I’ve never been particularly enthused by Warhammer Underworlds as a game, I’m not that keen on card games and the tagline “The Ultimate Competitive Miniatures Game” is kryptonite to the likes of me who leans more towards enjoying myself and socialising if dice are getting rolled at all, rather than engaging in cut-throat, win-at-all-costs competition. That said the miniatures are pretty damn gorgeous so I picked up Ironskullz Boys just for the fun of painting them (which after all if the mainstay of my hobby anyway – gaming barely makes it into the top ten reasons I do this at the best of times).
Despite how much I love these four miniatures I couldn’t resist making a few minor tweaks and adjustments. Boss-man Gurzag Ironskull got a new head which I reckon makes him look even fiercer (and more of a show-off) than the original, and also makes him uniquely mine.
Likewise his sidekick Bonekutta got a new head – with a helmet, which I think emphasises his brutish power and strength.
The other two ‘ard boyz in the warband, Basha and Hakka, were pretty much perfect as is, in my opinion, so I left them well alone.
And here we have them, my first ever Underworld’s Warband, ready for action in case anyone ever decides to convince me to become a ruthless power-gamer!
I must confess that since painting these the itch to tackle some more greenskins is back. I’ve got a Blood Bowl team I’m meant to be painting, and there’s always a need for more Orks in my 40k collection so watch this space.
Convert or Die 
April 24th, 2020 at 5:56 am
These came out great, I love the armour and the purple cloak too!
April 24th, 2020 at 1:05 pm
Thank you! I’m pleased with the purple cloak – I reckon it makes him look like an orc who thinks he has a bit of class about him š
April 24th, 2020 at 6:08 am
Very nicely done as always and a return to the green skins I see. I think you hit the nail on the head with the words “uniquely mine”. Although I don’t do conversions I see my base work and little dioramas in the same light. There is something about having the only figure(s) in the world like it. Looking forward ro more uniqueness! š
April 25th, 2020 at 8:43 am
I can never keep away from those greenskins for too long! š
I think that element of individual uniqueness is key to why this hobby matters to people (and nowadays more than ever). It’s so easy to just buy things – and that’s not to diminish the hardships of those living in poverty but even the poorest among us lives in a style beyond the reach of a medieval lord and owns more than a hunter gatherer tribe. With miniatures it’s not enough to just buy it and you’re done, you have to work at it; you assemble it, clean away the mould-lines, fill the gaps, paint it, base it – and in the process you put your own stamp on it. You end up with something which isn’t mass produced, something unique and which matters to us, and each of us becomes a craftsperson. Work on a miniature and you end up with an item that you value much more, and that in turn makes you value yourself more. You can create something therefore you have agency, you can do whatever else you need to – you just need to learn the skills – and you have a physical reminder of that sitting in your hand. Just my two pence mind!
April 25th, 2020 at 9:52 am
Cannot argue with your take on miniatures at all. They are as you say all personal at the end of the day. When I started to sell figures on Ebay I thought it would be easy but for every 10 or so I have painted with a view to selling I have kept 9. Some businessman! When the time comes I plan to be buried in a pyramid. They say you cannot take material things with you but I plan to give a bloody good go!
April 24th, 2020 at 8:15 am
Looks like the perfect start on a Black Orc warband for Mordheim if nothing else š
April 25th, 2020 at 8:50 am
Good shout! That or Warcry… or perhaps both… My brain is already kicking around fresh ideas š
April 24th, 2020 at 9:15 am
Superb! Like you, I think the game sounds horrible, but they’ve produced some fab minis to support it & these guys are gorgeous š
April 25th, 2020 at 9:01 am
Cheers dude! Yeah there’s been very few of the warbands that haven’t looked outstanding in my opinion, even the worst have been pretty good and the best have been really exquisite. I can see a few more of these in my future, even if I don’t think I’ll be turning into a card sharp any time soon š
April 24th, 2020 at 2:08 pm
Yayyyy more greenskinz!!! More please. I like Bonekutta. Very āstrikingā hehe thanks folks Iām here all week.
April 25th, 2020 at 9:03 am
Hur-hur-hur :-p Well, you’ll be glad to know that, if all goes according to plan, I’ll be working on plenty more green dudes over the next couple of months. Not much in the way of orks but plenty of orcs lie ahead š
April 25th, 2020 at 9:17 am
Haha excellent
April 24th, 2020 at 3:25 pm
These are really good – I love the purple cloak and the fur (and the crazy expression!) of the first one š
April 25th, 2020 at 9:06 am
Thank you! You can’t beat an orc with a crazy-looking face š
April 24th, 2020 at 8:00 pm
Looks great, both the no-nonsense paint scheme and the headswaps! The fur pelt is probably my favorite detail!
Talking about Underworlds, I do recommend trying out the game with good company if you get a chance. I’m not much for competition either, but I’ve played Shadespire and Nightvault with a couple of friends, and it has been a blast! And definitely more of a social event than cut-throat competition!
April 25th, 2020 at 9:23 am
Thank you – I’m pleased with the way the fur pelt came out, once again contrast paint proves its worth when it comes to painting fur.
That’s good to know. š Aye – the right crowd, playing with the right attitude makes any game good (and vice versa). I do hear a lot of people saying they’ve had fun with it so I’d definitely give it a try in the right circumstances and I’d go into it with an open mind. I can see why GW chose to present it as very cut-throat and competitive but it certainly put me off a bit though.
April 26th, 2020 at 2:56 am
Beautiful greenskins! The metalwork is so well done, these just ooze fun. And youāll be sharing more! Yay!
April 26th, 2020 at 11:47 am
Cheers! Aye, there’s always a few greenskins somewhere on the painting desk – I can’t keep away from them š
April 26th, 2020 at 10:16 am
Looking Great. The fur looks awesome
April 26th, 2020 at 11:48 am
Thank you! Regarding the fur it’s all about the Contrast paints – they don’t entirely suit my painting style but when it comes to doing fur they’re talent in a bottle š
April 26th, 2020 at 10:29 pm
Those are some great minis. Love the weathered (but not too much) weaponary.
Cheers,
Pete.
April 27th, 2020 at 10:22 am
Thank you š I always try to strike a balance with the weathering on orcs and orks. On the one hand they’re not interesting in caring for their wargear when they could be smashin’ but on the other hand they’re not like Nurgle where they’ll actively corrupt their armour and weapons. An orc will be perfectly happy with some nice shiny armour, it just won’t bother to maintain it so it won’t stay nice for long. Thus I always try to put my weathering of armour/weapons on a sliding scale of; too poor to maintain it but doing their best (Cawdor gangers for example) – doesn’t care but not actively out to wreck it (Orcs and other greenskins, some undead) – turns it to rust with their very presence (Nurgle, Skaven, some undead).
April 27th, 2020 at 9:56 pm
Good system. Makes sense.
Cheers,
Pete.