Identifying, Updating, and Painting a Bucket of 90’s Era 40K Orks with Lawnor

I was handed a bucket of 40k orks many years ago and as I’ve nearly painted everything else I own its time to get these guys in order so I can paint them when the time comes. I do not know 40k so I don’t know my Goffs from my Evil Sunz, or my Snotlings from my Gretchins. I need help and advice with a lot of basics to understand what I have and to prevent me building and painting something I may wish to undo later.

I will lay out what I have, and what information I have on it along with any questions specific to that model.  In general, the questions I have are:

• What is the current standard base size for this model (They don’t appear to be listed on the GW site).  Doing a little reading online makes base size sound like personal preference which sounds crazy to me.  What size bases come in the box for these models?
• If it is a vehicle, does it need a base, and if so see previous question
• Do these models have current rules or current equivalent models, or have the been completely replaced, or been removed from the game
• Where weapon options are a thing is there anything I should know before gluing anything together?  Anything from my pile-o-guns that I should or should not include?
• Is anything here actually worth money that I should be aware of before I do anything to it that can’t be undone
• Is there a difference between standard Ork Boyz and Goff Nobs, Evil Suns etc, or are they the same unit just from different clans so just a different look?
• Links to painted versions of these old sculpts will be appreciated as they can help me work out what each part of the model is a little easier, along with giving advice on colour schemes, although I hope to try and bring them in line with the current schemes.

These models are from around 1990 and I am told that the weapons in the pile are no longer allowed by Orks.  I know I can play and paint how I like and any friend I play with will likely accept my minis are what I say they are.  However, should there come a time I want to start attending events could I run in to a situation where I get turned away as my models aren’t WYSIWYG if I build with these guns?  If so, can anyone suggest somewhere I can get replacements, bearing in mind I live in the UK and I’ll be looking for a cost effective solution.  Money is an issue.  I’d also be interested to hear if buying a box of new Ork Boyz might supply me with enough weapon options that I could build the new stuff and re-equip these old guys too.

The below pile of limbs contains:

36 empty left arms

37 empty right arms

4 right arms holding bolters

4 Plasma guns (Pistols?)

1 Dagger (bayonette?) and 2 broken blades

21 Bolt Pistols?

25 Bolters

1 Flama Lasgun Bolta

Guns identified as:

A: Bolta Lasgun Stubba Stubba

B: Eavy Bolter (Thanks, andre77)

C: Multi Melta (Thanks, andre77)

D: Blunderbuss Bolta Bolta

E: Shotgun Stubba Bolta

F: Auto Cannon (Thanks, andre77)

G: Autokannon Bolta Bolta

Last few identified on http://www.collecting-citadel-miniatures.com/wiki/index.php/Space_Orks_-_1995-6_Heavy_Weapons,_Kustom_Weapons_%26_Weirdboyz

Are these Snotlings or Gretchins? Is there a difference? Are they a unit, or part of another model, or base decorations?

A: Alternate turret hatch for Scorcher

B: : ???

C : ???

D: ???

E: ???

F: ???

G: ???

H: ???

I: ???

J: ???

K: ???

L: Runt with Stickk Bomb and Ammo Box

It appears these guys are Runts/Snotlings which pair up with a Runtherd. At least one of them matches up with the pic in the gallery below.

Known stats for Runts/Gretchins/Snotlings:
Unit size: 10-30 models with ranged weapons only

Base size in box today: Outpost says 25mm round bases
https://www.games-workshop.com/en-EU/Ork-Gretchin

Optional models: None

The following gallery contains the models I have identified as Ork Boyz.  I believe these are the generic front line grunts of the faction.  Out of the stack of weapons I have available I believe I should equip each of them one Bolt Pistol and one melee weapon, and that they belong on round 25mm bases.  I suspect I could give some 2 pistols or two melee weapons and it would not matter within the unit.  Correct me if I am wrong.  I have some heavy weapons in the first post that I could not identify.  Do any of them belong with Ork Boyz?

Below is a picture of my Ork Boys, and beneath that a gallery of pictures of them now and then.  Links to painted pictures of them in the before time are appreciated.

Ork Boys can be found on the GW website here: https://www.games-workshop.com/en-GB/Ork-Boyz
https://www.games-workshop.com/en-GB/Ork-Boyz-4-models

Known Stats:

Unit size: 10-30 models

Base size in box today: Outpost says 25mm

Optional models: Boss Nob

I’ve identified most of these from the 1991 catalogue, but I still don’t know what that means in terms of what they are today.  What is a freebooter and whats a minder?  Are they just more Ork Boyz?

A: Tinboy Eldar (No longer in game?)

B: Freebooter Flash Git Nob with Power Claw and Kustom Weapon

C: Freebooter Minder (Minders don’t appear to be a thing anymore. “Freebooterz are the typical Ork pirates, akin in almost every way to a standard mob of Ork Boyz.”

D: Freebooter Minder

E: Tinboy Squat (No longer in game?)

F: Stormboy (No jetpack I’ve found. Probably to be repurposed as Ork Boy)

G: Bolko, 1991 Flyer Champion, Power sword, helm & goggles (http://www.collecting-citadel-miniatures.com/wiki/index.php/Space_Ork_(Rogue_Trade_Flyer_Part_One)_-_Collectors_Guide)
Any idea who Bolko is? I can’t find any information. I’ll assume he can be a generic leader/character with a power sword

H: Goff Nob

I: Snakebite GW 1987

J: Passenger for the Bike I have elsewhere in this project

K: Minder holding (Broken) copper staff – Possible Runtherd?

L: Madboy 13 (Whats a Madboy? – “upgraded” ork Boys?)

M: Madboy 5

N: Madboy 7

I assume they all belong on standard round 28mm bases, unless they go on a vehicle?  Again with the bold pistols and melee weapons?  If not can you point me towards what they should have and where I can get them at a sensible cost including P+P in the uk please?

The following gallery contains the catalogue pages I used to identify them.

Known stats for Runtherd:
Unit size: 1 Model

Base size in box today: ????

Optional models: 10-30 Gretchins

I have 1 Wierdboy that I can identify.  Again with the round 28mm base and a bolt pistol?

Link to current GW Wierdboy page:

https://www.games-workshop.com/en-GB/Ork-Weirdboy

Known Stats for Weirdboy: 

Unit size: 1 Model

Base size in box today: 40mm https://www.games-workshop.com/en-EU/Ork-Weirdboy

Optional models: None

I appear to have a mostly complete Nobz Warbike.  The antenna has snapped of and is long missing.  I can pretend not to notice, or replace it with a bit of wire or a broom needle. I assume the current equivalent would be the Warbiker Mob (https://www.games-workshop.com/en-AU/Ork-Warbiker-Mob)?  Those bases are a generic size and shape, right?  Is there any use for just one of these, or is there a set unit size?  Are there solo character Bikers I could use this as?  Could this be used as a Warboss on Warbike?

Known stats:

Unit size: 1 Boss Nob on Warbike and 2 Nobz on Warbikes, and up to 6 more Nobz

Base size in box today: ?? 70mm x 25mm ??

Optional models: None

This appears to be complete.  I cannot find a parallel on the GW site.  Has it been written out of the game?  28mm bases for the 3 guys but does the gun want a base?

https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/477451997968730150/?lp=true :

The Hop Splat Field Gun was later renamed the Splatta Kannon. It fires a volley of rockets and heavy projectiles all attached in line on a chain causing the flight path of the missile to be highly erratic and very difficult to avoid.

Appears only in 2nd Edition so has no modern parallel and nothing it could proxy for as far as I can tell.

I found Wartrakks on the GW site (https://www.games-workshop.com/en-GB/Ork-Wartrakk), but not with Las Cannons.  Is this still a recognised combination or should I swap the guns out?  is that what some of the unidentified weapons in the original post are for?

Everything appears to be here, except the gun barrel, which can be replaced with a metal rod.  There is no base in the 90s catalogue, or on the modern one on the GW site.  Does it need one, and if it can have one, what size and shape?  I prefer to use bases so I’m not dragging my paint job along a table, damaging it.

Unit size: 1 Model, + up to 2 more

Base size in box today: ????

Optional models: None

Las Cannon not in book.  Can have Twin big Shoota or Rack of Rokkits

So I need to modify its gun.  it’s missing its barrel anyway so instead of drilling a hole for 1 rod to be a barrel, I drill 2 and call it a twin big shoota.

Another Wartrakk with a weapon I cannot find on the website.  Everything is there, except for the connecting plate which I can fudge together a replacement for, or just forget about.

What base would this have?  Would it have 2 so the trailer can be swapped in and out?  Is this still in the game, or has it gone the way of the Squatts?

Known Stats:

New name: Skorcha

Unit size: 1 Model & up to 4 more

Base size in box today: ????

Optional models: None

More painted pics: https://picclick.co.uk/Warhammer-40000-WH40K-Rogue-Trader-Space-Ork-Wartrakk-173274563002.html

Everything appears to be here except his arm, and a google hunt reveals that this sculpt had a generic weaponless arm and I have plenty of those in the big pile-o-limbs.  Do the Gretchins in the first post go with him?  Doesn’t he fire/teleport Gretchins at/inside people?  What size base is he on these days?  40, 50 or 60mm?  Or something else?

Edit 17/7/18: I just saw an unboxing of the current release and it said it was a 40mm base, but that was from 2014 I think.

Current site address: https://www.games-workshop.com/en-GB/Big-Mek-with-Shokk-Attack-Gun

Known Stats:

Unit size: 1 Model

Base size in box today: 40mm in 7th ed??

Optional models: Grot Oiler

This project is about getting me some information, for now at least.  I have questions and they start at the start of the project.  Which is the end of the project log.  So please skip to the end so you can begin reading with all the information and questions in mind.

Thank you

Here’s my current thinking of what to make:

1-2 Weirdboys (From Weirdboy and perhaps Snakebite or minder) (40mm base?)

1 Big Mek woith Shokk Attack (40mm base)

1 Skorcha Wartrakk (Don’t know base size)

1  Watrakk with Twin big Shoota (Don’t know base size)

1 Warboss on Warbike (70 x 25mm oval base?)

27-28 Ork Boyz (25mm bases)

1 Flash Git Freebooter Warboss (40mm base?)

1 Warboss with powersword (From Bolko.  Not sure in rules) (40mm base?)

1 Runtherd (Was a minder or snakebite) and 11 runtz (25mm bases)

Sell/Repurpose:
Hop Splat field gun & crew

2x Tinboyz

How does this look?  Any comments on my choices?  Might I want more Weirdboys?  I have a limited bits box but I might be able to do mods I haven’t thought of yet.  Please confirm or correct my base sizes and definitely fill in the blanks. I really don’t understand GWs attitude towards base sizes.  I’m a warmachine player and all this stuff is essential and clearly defined.

Update: 30/7/18 I just found this link to a 40K base size guide.  Theres no date on it and I only know DakkaDakka from their paint chart so I can’t guess to its accuracy.  Anyone care to comment?

https://www.dakkadakka.com/wiki/en/Basing_Guidelines_for_Warhammer_40,000

Since this is 40k we are talking about, there are only 8 base sizes.

25mm Round (~1″) – Standard base for 40k, the round that comes with marines, guardsmen, etc.
32mm Round (~1 1/4″) – the “new” infantry base size.
40mm Round (~1.5″) – What I think of as a Terminator base. Used mostly for larger infantry.
50mm Round (~2″) – Relatively new base size, seems to be intended for very large infantry, most notable example are Space Marine Centurions.
60mm Round – Monsterous critter base, also used for dread’s.
30mm Clear Round – Small Flight Base (Often clear plastic)
55mm Clear Round – Large Flight Base (Often clear plastic)
25mm x 70mm Long Round end – Biker or Beast or Cavalry Base
90mm x 120mm Large Oval – With or withough flying stem for Valkyrie, Vendetta, Stormraven etc ie large flyers

Legend for below:
R – Round
CR – Clear Round
LR – Long Round
LO – Large Oval

HQ

40mm R: Boss, Big Mech, Weird Boy (Megaarmor or no)
Bike Base LR (70x25mm): Boss/Mech on Bike

25mm R: Mad Dok Grotsnik

Elite

25mm R: Nobs, Lootas, Kommandos, Burnas, Tankbustas
40mm R: Mega Nobs
Bike Base LR (70x25mm): Bikers

40mm R: Snikrot

Troops

25mm R: Shoota/Slugga Boyz (Including nob)
25mm R: Gretchin
25mm R: Runtherd

Fast Attack

Large Flight Base CR: Deffkopta
Bike Base LR (70x25mm): Bikers
25mm R: Storm Boyz (Including Nob)
40mm R: Zagstruk

Heavy Support

60mm R: Deff Dreads
60mm R: Killa Kans [2010 release]
No base: No bases for Big Gunz however, Grots are still on 25mm R
40mm R: Flash Gitz [2014 release]
40mm R: Captain Badrukk

Old Versions
25mm R: Flash Gitz
40mm R: Kill Kans [1999 release / metal]

If this is correct, then I have enough information to start work, once I clear off my paint station and order in the few bases I need.  I might still base the wartrakks as I prefer having a base.  I don’t like dragging painted models over a tabletop. This would mean I’d end up with 120mm x 92mm bases for my wartrakks. Or I have a pile of 35mm-ish bases I could use just to raise them up off the table?