1 extra left. Its good if you want to add armors to other units like regular Ork Boyz or Flash Gitz.

Pros : Good number or Nob heads for customization, many new and uniques bits such as the squig, ammo runt and the weapons. Big Choppas look mighty awesome, the drill arm and buzzsaw arm is an interesting option for your nob models. LOADS of shoulder pads, Clan symbols for almost all the clans. Plastic models = cheaper models.

Cons : Torso is stuck to the legs which limits customization unless you cut it, not as much extra bitz compare to the ork boyz box, No Painboy model upgrade provided.

Final Verdict : Ork Nobz are pretty strong in the field, but you may need a Painboy to make your squad even more 'ard and killy! Even if you don't play the miniature game that much, they still look good on your table with those big choppas and kombi-weapon together.

Rating : 8.5/10

Retail Price : US $25.00 / GB £15.00

Amazon Price : ~USD$19.99 (excluding shipping)

Ork Battlewagon Review

   The new plastic battlewagon from GW. The fans are waiting a long time for it, but here it is! This time, Games Workshop did post pictures of every bit in this kit for reference. But I prefer it to be red though, cause the red wunz go fasta'!

Look at all those parts and bits...its like a Ork player's dream come true! GW really put an effort into making this Battlewagon as orky as possible! The base design like the tyres and most bits do look similar like the new ork trukk, so it will look good if bunched together with your trukk. You probably won't use all the bits on this battlewagon (such as the 'ard case. grabbin' klaw, killkannon) you can keep it for the use of upgrading the looks of your Trukk or even your custom Looted Wagon.

What's better is there are actually 4 boyz and a grot in this kit as well. Yes, that means there are 4 extra boyz heads that is interchangable with other miniatures with the size of boyz, like regular Ork Boyz, Stormboyz, Lootas, etc. One of the Ork heads is also unique! (see the head for the Grabbing Claw Operator, it has a unique design with a red scope). The grot gunner added to the Battlewagon is also a bonus...I always feel that every ork vehicle should have at least a grot or two for the luls. This is the epitome of all orky vehicles!

Pros : Detailed bits, look mighty impressive on the table, extra ork heads to swap with other kits.

Cons : A little bit pricey and may require some experience (and patience) to assemble and paint due to the number of bits and the overall size of the kit.

Final Verdict : The Battlewagon is powerful in the game, but not everyone has the points to fit it in. If you are a collector or has the Battlewagon in your plans, then just do it!

Rating : 8.5/10

Retail Price : US $57.75 / GB £35.00

Amazon Price : ~USD$39.09 (excluding shipping)