One model I purchased was a Forgeworld Ork Big Zzappa. I am intending to use it with my new Ork vehicles.
Zzap weapons are a special type of weapon exclusive to the technical knowledge of the Orks. They are roughly analogous to Ork laser weapons, however describing them as lasers is a bit of a stretch. In a weird way, they share more in common to the Imperium’s lightning gun (a special type of las weaponry that causes electrical aftershocks) than tried and true laser. However, it could be deemed that the Zzap weapons uses some kind electromagnetic beams to mimic a laser.
The Big Zzappa is a heavier and more potent version of the Zzap Gun that shares its advantages, has longer range and is even more unpredictable when fired. It is mounted on heavier Ork vehicles such as Gunwagons, Big Trakks or Battle Fortresses.
This is the weapon on an Ork Gunwagon as seen at GamesDay 2009. This is very much a steampunk style.
The resin parts are as seen here and you also get two Grot Krew.
One of the key things you need to do with virtually all Forge World models is to give them a good wash.
When the Forge World models are cast, the mould is given a spray (I guess) of some kind of lubricant to allow the cast model to be released from the mould easily. However the lubricant also acts as a barrier to paint, so as happened with previous models I (and others) have painted is that the paint flecks off.
Washing the model in water with a drop of washing up liquid should remove the lubricant. Avoid using hot water as this could warp the resin (a useful tip if you need to warped resin back to its original shape).
The model goes together really easily.
The Big Zappa and Grot Krew were then given a white undercoat.
In a Trukk.
I have been digging through my workbench models and realised I had a fair few Forge World Ork Weapons.
I would usually paint this black and then drybrush, but I am now thinking I might more go along the same technique I used on my Ork Fight Bommer jet engine.
I have both volumes of the Forge World Masterclass books and they are a real inspiration and full of ideas and techniques for painting and weathering models. I wanted to try and emulate some of those techniques on the engine of the Ork Bommer.
I decided that I would paint the Big Zzappa with Leadbelcher, now that Boltgun Metal is no longer available.
The main energy aspect will be painted blue to represent glowing power!
Here are some of the Grot Krew.
In a test I decided to paint the Krew of my Forge World Ork heavy weapons with Ork Flesh contrast paint. I hadn’t used contrast paints before, so was intrigued by how it would work out.
I have to say I was quite impressed with the results on only a single coat. I like how it not just covers, but also adds shadows and highlights.
So I gave the krew of the Big Zappa a coat of Ork Flesh contrast paint.
I added some highlights to the Grots using Warboss Green.
I then used Citadel Dry paint, Niblet Green to add highlights. I then did further highlights using Hexos Palesun.
Their equipment and tools were painted with Leadbelcher.
I started to paint the other clothes and items on the Grots.
I painted the nails and claws of the Grots with Ushabti Bone and then highlighted with Wraithbone. I painted the trousers of one of the Grots with Ushabti Bone and the other with XV-88.
I added some details to the Big Zzappa with Fulgurite Copper.
I washed the model with Nuln Oil Shade first and then used some Agrax Earthshade to add some colour to the weapon, to show weathering as well as wear and tear.
