From Mike W, Clearing the Decks! (98 Points)

Having just received my final challenge from the Snow Lord himself - I thought it was time to clear some space form on the workbench to get these Mexican Cavalrymen done. Truth is they are already started but space is required to get them properly finished.

The finished unit of Arrow Boyz with protective Grottling Shield Holderz in front!

The right of the line

One of the biggest units nearing completion is a group of 16 x Orc Arrow Boyz, the second half of the batch that I completed the other week. As such there are no command figures just a whole bunch of Orcs with bows.

The left of the line

To fun it up a little I have included a small unit of Grottling Shield Holderz...

.. Whilst the Orcs are totally Warhammer legal, the Grottling Shield Holderz are a 'House' unit that makes the whole thing even more fun. Basically its a group of Goblin who's only job is to hold shields in front of a unit that normally wouldn't be allowed to get the benefits of such cover, such as Arrow Boyz or units with two hand weapons etc..

Close-up of four of the Orc archers

Points wise we charge the cost of a shield for the protected unit plus 1 point for each unarmoured, near naked Goblin. When shot at the protected unit gains the benefit of shield protection and for each hit inflicted, on a die roll of 4, 5 or 6 the hit takes out one of the unlucky goblins, rather than the targeted unit.

For such house units each benefit must have an equal and opposite negative so if the Shield Boyz take casualties, the unit throws a die and if they score less than the number of casualties lost, the unit runs away.

Four more Orcs, the second from left is a Goth, hence the blue hair...

Also as with any Greenskin unit they are subject to animosity - so the unit they are protecting may just get annoyed with  them and kill them as well!

The orcs were all already undercoated in black and so it was a matter of blocking in colour, in this case grey, brown or black and then adding distinctive variants to add flavour to the unit. In this case I did one Orc with a Red kilt and a couple with maroon shirts and different coloured hair.

Penultimate group of four, I gave one guy red hair, just to be different

Skin was washed with green ink and then detail added around mouth with reddish gums and off white teeth. A watered down Army Painter Dark Wash was used to add tone to the clothing.

Last Four Orcs, the one on the extreme left has the kilt, although it is hard to see.
All the studs are a pain to do, I use a silver Sharpie pen and then fix overspill with thinned black paint.

Bases were covered in a sand and electrostatic grass mix and the figures given a matt varnish finish. 

The Grottling Shield Holderz, were old HeroQuest?? figures that I found in the bits box, undercoated white and painted a lighter green, given a light green wash and then highlighted by again dry brushing the base light green. Each was given a light brown loin cloth and shields were sourced form the Orc Box. I gave each a small round base to highlight their non standard function and added fine sand and electrostatic grass mix to finish. Shields were washed in Nun Oil.

The Grottling Shield Holderz, I'll have to make some more of these at some point!

It seemed grossly unfair to award myself the same points for a Grottling as an Orc - given their size difference, so going for 3 Points each on these little fellows.

POINTS

16 x 28mm Orcs @ 5Pts ea                      = 80 Points

6 x Grottling  Shield Holderz @3 Pts ea  = 18 Points

TOTAL                                                      = 98 Points

Just 4 Skullz!

Done! The Goblin shield bearers are a clever idea :-)

Cap'n Wednesday