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Friday, October 30, 2015

Orctober: Bob Olley's (later) Giant Black Orcs



Squeaking in at the last minute is a final Orctober offering: three Giant Black Orcs by Bob Olley. Yes, that's right... they're not just Orcs, they're not just Giant Orcs... they're Giant Black Orcs. That phrase should strike fear into your heart. It's like hearing your doctor say, it's not just herpes, it's not just antibiotic-resistant herpes... it's antibiotic-resistant genital herpes.

 One of my arsenal of personality defects is that I am an obsessive completionist. Once I start collecting something, I have to collect it all. So last year, I was proud of myself when I finished collecting and painting all 12 of Bob Olley's Iron Claw Black Orcs (sculpted in 1988). I was proud of myself. I stopped being proud when someone on the Oldhammer Forum helpfully/unhelpfully pointed out that Olley sculpted three more Black Orcs in 1989. These three additions were grouped with the Iron Claw originals in the 1991 Catalogue as "Giant Black Orcs".
An Iron Claw Black Orc
Hearing this triggered my mania. Sleepless nights. Bitten nails. Long, solitary walks. However, the goddess eBay eventually smiled on me, and a few months ago I was able to pick up all three in one fell swoop.

 I've written before about how much I love Olley's sculpting style. The original Iron Claw Black Orcs are like no other orc: hairy, big-lipped and wrinkled. Sadly, these three later specimens are not so odd. They replicate the conventional features of orcs in the age of Kev Adams: lots of muscles, a comic under-bite and a bald, triangular skull with deep-set eyes. That being said, these are quality models with strong dynamic poses. As with all Olley miniatures, the faces are full of character.

To mark the end of another Orctober, I'm adding a new Miniature Gallery to those gathered on the right of this page: the complete Bob Olley Giant Black Orcs. At least, I hope it's complete...
Giant Black Orc Axe 2, Citadel (sculpted by Bob Olley, 1990)
Citadel "Giant Black Orc Axe 2"
Giant Black Orc Mace 2, Citadel (sculpted by Bob Olley, 1990)
Citadel "Giant Black Orc Mace 2"
Giant Black Orc Axe 1, Citadel (sculpted by Bob Olley, 1990)
Citadel "Giant Black Orc Axe 1"
Happy Orctober!
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12 comments:

  1. private w.October 30, 2015 at 10:18 PM

    And a Happy Orctober to you, Matthew! Oi, I am still chuckling with the combo of "anti-biotic resistant genital herpes" combined with beautiful images of Olley-sculpted Orcs!! Grand stuff!! Makes me smile and scratch at the same time! And I share that wonderful personality defect too! Makes for great collections though!

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  2. Mr PapafakisOctober 30, 2015 at 10:46 PM

    Yet another range of minis I regret not collecting in my youth. You really did a fine job on these ugly brutes.

    Well done Matthew :)

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  3. LeadheadOctober 31, 2015 at 3:50 AM

    I have it so bad I take satisfaction in YOU completing the collection...the itch is scratched.

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  4. 24_CigarettesOctober 31, 2015 at 9:43 AM

    You've really brought the olley sculpts to life, they look killer, and will be a fine addition to Krapfang's bandits; the bastard!

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  5. axiomOctober 31, 2015 at 1:16 PM

    Excellent additions to the collection. You can sleep easy now, knowing you have a complete collection.

    I probably shouldn't mention the Reaper Orcs. Or the Folio Works, or the Olley's Armies ones... :P

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    Replies
    1. matthewjksullivanOctober 31, 2015 at 2:27 PM

      Well, Axiom, I should dedicate this post to you, since you were the one who started it all for me back on the Oldhammer forum.

      Delete
  6. Firthy 74October 31, 2015 at 4:11 PM

    Lovely work again. I've been tempted to collect these but the cost and difficulty scared me off. I did collect all of the ogryns/ogres Olley did for citadel and have even managed to paint a few of them. The ogryns really are quite different which makes they fun to paint.

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  7. ErnyOctober 31, 2015 at 4:38 PM

    I have only about six of these with some doubles. Very jealous in the right sort of way. I love how you've painted them in your usual rocking style and bet they will make minced meat out of 24's skaven next time you play him. Hope you ignore the armies book that only allows you ten in an unit.

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    1. matthewjksullivanOctober 31, 2015 at 4:56 PM

      Damn straight. Holding an orc army to only 10 Black Orcs is like holding a night out to only 10 pints. Wait, did I say that out loud?
      Anyway, fortunately for me, 24 has just the right approach to the rules. The only thing that makes me sad about playing him is that he's got almost 4000 points of skaven, and I have about 1200 points of orc. He needs three or four of me.

      Delete
    2. ErnyNovember 2, 2015 at 1:18 AM

      Maybe you could get him to led you some clanrats as allies, I don't see why a rival clan wouldn't team up with orcs to bash their rivals about a bit.

      Delete
  8. Chico DanksOctober 31, 2015 at 4:59 PM

    Stunning mate, well done indeed :)

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  9. MouseNovember 1, 2015 at 7:11 PM

    Hope that story about the Doctor isn't drawn from personal experience. Great minis and great painting. Love 'em!

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