Kill Team keeps smashing it out of the park. It started the year with the killer Night Lords unit – which ranked very high in TheGamer’s Miniature of the Year awards – and has been consistently delivering killer units since. While I love the character of the Ratlings in the Brutal and Kunning box, it was the green half that really got me excited.
While many readers may know of my Dark Mechanicus conversions, I’ve also got a hefty Ork army converted from a whole range of kits. I didn’t even keep it 40K, there are plenty of fantasy miniatures that have been looted and forced into service of their greenskin overlords.
As a seasoned Ork player who has messed up his throat yelling a bloodcurling “Waaagh!” on more occasions than I’d care to admit, here’s what I think of the new box.
Brutal And Kunning
The miniatures you see in this article are in an unfinished state.
Firstly, the unit itself. It’s great that Orks now have an alternative to Tankbustas. While the old Tankbusta miniatures have a classic feel, the squad itself is practically useless thanks to the fact that it contains some ranged units and some combat units.
It just doesn’t work, and surprisingly Orks often struggle to deal with armoured targets in combat. Sure, you can shoot them with Lootas or something, but how many of those shots are hitting? How are you planning to bring down an Imperial Knight? A Bubble Chukka? Fill it with grots from a Shokk Attack Gun?
The combat-oriented Wreckas are the way to build these, if you ask me, seeing as Orks lack in that area. However, it’s nice that you get all the options for ranged or melee in the box. This also helps when building, as I found some of the poses a little static and samey, so spare arms allowed me to do some light conversion work.
Kunning And Brutal
Speaking of which, the building process was fine. These are modern Games Workshop miniatures, so they’re practically monopose. Arms can only go on in one specific way, and if you want a unique looking model, you’ll probably have to get the Green Stuff out.
This is an annoyance for modellers like me, but it’s the reality of modern kits so I won’t complain too much. What is more annoying are the poses of the Orks in the box. I didn’t want to use the Knucklebustas because they looked a bit silly, but if I hadn’t opted for them, four of the six Orks in the unit would just be carrying their smash hammers in the exact same pose.
I decided to lean into the silliness and give the Krusha two looted Power Fists. He can be Marneus Calgork. Then I reposed the Demolisha (the one with the tankhammer, which is different to the smash hammer) to have it resting on his shoulder like the classic Nob pose. However, because these kits aren’t compatible with the old ones, this required a fair amount of cutting and sculpting. That’s not the end of the world, but I miss the days when a squad of Flash Gitz could jazz up an entire mob of Boyz.
Being able to customise the end of your smash hammers and the face guards on your helmets isn’t enough for me.
That said, I think the Nob looks phenomenal, and the design of the Fighter holding his smash hammer behind his back is lovely, too. I’d just like some more personality to the other four in the unit, who unfortunately verge on generic.
Brutaller And Kunninger
But these Orks needed a ride. They’re not going to survive all the way into combat by just walking now, are they? So, I dug out one of my old conversions.
This Battlewagon is based on an Astra Militarum Taurox, with the flatbeds of two Trukks attached to the back. Some plasticard armour plates and a rustic sponging of red paint (red ones go fasta, after all) leant itself perfectly to the Orky way of life. I also have Battlewagons converted out of Drukhari Raiders and Necron Doomsday Arks, but this simple one is still my favourite. I think it’s the Trukker vibe it’s giving.
Still, I’ve evolved my hobby over the years, and this wagon could use some pimping. In future, I think I’ll add some spikes and barbed wire to guard the sides from potential invaders. Think Xzibit crossed with Mad Max and you’ll understand the Ork vibe.
I’m glad the Orks finally have a killy kombat unit for taking down tricky tanks. But without a little conversion work, I worry this unit could end up feeling a little flat. Luckily, there’s nothing Ork players are better at than looting the best stuff every other army has to offer. I’m still waiting to see my first looted Ratling, but I’m sure someone will rustle it up before too long.
Games Workshop provided the kit featured in this article.
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