So at long last, the Lead Painters League has come to an end. The tenth round has concluded. The optional theme of this last round was “America”, so I entered this:

 

Band of Brothorks

The polish company MaxMini held a kickstarter called “The Green Alliance” back in 2014. These were very good looking Space Orks for 40k with WW2 US-inspired equipment, uniforms and vehicles. I did not pledge at the time, I honestly don’t remember why anymore. Maybe it was too expensive for me just then, maybe it had red flags up the wazzoo. Maybe something else entirely.

At any rate, when I came over a lot of minis from said kickstarter on the trade forum a couple of years ago, I seized the opportunity and secured the lot of 10 shoota boyz, a jeep, 10 grotz and a warboss. And since then they have been awaiting their time in the sun.

When the optional theme was announced, it was either these, some All Quiet on the Martian Front US forces or some Shadows of Brimstone cowboys and indians that immediately came to mind as fitting the bill. I looked at the different minis and was drawn to the Orks, so Orks it was.

Being bought second hand, the shootaboyz arrived assembled and undercoated black, while the jeep was undercoated green. The other minis were bare metal and resin and are yet to recieve some paint. Which might not be too far off now that the ball is rolling…

The infantry are in metal with resin heads. I opted to switch the original 25mm bases for more up to date 32mm bases, which involved some drilling and pinning. During this process some of the arms came off, and also a lot of the undercoat. The paint has chipped and rubbed off really easily on these minis so I suspect that they might not have been washed before the undercoat or something.

I probably should have scrubbed them and primed them anew, but did not think to do that until it was too late.

So anyway.

 

I have been very busy the last few weeks, as work has been picking up. I was afraid I might not have the time to finish the entry, so I concentrated on getting at least five of the minis plus the jeep done before moving on. Turns out I managed to get six of them done in time for deadline. I have finished the last four recently, and so I can present the full 10 ork squad:

 

 

The jeep and it’s crew are all made in resin.

The infantry are in metal with heads in resin.

 

Oh, look I forgot to do the sergeant stripes.

I chose to do the backpacks and gear in browns as if I did them in all the green that they actually should be, that would make for really samey minis. Green uniform, green gear, green skin…. I took some artistic license to create some contrast this way.

These minis are just oozing attitude!

 

 

 

 

 

Looks like meat’s back on the menu, boys!

 

and the four Johnny-come-latelys:

 

Why does the sergeant arm have the Springfield sniper rifle? Would that not usually be issued to a specialist private and not the sergeant?

 

 

The minis were built when I got them, and the weapons do not always match the gear, such as here where he is armed with a submachine gun and has a machine gun magazine in his belt.

 

The MaxMini Green Alliance kickstarter supposedly produced several other types as well as the aforementioned ones, such as close combat boyz, flyboyz, sherman-like tanks, walkers and half-tracks. However I have only seen a very few sets available at retail (not that I have actively been searching for them though). I had understood that the KS had been delivered, but see that some backers still claim that they never got their rewards. I do not know the details or facts of this.

I was saddened by the recent news that MaxMini is closing down. It seems that an overly amitious and successful kickstarter campaign might have claimed another small company. There are reportedly other reasons than the KS, yet again I do not have the facts.

 

At any rate, I love the minis as they have so much attitude and character. I would really like to get a hold of other models in the series.

 

ShootaBoyz squad and Willys Jeep

Orks of The Green Alliance,  kickstarter 2014

by MaxMini

Unknown sculptor

Made in Metal and Resin

32mm bases.

 

Painted so far this year:   (Miniatures:  418 /365 goal // scenery and terrain: 63)

January: 30

February: 44   //  10

March: 17

April: 45

May: 46

June: 4

July: 42  //  38

August: 70

September: 45 //  12

October: 35 // 1

November: 26 // 2

December: 18