Well I'm not going to lie, I spent a good portion of the day racking my brain on this, and instead of coming up with an answer for myself, I realized that some Warkoptas would be awesome too. Ugh, scratchbuilding is a passion, but figuring out the builds or what to do can be a nightmare at times. In truth the problem ultimately lies with me overthinking it all.
Good Luck on your DeffWing Typhon, please post some pics and let us at the WotW know about their exploits! Call me crazy, but it sounds like you have a bit of an Orky animosity against Bad Moons. With Blood Axes I'm not sure exactly what I'd do painting wise, I'm dreadful at trying camo patterns, which is why my old Eldar Pathfinders and Rangers just had green cloaks instead of camo. I know I want to use a khaki green like they had in a great picture from Waaargh the Orks.
I really think you need a bigger stove.
Ha! I know right! You have no idea how much I laughed over this one. As for Rebel Grots its something I've always planned and wanted to do, but at the same time am relieved that I've never made that step towards actually making. The big problem against them is that with all the rule lawyering people around me, I know I'd have to find someway of making each infantry model the same size as a Guardsman, and trying to figure that one out has kept me away from doing it.
As for what a Grot Stormtrooper would look like, in my mind if I were to do it, those would be the ones who have either been heavily enhanced by Orky cybernetics done by Grot apprentices to rebel Bad Dokz, or (the easier route) of taking a Cadian Guardsman with a Forest Goblin head, and plasticarding shin guards, elbow guards, a bit of plating around the hands, and then some sort of backpack to link up to a standard lasgun with a modified barrel and some sort of scope. The later idea is really doable and not difficult, probably something like an hour or two for a prototype, and then it'd be a cinch to build the rest after piece sizing for each scratch piece as occurred.
I think the junkas are the best project, however I disagree with the ard case part
I do hear you on that Skeetergod, the problem is of course how I plan on building them. I really like the idea of the jet as the core body of the tank, the main problem though is that even if I don't get a canopy for the front, it's not exactly going to look like an open topped vehicle. Additionally one of the problems with my design idea is that it's not going to look like it can carry a single Ork other than the driver and maybe a gunner. Then to make matters worse there really is no way to build a rear hatch either, so there's still design flaws to work out.
Alternate guns to the Big Shootas is something I've thought a lot about, in truth I've only meant/wanted to build some Junkas since IA8 came out. In fact had I actually gotten a viable design idea a few months ago I would have built and decked one out with 3 KMBs, although the point cost is a bit outrageous for what the model is, and unfortunately I feel the same is true for the Rokkitz. As with the Skorcha, I've always had an incredibly poor track record with Flamer vehicles. Perhaps I should give them another go one day.
Ultimately since Junkas will probably only see use in relatively rare games with people who don't protest the use of IA8, there's two real uses I have. As a cheap fast distraction from the Walkers, or as a long range Balistic Missile delivery system with Grot Bombz. I still however can't figure a way to build Grot Bombz. I don't really think I'd have use for them in the AT area, as 1-2 units of 5 Rokkit Kans and at least 1 unit of Spannaz with a KMB Mek
When I get a chance I'll have to look up the rules for Transporting an outflanking unit. I think that it has to be a Dedicated Transport to outflank with the unit, but I may be wrong on that. In the event that I am, I'm definitely gonna build 2 to go with some new Kommandos (I never play a game without at least 1 unit of Lootas these days). Who knows, maybe those will be the ones with a SAG... wait no, no they won't, the point cost is just too prohibitive.
Oh and Skeetergod, don't worry about getting off track or whatnot, hearing your crazy idea gave me a crazy idea, and who knows how many other readers are being inspired by it! Roll with it my friend.
Ork E Nuff that's the real reason why Junkas are on the build list. Some of my konversions really show their age when GW releases "real" versions, such as my old Kommandos, or Battlewagons. Nice to hear about your Battlewagon success, I hope you added some shiny new gubbins afterward. As for the Russ's being...
a waste of your talent and time, especially if they are for an allied contingent; which implies that they would be mostly stock
I thank you for thinking that I have talent and that my time has some sort of value to it, best compliment of my day. As for them being mostly stock though, I pride myself on ensuring that my models are never stock, especially when it comes to vehicles. I have 3 main reasons to that of course, 1 I like to build/konvert/scratchbuild, 2 I'm crazy when it comes to personalization and that's part of Orky fluff, 3 after having some of my collection stolen a few years back, I like having models that are instantly recognizable as mine at a glance.
One of the big things that would really inform the non-standardization of the builds and paint is how I decide what kind of IG allies they'd be. For example if they're nutters like GorkaMorka Diggas they'd dress the tank up like proper Orkz would, adding glyphs, graffiti, kill counts, warpaint and the like, not to mention they'd look as if they were in severe disrepair/been fooled around with by a Mek and they'd of course be thrilled to have an Ork or two along with them to be propa Tank Kommandaz.
Or if they were a PDF who hired the Orks, than they'd be full of Elite warriors who've taken a beating of some unknown enemy would have multiple war trophies and different kinds of battle damage, but little in the way of field repair (especially if I go with Nid fighters as most of the Bad Moons I've built up have Nid trophies, as for damage I've always wanted to build a tank with partially splated Spore Mine stuck to the side, and yes anyone is free to loot that idea!)
I really wanna see the battlewagon conversions. You have got me interested in how those guys would play out. I would also like to see the mega-armoured nobs, but that is for selfish reasons . I wanna convert some myself and would like to see your take on them.
Ask and you shall receive...
here's an old WIP of one of my old Megas I was building back in the day
As you can see it's passable, and after it was finished and painted there have been a few times that no one's noticed it's not converted from stock (but that's really because non-Ork players really take the time to notice various details). Nevertheless I know I can do better now, and I will admit that there's been more than one person whose negatively commented on the legs. If or rather when I do more Megas I doubt I'm going to use stock Boyz or Nobz legs, but I would definitely add some much needed pistons and gears, not to mention wirework.
I remember that someone once demanded that I give them a template for the Megas, but at the time I did these there was no template, and from what I've seen I like my way better. What I did was take extensive measurements of the Meganob I had, and than built as close to scale as I could (then of course I wasn't too precise, after all this is supposed to look like a Mek did it), than added a liberal amount of bitz. Of course it was only later that I realized that their shootas are supposed to be twin linked as my Meganob was either a miscast with one barrel or was supposed to have an attached Kombi weapon bit that was missing. The Shootas are another thing I'd do completely different this go around.
As for the Wagon, I did start building one in the style I described a year or two ago (maybe it was 09, I don't really know anymore), but after it fell off the table and shattered into pieces I junked it. I think that Russ hull may be the one that's now on the base of the Dakkajet I built in the last Junkyard thread.
It's a good idea, I just didn't have it quite right at that time, the idea I think was a bit beyond my skill level at that point, and my attempts at making a visible interior were dreadful to say the least, not to mention incredibly time consuming. Doing it now, I'd have a lot more in the way of plating, better big shootas, and a more realistic front screen. Its one of the things about scratchbuilding, every project helps you evolve into being better at it, some turn out amazing and some don't. Actually most don't, even today I think my ratio is something like for every great one there's 2 horrible ones. It's all a learning experience, and with scratchbuilding now when I look back at some of the stuff I was thought was great, my first thought is that I could do better.
So at the moment its looking like popular opinion is leaning towards the Junkas with Battlewagons and Megas not far behind. I'm still on the fence a bit, so if anyone has anything more to say, or someone wants to chime in, you're all welcome to do so! Thanks for all the input guys! You're making a hard decision a bit easier
Peace
~OD
WHAT I was Ninja-d!
Yeah I hear you on that AoD, it's a great challenge to see how far you can stretch one kit, and I still think about looting those trukk designs of yours. I know I'll eventually get around to everything, but your comment does help motivate me to bring the Megas further up to the top of the build list, I guess at this point its really between the Junkas or Megas.