Sunday 28 January 2018

Orko

New year, new project, as Orko is the inaugural mini in what I hope to build as a Masters of the Universe (MotU) Project.

Before continuing I just wanted to apologise to other bloggers for not commenting on your posts in the past couple of months as I have been in something of a hobby slump on the painting side of things.

So a new project eh? Simply put - yes! MotU is one of my grail IPs along with DC Comics, Marvel Comics, G.I. Joe and Star Wars. I see FFG are doing an excellent looking game with Star Wars Legion, but I don't have the appetite for mass-battle painting, so I am passing on that, but recently I have started to look at options for MotU and when more have materialised, a plan was hatched!

This mini is a Halfling Wizard from the excellent Heresy Miniatures. Although not an exact likeness of Orko from the 80's MotU cartoons (and soon after made into an action figure when he became a popular character), he was close enough for my needs. Like most characters made into action figures, Orko's look has evolved over the years, and so I took some hints from a few different versions in painting him. Strangely enough, I probably like the character more than I did as a youngster when he lacked the cool factor of He-Man, Man-At-Arms, Teela et al.

I bought the mini years ago and he sat in the minis pile for far too long. When I finally tackled him, Orko was actually painted quickly by my standards, in a couple of sittings yesterday afternoon. The only change I made to the mini was to snip away the long hair it had at its back. Unfortunately the paint-on varnish came out a bit shiny but I can live with that (weather too poor to use my usual Purity Seal).

I have a few other minis on order to represent other classic MotU characters, and I have already started gaming plans, which has involved writing a game and I think I will find a use for that dungeon terrain I showed in a post a couple of months ago (which could be tunnels beneath Castle Grayskull, Snake Mountain or Castle Eternia).

27 comments:

  1. Well, I think the mini came out fantastic. I have similar plans of late for gaming with Eternians, though I am using the recent MegaBloks figures rather than making my own, as you have done (my foray into custom Mass Effect miniatures some years back broke my spirit for that sort of thing). Let me know what you come up with for rules when you get to that point! I'd love to see how you do it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi CounterFett, thanks for the kind words. :)

      I have already started writing the rules and building the rules for the individual cast, having made some good headway in recent days.

      If you are on Facebook, look me up (Leon Mallett) or email me: kitbashgames at gmail dotcom

      Delete
  2. Cracking stuff PC! Can't wait to follow along as we see more MOTU.
    I wonder if adding a clear plastic rod to the figure and base would give the nice illusion of floating :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks very much Ivor.

      I could add the plastic rod, but will have to mull it over. :)

      Delete
  3. Love the idea of this MotU project – great conversion for Orko as an opener!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cheers Mike. :)

      I have a number of minis on order to fill out the MotU ranks. :)

      Delete
  4. Good to see you back blogging, PulpCitizen. I for one have missed both your posts and comments. MoTU eh? Now that sounds like another project which you could tempt me with ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Did you know this guy is about to release liscenced MOTU minis? I already bought a set and love the sculpts. He does not have orko though but he does have 6 minis

    https://www.etsy.com/listing/567355200/he-man-32mm-pewter-miniature?ref=listing-shop-header-3

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have ordered a set already ( around a week ago), so they are en route. :)

      I am not entirely sure that they are licensed minis for a couple of reasons, but they are very cool and that had me won over. :)

      Delete
    2. He is in talks with them if you will. Will have rules and is working on wave 2. You will see the official logos on the packaging when you receive them. I think they are dotting I's and crossing t's on the contracts. https://www.instagram.com/p/BZbWjr8AXTW/?taken-by=questminiatures

      Delete
    3. https://www.instagram.com/p/Beo-PLzgtiS/?taken-by=questminiatures

      Delete
    4. I am really pleased he is working on wave 2 (and I understand Stratos, Zodac and Mer-Man among others will be in wave 2).

      If he is able to secure a license to continue and expand the range that would be amazing, although producing them without things like that in place and 100% confirmed may be a little unusual. :)

      I am not criticising him, I am just observing that there are a couple of reasons why they don't look like they are fully licensed, on which I could be wrong. :)

      Delete
  6. Very cool, Leon. Roger Webb and I indulged in a bit of MOTU madness a couple of years ago - he sculpted hiscalmost from scratch, whereas I converted existing figures. I thi k we both ended up with a good dozen or so figures. Roger's can be foind on his blog 'Rantings from Under the Wargames Table' and mine are on my blog 'Carrion Crow's Buffet'. I think I used a cotton bud stem to make my Orko 'float'. It was a great deal of fun, so I look forward to seeing where you go next with this project.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Jez. Thanks for the kind words.

      I have read through the posts you and Roger published, and the minis you made are awesome. :)

      Delete
  7. MotU? Count me in to watch and see where this goes! great figure too.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Cracking job mate. Looking forward to seeing more from Eternia!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Love it! Another fondly remembered childhood show

    ReplyDelete
  10. Ahhh the memories you are bring back ... She-Ra ... He-Man ... Skull guy (forgot his name) XD

    Looking forward to going down memory lane via your paint projects. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks FourEyedMonster. :)

      Expect He-Man and Skeletor before She-Ra, but I have plans for her too. :)

      Delete