Ogre Maneaters

[Demortu]

I do love the ogre models and I am (very) slowly painting up some basic Ogs of my own. These conversionsn and paint jobs are fantastic - you're very talented and I look forward to seeing more!

[Lew_b81]

Thanks everyone! It's your comments that make me make special effort to make a paint things.
I'm really glad everyone likes the Chaos Dwarf one, I was really worried about a. how to make it, and b. if it would do justice to an army that I don't really know a lot about.

Quick update before I go out, a new Ogre! Number three in the four-man Irongut unit, this one is a bit different, as it will eventually be a Black Orc. For now, the basic shape and stuff is done:



Notice the blu-tac!

[scipunk]

Now That's a Great Weapon!!!

Conversions looking good.

Keep it up

[mrtn]

Great painting on the non-dwarf.

[Lew_b81]

Now That's a Great Weapon!!!

Conversions looking good.

Keep it up

Heh, it's a lot smaller than it was on the first attempt!

Thanks mrtn. I should be getting started on the non-Chaos Dwarf tomorrow!

[Kalsir]

One thing about the chaos dwarf: Chaos Dwarfs often wear a coat of plates/lammelar instead of chainmail, but he looks great anyways.

[Lew_b81]

I'm back! Last week I had a bit of an Easter break. My girlfriend came up to stay for the week. We had a bit egg hunt (over 300 eggs) in my friend's garden, and around 20 people over for a big roast dinner. Yum yum.

So now, I'm back! In the time off I haven't had much time for hobby things, but I've done little bits everyday, and now the Black Orc is done! Quite a departure from the last time you all saw, so I would love to know what everyone thinks!

One thing about the chaos dwarf: Chaos Dwarfs often wear a coat of plates/lammelar instead of chainmail, but he looks great anyways.

I was actually going to do platemail on him, but decided to save it for the Elves later on. I went with chainmail to make a nice comparison with the Dwarf.

[Gork or Possibly Mork]

Looks great. I like the fact your keeping it simple. Although it may not be the simplest thing in the world to sculpt.

Let me explain what I mean by that. You talked about it earlier that you wanted the culture to be there but for them to keep thier Ogre imagery.

I've seen amazing Ogre maneater sculpts but what I didn't like is they just looked like bigger versions of that race. Like they were dressed up with bigger replica's of arms and armour of said race. Not that it's a bad thing but what Im saying is I'd rather have elements of said race than what looks more like a 54mm version of it with an ogre head.

Anyway I think you've achieved that quite well. They look like Ogres that were hanging out with a particular race rather than that particular race just got big if you know what I mean.

Ok now for the critique. More of a conversion preference. The sculpt I think you nailed it. The only thing I would change is the squig in front of the gnoblar like he's goading it along. I guess you could argue the squig is goading him lol but I think it will look better overall if they swapped postions with the squig in front.

[Armond]

That looks awesome! well done!!!

[Lew_b81]

Cheers Armond.

Looks great. I like the fact your keeping it simple. Although it may not be the simplest thing in the world to sculpt.

I've seen amazing Ogre maneater sculpts but what I didn't like is they just looked like bigger versions of that race. Like they were dressed up with bigger replica's of arms and armour of said race. Not that it's a bad thing but what Im saying is I'd rather have elements of said race than what looks more like a 54mm version of it with an ogre head.

Anyway I think you've achieved that quite well. They look like Ogres that were hanging out with a particular race rather than that particular race just got big if you know what I mean.

Phew! I'm very glad of that. The way I try to do it is by looking at a bunch of the models whose styles I'm stealing, and yeah trying to tone down some of the individual elements so I have basically a stripped down version of the armour/weapons/clothing. Then I add a little embellishment and think "what would an Ogre do to this?" For a Black Orc, the answer is obviously "add a bunch of swords"! You can also see it on the Dwarf and Chaos Dwarf as well, and I plan on going a bit further on some of the others.

Ok now for the critique. More of a conversion preference. The sculpt I think you nailed it. The only thing I would change is the squig in front of the gnoblar like he's goading it along. I guess you could argue the squig is goading him lol but I think it will look better overall if they swapped postions with the squig in front.

Other people have said this as well, so I'm going to have to change something about it. The idea is that the squig is chasing the Gnoblar, who's running scared. I like the idea that while each Ogre has a Gnoblar pet, while this Ogre was living with the Orcs he picked up a squig and decided that a running, gnashing set of teeth was more his style.
I think perhaps a bigger squig would show the chasing bit more, but I think the regular sized squigs are too big and would detract attention from the Ogre. The other idea is to change their facing, so the squig is chasing the Gnoblar away from the battle.

Any ideas (from anyone!) about how to make it look more like the Gnoblar is being chased? It would be much appreciated!

[Lew_b81]

Here we go! A mock up of the bigger squig:



Thoughts?

[Zaustus]

I think the bigger squig does make it more obvious, though I do like your idea of having them facing a different direction. You did a mini-diorama with the first two models, why not something similar with this one and the next? Have the gnoblar running off to the right or something.

[Kalsir]

I was actually going to do platemail on him, but decided to save it for the Elves later on. I went with chainmail to make a nice comparison with the Dwarf.

Oh okay, well you could have given the dwarf "brick-patterned" platemail and the elves "normal" platemail, but chainmail looks fine aswell.
And the Black Orc looks awesome.
Just one thing: The Gnoblar doesn't really look like he is fleeing, more like he is chasing something. Maybe you should take the smalle squig and make the Gnoblar chase that instead of a big squig chasing the gnoblar. And if you plan on making night goblin ogres (mushroom eating fanatic ogres with oversized balls on chains) you should use the squig for that and something else for this one. And if you ever plan on making another Orc maneater you could give him a snotling with brush and green paint on his back trying to make him a greenskin. And I think a gnoblar on squig would look pretty awesome aswell.

[Hrokka `Eadsplitter]

Once again some great work! Love that blorc

[Mr.chair]

I don't know where to begin. These are simply inspired. The sculpting is very nice, and your painting style is unique and refreshing. Excellent work!

[Lew_b81]

Thanks everyone! I'm still having a think on the squig thing - about half the people I've asked are saying to go with the bigger squig, while most are saying to change the facing of them both to make it better. I'll start playing around with it, maybe post up some variations later.

I think the bigger squig does make it more obvious, though I do like your idea of having them facing a different direction. You did a mini-diorama with the first two models, why not something similar with this one and the next? Have the gnoblar running off to the right or something.

Unfortunately this guy is going on the far left of the regiment, and I have but one more Ogre to add to the far right. However, if you like model interaction then stick around - I have quite the treat for you later on in the log!

Just one thing: The Gnoblar doesn't really look like he is fleeing, more like he is chasing something. Maybe you should take the smalle squig and make the Gnoblar chase that instead of a big squig chasing the gnoblar. And if you plan on making night goblin ogres (mushroom eating fanatic ogres with oversized balls on chains) you should use the squig for that and something else for this one. And if you ever plan on making another Orc maneater you could give him a snotling with brush and green paint on his back trying to make him a greenskin. And I think a gnoblar on squig would look pretty awesome aswell.

Pfft! You think my Ogres would work for pansy-ass Night Goblins? Hah! Unfortunately (Gnoblar Squig Hopper? YES) there will be no more Orcs in the army. I figured there wasn't really enough difference between a regular one and a Black Orc to warrant making two of them - I have the Orc out of my system already!

On a completely different note, I've been hard at work painting the Chaos Dwarf. I wasn't going to show it yet, but if I don't show it now, I won't have another picture until probably tomorrow afternoon/Sunday. It's about 75% at the moment, so take what you can from it. The bits that are obviously unpainted aren't done, and most of the rest is almost there. I'll be adding weathering at the last stage - probably about the same amount as on the Dwarf. Other models will receive a lot more rusting and things, but I figure Chaos Dwarfs are just as likely to take care of their equipment as regular Dwarfs.



I now pose another question to you all. I'm unsure about what to do for his eyes. A large part of me wants to give him glowing red eyes from the skull mask to play up the daemonic side of Chaos Dwarf design, but I don't know if that would be a little too Chaosy and best left for other models. Thoughts?

[only joking...]

Oh my, these Ogres have to be the best I've had the fortune to set eyes upon.

[Lew_b81]

^ Awesome! That's good news!

More good news (see that seamless link there?), the Chaos Dwarf Ogre is finished!




A couple of explanations over choice:
I didn't want him to look too rusty or dirty. I imagine both Dwarfs and Chaos Dwarfs look after their equipment, and that rubs off on the Ogres. That said, this one has a little more grime than the other Dwarf because working in those factories has to have some effect!
The next thing is the verdigris. I imagine some won't like it. I decided that after years of servitude in a Chaos Dwarf army, the Ogre was awarded a prized piece of armour made for the last (or one before etc) Ogre hero serving them. I think Chaos Dwarfs definately prize older relics above newly made armour, and so awarding this to him would have been a very high honour. "Antiquated" was the key word to my thoughts on this, not "dirty".
The third thing is that he is very different from the Dwarf painting-wise, yet still used most of the same colours. I was very careful on this, and I'll go into detail on it in a later post with some comparison shots. If you want meta painting technique and tutorials (of a sort) then stop by then!

I think that's all you need to know for now. Would love to hear comments and criticism about it!

[mrtn]

Looks great. Funny gnoblar as well.

[Lew_b81]

Thanks again mrtn!

Dang dudes! A day later and I'm way down the bottom of page two! Good to see so much hobby activity!

A have a few pictures for you today (and maybe more to come later), you lucky pups.

First up is a WIP on the Black Orc:



The armour looks very flat, and the metal not very good. I know, I know. I'm posting it up so you all can see a BW shot (before-weathering ). There's going to be a fair amount of it (it is an Orc after all), so more weathering later on. What do you all think about the reworking of the Squig and Gnoblar? I went for the big squig for a more chasey feel, and cut the Gnoblar up so he's looking behind as he's running away. I think it definately feels more like a I wanted it to now.

Next up is a mock up of the last (for now) Irongut! This one came about from a friend and I having a chat on MSN about making the Ogre more fun.



What do you think? I have a very good feeling about taking this route with the whole army!

Lastly, the first picture of said model:



Thoughts on anything? Can you guess what it is yet?

Stop back later on for a tutorial on doing verdigris!