🐏 KORAG RISING – Benjamin's Bob Olley Beastmen

Oh boy! Where does all the time go?

Hi! I'm Ben, and this is my first OWAC, and I'm super excited to be part of this.

I've been classically overambitious, and even writing this now I'm feeling the bitter edge of that ambition slipping away...

So where to begin?

This project has emerged over three lockdowns, numerous bidding brawls on eBay, and extensive researching of anything and everything Bob Olley. OWAC emerged as the best opportunity to see it finished.

During Easter 2020 I'd intended to recreate the Beastmen Mordheim Warband of my high school years. Having never been that satisfied with the models available, I stumbled upon those sculpted by Bob, and really wanted to acquire a few. 

The acquisition proved to be far more challenging than expected due to their general scarcity. The mordheim warband never happened - but the general obsession with collecting them just grew and grew. 

I had to have all of them...

Aren't they glorious?

Around the 30 mark it was clear an army was forming - I gathered other figures from the era; centaurs, minotaurs, other beastmen figures for command - but none of them quite felt right. As wonderful and oldhammer as they were - they just didn't match the spirit of his sculpts. The Olley beastmen looked so soulful and unsure, dressed in his characterful and detailed baroque clothing. Everything at odds with what we'd expect from Games Workshop since then.

The Bobsession grows...

Do not speak to me or my son ever again.

I was dimly aware that Bob had sculpted for quite a few companies in the 90s, as well as forming his own company in the 2000s - but hadn't really looked into it - and thanks to the now defunct Bob Olley wiki (that you can find on archive.org) - you can readily find much of his back catalog still cast today.

The threads and thoughts came together, and a mandate was decided. A wall to wall Bob Olley beastmen army was to be mustered. Fully compatible with both 3rd (and later) rulesets.

I like to think it is partially a demake of a 'modern' Beastman army, as well as an idea of what an army might have looked like if he'd been commissioned to do a full range. Pretty much every miniature in the army, aside from the citadel beastmen, is converted. With the exception of the boar bodies, some matchsticks and the horns on the shaman, everything was an Olley figure.

A cup of Bob Olley miniatures.

Korag's Horde

To give a bit of direction to the project, there is a little narrative. So I eagerly present to you - 

As the army progresses each month, the story of KORAG will progress a little bit too - from humble origins as a pit fighter, to a despoiling conqueror.

Who remembers those AD&D character packs from 1985?

Not me! I wasn't born until 1986 - but they're great aren't they.

The intended roster for the next 6 months is as follows (expect all of this to change...)

MONTH ONE - KORAG OF THE PITS (unit 1)

It all starts with the Tzaangors and their fab hats.

NAME	TYPE	Points
Korag's Pit Fighters	24x Beastmen	312
Korag of the Pits	BANEBEAST (lvl 5)	60

MONTH TWO - KORAG THE LIBERATOR (unit 2)

Turns out February 2022 is NOT a leap year this year. Damn.

NAME	TYPE	Points
Deathsteer's Despoilers	11x Minotaur	572
Deathsteer the Indomitable	GOREMASTER (lvl 10)	190
The Liberated of Korag	32x Beastmen	320
Ghrud the Oppressed	BANEBEAST (lvl 5)	60

MONTH THREE - KORAG AND THE WILD HUNT (unit 3)

This was a very heavy session of dremmeling and gluing.

It had the charming by product of completely removing your thumbprint.

NAME	TYPE	Points
Garthor's Wild Hunt	23x Chaos Centaurs	1012
Shadowhoof, Herald of Garthor	Centaur Hero (lvl 10)	190
Garthor, Lord of the Crags	Dragon Ogre - Darkoth	247

MONTH FOUR - KORAG THE DESTROYER (wildcard)

The chariots still need finishing. If I get time I'll paint the tub.

NAME	TYPE	Points
The Iron Claws	4x Chariots (2 boars, 2 crew)	448
Korag the Destroyer	FERALFIEND (lvl 15)	160

MONTH FIVE - KORAG THE CHOSEN (unit 4)

The shrine, champion and standard bearer for this lot are on their way...

NAME	TYPE	Points
The Chosen of Murgrog	24x Beastmen, spears	312
Rambrok the Champion	BANEBEAST (lvl 5)	60
Murgrog the Seer	FERALFLUXER (lvl 15)	225
The Shrine of Bolobyle	Chaos Altar	66
Battle Standard	BANEBEAST (lvl 5)	60

MONTH SIX - KORAG THE CONQUEROR (general)

This will be the surprise centre-piece hopefully, and will look totally different by June.

NAME	TYPE	Points
The Iron Tyrant	Chariot (8 boars)	176
Korag the Conqueror	SPASMGHAST (lvl 25)	260
Shengrob the Mage	MARAUDER (lvl 10)	160
Togruk the Bodyguard	BANEBEAST (lvl 5)	60

The Overlord's Offering

The tribute to the benevolent and wise overlord in the choice colours of baby pink and blue...

A Bob Olley Chaos Warrior from ESSEX MINIATURES

in the requested palette.

Finally...

It's a pleasure to be working on this - and especially on this platform. Hopefully HOPEFULLY this will all pan out as intended - but let's see!

There are quite a lot actually aren't there...