Faction Focus Orks: Meet the Boyz!

When the green tide attacks the earth trembles and the trees shake. Coming closer and closer you can hear their savage roars swelling to a deafening noise and all you can see are Green Orks and probably a lot of flying limbs.

The Ork Boyz green tide on Belis Alta
CLICK TO ENLARGE

I proudly present you part of my own green tide. I have about 100 normal boyz in a 70/30 ratio of slugga's to shoota's. These are about 60 of them. It takes me a long time to paint up a group as I paint all of the details and use multiple layers but I like the end result.

Here are some more shots of my Boyz:  WAAAAAAGH!!!

You need a few Nobz to keep things running Smootly
CLICK TO ENLARGE

 

Here's a better picture of a few individual Boyz and you can see why it takes me some time to paint up a new unit. Painting 30 at the time is too much but doing only 10 at the time goes too slow. After all these boys I still haven't found that sweet spot.

Faction Focus: Grey Knights Vindicare Assassin

When the Inquisitorial strike cruiser "Icarus" was within orbit of Belis Alta the vindicare assassin #34.826 had awoken from his cryo chamber. The ships medical staff had slowly turned off the Cryo implants and the assassin regained consciousness. It had been many years ago the the Assassin was last active but now his expertise was needed once again.

Vindicare Assassin on Belis Alta
CLICK TO ENLARGE

Inquisitor Coteaz had ordered the activation of the deadly assassin specially to hunt down the genestealer Patriarch on Belis Alta. Coteaz realised that killing the Patriarch quickly was nigh impossible. He would be protected by his cult followers and would probably not show himself and stay in his lair. But a vindicare assassin was perfect for this job, he would infiltrate deep behind enemy lines and could lie in wait for it's target for days or weeks for that one kill shot. The assassin had been given it's target and when his personal drop pod had landed on Belis Alta assassin #34.826 quickly slipped into darkness and wasn't seen again. The hunt was on...

About Vindicare Assassin Operatives

 The Vindicare Assassins specialise in vengeance and revenge killings. They make use of a specially designed, long-range Sniper Rifle called the Exitus Rifle. The Vindicare Assassin brings inglorious death to the Emperor's enemies with a Sniper's bullet. Vindicare Assassins have been known to wait in a position for as long as two weeks before taking a shot. Many rebellions and cults have been ended with one, perfect shot from a Vindicare's rifle.

The Vindicare Temple teaches the assassin the art of patience and the perfection of marksmanship. These stoic assassins are conditioned by their temple to be unflinchingly loyal to the Imperium, often being trained to limit their vocabulary only to words that are useful for their profession, cutting off all emotional attachments to other humans so that they will never hesitate to eliminate any target.The intense training of a Vindicare Assassin enables them to pick out a single target even amongst roving hordes of enemies on the battlefield.

A Vindicare Assassin scopes
 his target.

Equipment

 The Exitus Rifle of a Vindicare Assassin is his primary weapon, and is chambered to fire a variety of specialised ammunition types, therefore he is equipped to take out targets ranging from well-shielded individuals to monstrous beasts or vehicles. He is also issued with an Exitus Pistol, which fires a shot more powerful than most personal firearms used in the Imperium, providing him with a valuable short-ranged weapon for situations where a sniper's rifle would not do.

Vindicare Assassins wear a Spy Mask, which is able to scan on a wide spectrum to pick out heat and energy sources over long distances. The mask also allows the Assassin to monitor the enemy's communication channels, and comes equipped with concentrated food and water cartridges for extended operations. They also wear a specially designed Stealth Suit, which combines normal synskin with chameleon chemicals to hide their forms in their surroundings.

Source:wh40k.lexicanum.com

Faction Focus: Ork Mad Dok Grotsnik

When limbs are flying through the air of the battlefield you can be sure Mad Dok Grotsnik isn't far away. He loves a good scrap but he loves putting Orks back together even more. An injured Ork can have any missing body part replaces by Grotsnik as long as he has enough teeth to pay for it. If they pay a little extra he will even fit you with a few bionic parts enhancing the combat skills.

Mad Dok Grotsnik leads the charge on Belis Alta...as usual.
CLICK TO ENLARGE

Mad dok Grotsnik is known for his weird experiments. He fitted himself two bionic arms and a powerklaw for superior strength, a bionic eye with target finder, Metal Maw and various pneumatic parts to make him stronger.

The Ork Grotsnik, also known as Mad Dok Grotsnik, was a typical Ork Painboy obsessed with the performance of "surjery" and rooting around in other people's heads to see what he could find -- or alter. Mad Dok Grotsnik is an absolute terror, the most bloodthirsty and deranged of an unhinged breed. Once a Painboy of some skill, Grotsnik is now all but berserk with the desire to do harm to others. He rose to prominence when he became the personal Dok of the future Ork Warlord Ghazghkull Thraka and Ghazghkull gave him credit for opening up his mind to the messages of the Ork Gods Gork and Mork that subsequently led Ghazghkull to lead the two greatest Ork WAAAGH!s in recent history during the Second and Third Wars for Armageddon.

Raving and screaming, the delusional Dok leads the charge toward the foe at an all-out sprint, unmindful of enemy fire in his desperation to sink needles and blades into unwilling flesh. His surgical skills are questionable at best, and only the most desperate Orks will go to him for medical assistance. Yet Ghazghkull will tolerate no threat to the safety of the Ork who facilitated his visions. Indeed, as Ghazghkull's Great WAAAGH! blazes its way across the stars, Grotsnik has become an integral part of the Goff Warlord's personal retinue. The Dok has not entirely lost his touch with a chain-scalpel -- for some reason he still seems able to rein in his maddened impulses if ever called upon to tend the wounds of Ghazghkull himself, and has saved the mighty Greenskin Warlord's life on more than one occasion. Otherwise, however, Grotsnik's chief value these days is as a fighter. He is as brutal as the meanest Goff Nob, and his sheer boundless ferocity serves him well in the press of battle. In combat the Dok becomes a frenzied whirlwind, his excesses inspiring those Orks around him to ever-greater acts of violence.(warhammer wiki)

Faction Focus: Grey Knights Terminators

When the Cruiser "Icarus"was in orbit of Belis Alta a strike force was dispatched to the planet's surface. The strike force was split up and several 5-man squads of Terminators started their "search and destroy" patrols gathering information for Kaldor Draigo who stayed on the Icarus to oversee the action. Going through the desolated ruins of Belis Prime and impermeable jungle every encounter was documented on date sheets and transmitted to the command vessel.

A sergeant leads his 5 man teminator squad on Belis Alta.
CLICK TO ENLARGE

Other than their stats there's no real difference between Terminators or Paladins so these can be fielded as either one. I like using the five man squads with various weapons and I have magnetised the terminator at the back so he can also be fitted with a brotherhood banner. 

Faction Focus: Genestealer Cult Patriarch Kartichii

Many years ago a cargo vessel landed on planet Belis Alta. Unknown then the transport harboured a genestealer that had slipped aboard. The cargo vessel had investigated a ghostly abandoned space cruiser that drifted Steeringless through space. On board the investigation was fruitless. All crew members seemed to have disappeared. No signs of violence, no bodies. The vessel seemed to have been evacuated. Unknowngly the investigators brought a genestealer to their own ship when they salvaged the cruiser's cargo.

Genestealer Patriarch Kartichii and two Familiars
CLICK TO ENLARGE

On Belis Alta the genestealer hid in the shadows waiting for a suitable prey. It found it in Ministorum Priest Benedict Alphus. He "blessed" Alphus with the genestealers kiss, infecting him and setting his own transformation in motion. The genestealer over time grew and became more powerful, as a psychic and in strength. He became the Patriarch known as Kartichii.

Want to read more about the genestealer cult? carry on here

I had a lot of fun painting up this model. It is really well thought out and has a great pose. The only thing I don't like about genestealers is the mouths coming out their tongues so I shaved that off. It was really fun trying to paint the Patriarch as if he was using his psychic powers and having his brain glow and the power going through his body to the tip of his claw.

Faction Focus: Ork BigMek Snagtoof

Snagtoof was just one of the many Meks in Warlord Grimsnik's army. He was small of posture for an Ork but when Skrapsmacka challenged Grimsnick's leadership they fought to the death. Skrapsmacka won but was seriously injured to the head. The other Nobz ordered Mek Snagtoof to heal the new warlord thinking the inexperienced Mek would surely fail and that way they could easily get rid of Skrapsmacka and seize power.

Ork BigMek Snagtoof with his Kustom Force field
CLICK TO ENLARGE

However, things went differently and not only did the warlord make a full recovery, Snagtoof also made some great bionic enhancements to Skrapsmacka's mangled body.
When Skrapsmacka was fully recovered he showed his gratitude to Snagtoof for operating on his brain and body without killing him, actually making him stronger instead. He appointed Snagtoof as the new Big Mek in his WAAAGH! Snagtoof is a thinker and magnificent genius coming up with all sorts of wonderful contraptions and vehicles. He is particularly great in building kustom forcefields, he even wears one as a backpack making it near impossible to shoot him on the battlefield.

Faction Focus: Grey Knights Inquisitor Coteaz

Once inquisitor Coteaz heard word about the uprising on Belis Alta he immediately set course to the sector. He gave orders to ignore the imperial blockade that was put in place to contain the thread on Belis Alta. When his strike cruiser "Icarus" was within orbit of the planet he gathered all the data from the intercepted communications and decided to make planet fall right outside the old hive city Belis prime. From there he would first move through the hab sectors in the south before reaching his destination, the industrial sector, he believed to find what he was looking for here.

Inquisitor Coteaz moving through a hab sector in Belis Prime.
CLICK TO ENLARGE

Moving in with a small team of inquisitorial henchmen and assisted by a small detachment of Grey Knights and Kaldor Draigo himself he soon found himself deep in enemy territory. Surrounded and outnumbered they managed to push forward deeper and deeper into the ruined city. Would they find what they came looking for.....? Make sure to come back soon and find out.

Faction Focus: Blood Angels Dreadnought Brother Kael

Brother Ka'el was once a sergeant in the Blood Angels' 2nd Company until he fell during the battle at Hollonan defending a ridge against the Genestealers incursion. Fighting of wave after wave and losing his entire squad of battle brothers he held the xenos off the ancient Relic. He defended the "blade of Omni" but the genestealers ripped his body to shreds. After the battle he was found clutching the glowing blade. His mortal wounds proved too numerous and severe for even the skills of the Sanguinary Priests. As such, Ka'el was interred within the Adamantium sarcophagus of a mighty Dreadnought built by Brother Morleo.

Brother Ka'el of the Blood angels 2nd company with Tactical Sqd. Abraxus on Belis Alta.
CLICK TO ENLARGE

In response to a request for assistance in putting down a seemingly minor rebellion, Chief Librarian Mephiston of the Blood Angels would lead a strike force to the Imperial Hive World of Hollonan. However what was first thought to be a minor rebellion was soon revealed to be a massive infestation by Tyranid Genestealers of a splinter fleet of Hive Fleet Kraken. The hivecity of Hollonan was also where the sacred "Blade of Omni"was kept. A relic blade that had to be kept from the genestealers at all costs. Because Sergeant Brother Ka'el had sacrificed his own life and succeeded in protecting the relic his mangled body was entombed in a Dreadnought to live for many more battles to come.

Faction Focus: Ork Battlewagon

Warboss Scrapsmacka likes to get in the fight as quickly as possible so he ordered the build of a couple battlewagons. The hulking trucks are the heavy behemoths in his army, the ground shakes and the sky is filled with suffocating black smoke as they move forward. Enemies tremble by the shears sound of screeching tracks and rumbling engines as they get closer and closer.

Ork Battlewagon fitted with Deff Rolla and Kill Kanon.
CLICK TO ENLARGE

After being frustrated a couple of times because his battlewagons got stuck behind his own troops Scrapsmacka ordered his BigMeks to fit every battlewagon with either a Deff Rolla or Reinforced Ram. His troops learned the hard way that the battlewagons would move in one straight line towards the enemy as fast as possible no matter what was in its way

"GET OUT OF ME WAY YA NUMTY!" ouch!! grot didn't move quick enough.
CLICK TO ENLARGE

One of the mightiest vehicles the Orks can field on the battlefield is the Battlewagon. A large truck welded together with different kind of scraps and loot. It can be used as a mobile firing platform with a big gun on it or you can choose to use it as a transport vehicle. It has a few nice option but the best one in my opinion is the deff rolla.

Faction Focus: Genestealer Cult Genestealers Ambush

The Genestealer Cult Hydraic on Belis Alta hails from Hyvefleet Hydra. The cult was started many years ago when a cargo vessel brought a single stowaway genestealer to Belis Alta. It slipped through the starport security and hid in the shadows, lurking for a suitable prey the genestealer ambushed the convoy of the imperial priest of the Adeptus Ministorum, Benedict Alphus. The priests bodyguards were slain but Alphus himself was "blessed" with the "genestealers kiss". Alphus continued his duties but started to use his position and influence to aid the Genestealers objective to infect en infest the Belis system.

The trap is sprung, Genestealers led by the Patriarch Ambush the enemy.
CLICK TO ENLARGE

Patriarch Kartichii of Genestealer Cult Hydraic leads the Assault.
CLICK TO ENLARGE

Genestealers jump out of their hiding places with lightning speed
CLICK TO ENLARGE

At the moment I have 40 Genestealers painted up which seem to come in handy going by their current 8th edition rules. They are led by a Patriarch with his two Familiars. I will do a portrait and bit of storyline on them soon. Of course I have bought the Games Workshop Overkill box set to get the most out of it for my genestealer cult but I also have some various other genestealer types from box sets as the assault on macragge, the normal genestealer boxset and even some genestealers from the original 1989 Space Hulk 1989 set. It's funny to see how the genestealers have changed over the years but as long as you all paint them up the same way and mix them up you don't really notice.

Faction Focus: Ork Warboss Skrapsmacka

The Orks on Belis alta are led by Warboss Skrapsmacka, a fearsome and cunning leader that is ruthless towards his enemies and his own warband. He is often seen dishing out disciplinary punishments to those who don't obey him quick enough or simply stand in his way.

Skrapsmacka in "the battle for Mareks Pass" CLICK TO ENLARGE 

Skrapsmacka came to power when the ork assault on Belis Alta led by Warboss Grimsnik failed. The remaining orks were stranded on the planet and regrouped far from the battlefield deep in the jungle. Warboss Grimsnik ordered the Orks to rebuild their battered warmachines. Piles of loot and scrap were dragged from the battlefield and the rebuilding of the army began. Grimsnik's leadership was under pressure though and from all the Ork Nobz longing for power it was Skrapsmacka who acted first and he challenged Grimsnik to a fight for power. The duel lasted 2 full hours and ended when Skrapsmacka bashed the old Warboss' head in with a peace of scrap. He is their new leader and he is eager to start another Waaagh! on Belis Alta.

----------------------------------------------------------------------