Weekend round-up: dwarf, hobgoblins and orcs large and small

Despite a fairly busy weekend in various regards, I got a fair bit of rebasing and repairs done. I moved eight of my larger Nick Lund orcs onto the sandy-coloured square bases I now prefer for larger skirmishes, RPGs and rank-and-flank (I keep some figures on GW-style rounds for small-scale skirmishes). I also got eleven of his small Chronicle orcs rebased, along with a brace of Chronicle hobgoblins, and I painted a Citadel Northern dwarf berserker.

The orcs give me a unit of six "brute orcs" with great weapons for Nordic Weasel's Elf, Knyghte, Pyke and Sworde, plus a hero and a herald. I also now have a unit of eight "horde orcs" with a range of character options (leader with bodyguard, wizard, herald, champion, etc.)

These lighter-coloured bases never look great in photographs, but I really like how they look on the table. They blend in nicely with dungeon tiles, gaming mats and terrain. I'll probably add the odd tuft to them here and there, although I'm not really chasing a natural effect with them.

 

Some Bob Olley orcs to round off 2025!

 Here are a couple of Bob Olley orcs from Essex to round off the year.

I love their almost fairy-tale vibe, with their huge heads and relatively short limbs.

They're also very chunky - they're huge compared with their Citadel peers from the 80s and are close to some 80s ogres in bulk.

Anyway, happy New Year when it comes!

Black Orc hired sword for Mordheim

 This is an old Bob Olley orc originally produced for the Fantasy Warlord game. I got him from SHQ Miniatures, but I believe the range is on the move again. I'm planning to use him as the Black Orc hired sword in Mordheim. He's a big fellow (that's a 30mm base), so he's suitably imposing even next to chunky Mordheim-era plastic orcs.