Alternative Ork Deffkilla Wartrike or Warboss On Bike

Kromlech Orc Chirurgeon

Kromlech has sent Blood of Kittens products for review and like any good wargamer we sent them off to someone better at painting and hobbying than me, here is a review by one of my favorite players and painters Jody Pez Man. Jody is available for commissions for characters only contact him at pez5767@gmail.com for pricing and details.

Review of the Kromlech Orc Chirurgeon on Bike:

Until very recently, GamesWorkshop did not produced any character models on bikes for their ork army, so any would-be warlord was required to either convert a model of their own or look to companies like Kromlech to provide something suitable for their needs. Perhaps the Kromlech Orc Chirurgeon on bike is a kit that can meet your needs if you’re looking for a boss or character on a bike for your orc army.

As you can see above, the Kromlech Orc Chirurgeon on bike is a multi-part kit in the fullest sense. While there are many parts to the model, the assembly is straight forward enough and didn’t require more than a few quick glances at the photos on the Kromlech web site to figure out. As an added bonus, the kit includes a fully detailed large sized base. The base matches the line of Concrete Slabs Bases available on the Kromlech website. That said, I will give one word of caution here regarding assembly of this kit. There are a tremendous number of very fine resin parts with pour spouts attached. The end of the syringe on the power claw and the base of the banner pole for example. When you are removing these items from their frame, be very careful, as I had the resin parts snap when I cut away the vents on multiple occasions.

As I usually do, I worked in sub-assemblies while painting this kit. The parts above were assembled to the point they would still be easy to work with while I painted. The bike was finished with a basic basecoat to prepare them for a dunk in wash as I usually do. If you have any questions about this process check out my earlier reviews for more information about working with a dip method. As for the riders, I took a little bit different approach. The Orc Chirurgeon and his goblin nurses were painted with a series of washes and highlights with a brush to allow for a little more depth and color variety. This is the typical method I apply for most of my character models as it allows me to play with a wide range of colors and textures without spending hours building up single layers.

The Kromlech Orc Chirurgeon on bike model is absolutely covered in hoses, bolts, spikes, armor plates, and icons. There are virtually no flat spaces on this model. Sadly, for me this results in a little too much of a good thing. Keep in mind I went with a simplistic base coat on the bike, and this model still took longer to paint than any other Kromlech kit I’ve worked with. The painting of this model is going to take you some time, even without picking out all the details. There are details in areas you will simply never see and some details layered on top of areas that would be better served with a little more simplistic approach (the front wheel cover for example). For me, the ornate detailing all over the model creates a busy and cluttered look to the model. As you can tell by the photos, it was quite difficult to get a decent shot of the model, because of layers of texture. That said, the sheer volume of detail and size of the model do help it to stand out as a characterful piece in your army, but for me the aesthetic just doesn’t come together.

“But how does the Kromlech Orc Chirurgeon on bike compare to GW Biker Boyz?” I hear you ask. In terms of size, the Kromlech Orc Chirurgeon on bike is much larger than a traditional GW biker model. The GW model I have in the picture is my converted Ork Biker Nob which uses a GW nob torso and quite a few extra bits to bulk it up. That said, the GW model is clearly smaller and less imposing than the Kromlech Orc Chirurgeon on bike, and it’s not just the side car that creates this effect. The Kromlech orc and his bike are simply larger than the GW version. This increased size is a the defining trait of any Orc boss, and as such the Kromlech Orc Chirurgeon on bike absolutely has a suitable presence to fulfill that roll. With a little conversion, I could easily see this model converted away from being a Chirurgeon and into a nob or lesser boss.

Once again, I’d like to thank Tasty Taste and Kromlech for the opportunity to work with these models and share my thoughts with you. Until next time, thank you for reading and happy hobby!