Et Tu Brute

The Ironjawz Waaagh! continues apace, and I can tick the second unit of Brutes from my checklist.

Check, mate

These five come with polearms - or 'jagged gore-hackas' if you're able to keep track of the various Orruk weapons with near-identical names.

I didn't pick gore-hackas because I thought these are superior weapons (I'm more inclined to pick more attacks over greater reach), but simply to get as much variety out of the kit as possible. The poses are great, but once you've assembled ten models, you're pretty much exhausted all the options.

Same paint recipe as before - the rusty armour was easy, the checks were a bugger:

• Armour: Black Primer, Ironbreaker drybrush, Typhus Corrosion Wash, Reza Rust drybrush
• Skin: Elysian Green base, Drakenhof Nightshade wash, Nurgling Green drybrush
• Horns: Zandri Dust base, Agrax Earthshade wash
• Tusks: Ushabdi Bone base, Seraphim Sepia wash
• Eyes: Pallid Wych Flesh
• Weapon heads: Ironbreaker drybrush x 2, Tinny Tin accents, Nuln Oil wash
• Weapon hafts: Tallern Sand base, Agrax Earthshade wash
• Weapon straps: Balor Brown base, Agrax Earthshade wash
• Belts and Straps: XV-89 base, Agrax Earthshade wash
• Checks: Pallid Wych Flesh & Chaos Black, thinned Agrax Earthshade wash
• Base: Skrag Brown, Blackfire Earth, Flayed One Flesh drybrush

Getting the base colours down was quick enough, but it was picking out all the details that showed the difference between these guys and regular Ardboys. Lots of bones, trophies and straps to attend to.

This ambitious lad has no less than two Stormcast helmet trophies.
The one on his shoulderplate has been jazzed up with some extra horns and a jawbone.

Once again, we have a gore-choppa as the mob's heavy weapon. This comes with only one available pose, and I was not inclined to make any big conversion, so I just widened his jaw, so he'd look extra-shouty.

And finally, the star of the show - the Brute Boss with Boss Klaw and Brute Smasha. Assuming he gets a grip with the Klaw, he can dole out as many as eight wounds, which makes him a potential hero killer.

Having played these in their debut battle, I can see the virtue of having a 2" weapon reach for models with such big bases. It wouldn't be too difficult to reduce a fighting frontage and keep half the unit out of the fight.

And since I won't personally be playing these guys at the WoffBoot, I'd better keep any more tactical thoughts to myself!