Dan Becker's Goblin Warg Riders 28mm Fantasy Figures

This article describes painting Goblin Warg Riders 28mm fantasy figures. Although I describe them as Goblin Warg Riders in the J.R.R. Tolkein style, they are titled by manufacturer North Star Military Figures as Goblin Wolf Riders, probably to avoid copyright issues. The figures are designed for the Osprey Publishing game rules for Oathmark fantasy battles, but they can be used for role-playing, skirmish, or army battle wargames.

Scroll to read the story and see smaller photos. Click on the photos for a larger gallery of all the images.

Goblin Warg Riders Cross Bridge
Goblin Warg Riders Cross Bridge
First a photo of the completed figures. There are 16 goblin riders shown. The retail box includes 15 plastic riders and wargs. The pieces are mix and match so you can make all spear warriors, all blade, or all bow. I have made a mixed squad of 5 spear, 5 blade, and 5 bow.

The leader on the left front is a bonus metal figure that was included for the early supporters. He carries a big axe and rides an extra plastic warg included with the bonus offer.

Goblin Warg Riders Bridge Side View
Goblin Warg Riders Bridge Side View
Here the Goblin Warg riders are shown crossing the bridge from the side. This scenery consists of some felt mats with plaster bridge and towers cast from Hirst Arts silicone molds.

All the bases are thin plywood oblong ("pill capsule") shaped bases from Litko. The bases are simply decorated with some gray gravel and some tiny scrub bushes made with lichen. After all, these goblins travel the barren surrounds of Mordor.

The bases are 20 by 40mm which puts the figures very close together. The standard Oathmark basing is 25 by 50mm rectangular which is what is provided in the retail box. I don't play Oathmark, but if I did, I could mount these riders on a larger tray.

Goblin Warg Riders Bridge Elevated View
Goblin Warg Riders Bridge Elevated View
This view shows the Goblin Warg Riders in column formation: two abreast and 8 rows long.

The wargs are painted with Army Painter Speedpaints. Speedpaints are thin, highly-pigmented water paints (similar to inks), that flow into textures and barely shade high points and provide a nice gradation of shadows and light. It saves a few steps from the normal process of multiple coats: dark primer, shadows, base color, highlights.

The models are first brush painted with Badger StynlRez white primer. (The name is meant to convey that it is good for styrene plastic, vinyl, and resin models.) This primer is very thin which is good for not obliterating sculpting details. It might not coat as much as thicker primers, but the details are sharper. Then various mixes of white, gray and black Speedpaints get the model 90% complete. Normal acrylic model colors are used for details like the eyes and the mouths. This won't win a painting contest, but it is great for gamers.

Goblin Warg Riders Bridge Drone View
Goblin Warg Riders Bridge Drone View
Similarly, all the goblin riders are first painted with Speedpaints. This completes about 90% of the painting. Then the metal bits, eyes, and teeth are done with typical model acrylics. I use Vallejo Model Colors for these models.

Note that I made all these photos before painting the Goblin eyes and teeth. While making the photos and realized I forgot an important step. The eyes and teeth really make the models look life-like, but these photos show the earlier, more blank-looking faces.

Goblin Warg 10 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 10 o'clock view
The rest of this article has photos for each of the 16 miniatures. Proceed if you want more details or individual photos from threee angles.

This is the metal bonus leader goblin. All the Goblins have red emblems on their shields that are painted with acrylic paint pens. Someone invented a Golbin character set that convey Goblin concepts. This shield character means "ship" or "hand".

Goblin Warg 2 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 2 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 5 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 5 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 10 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 10 o'clock view
This Goblin rider is armed with a spear. Whereas the Goblin leader has a nearly white warg, this one is nearly black.
Goblin Warg 2 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 2 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 5 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 5 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 10 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 10 o'clock view
Here is another spear-equipped Goblin rider in the attack charge.
Goblin Warg 2 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 2 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 5 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 5 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 10 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 10 o'clock view
Another spear-equipped Goblin rider in another attack charge.
Goblin Warg 2 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 2 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 5 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 5 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 10 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 10 o'clock view
Our third Goblin rider in an attack charge.
Goblin Warg 2 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 2 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 5 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 5 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 10 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 10 o'clock view
This Goblin warg rider is the standard bearer for the team. The skull-on-a-pole standard comes with the plastic riders, one of the fun optional bits in the kit.
Goblin Warg 2 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 2 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 5 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 5 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 10 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 10 o'clock view
Here is a Goblin warg rider equipped with the bladed hand weapons. I call it bladed, but this option is a spike.
Goblin Warg 2 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 2 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 5 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 5 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 10 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 10 o'clock view
Here is a Goblin warg rider with a beat up curved sword.
Goblin Warg 2 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 2 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 5 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 5 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 10 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 10 o'clock view
This Goblin warg rider has a curved scimitar sword.
Goblin Warg 2 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 2 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 5 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 5 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 10 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 10 o'clock view
Another scimitar. This rider with dark chain mail.
Goblin Warg 2 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 2 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 5 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 5 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 10 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 10 o'clock view
Here is a Golin warg rider with a big axe.
Goblin Warg 2 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 2 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 5 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 5 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 10 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 10 o'clock view
The last five Goblin warg riders are bow equipped. The models did not provide notched arrows and not enough held arrows, so I had to add a homemade arrow to this goblin's hand.
Goblin Warg 2 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 2 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 5 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 5 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 10 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 10 o'clock view
Goblin warg rider with bow, number 2. Note the spare shield glued to his back.
Goblin Warg 2 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 2 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 5 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 5 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 10 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 10 o'clock view
Goblin warg rider with bow, number 3.
Goblin Warg 2 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 2 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 5 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 5 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 10 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 10 o'clock view
Goblin warg rider with bow, number 4. Another one with a spare shield on the back.
Goblin Warg 2 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 2 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 5 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 5 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 10 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 10 o'clock view
Goblin warg rider with bow, number 5.
Goblin Warg 2 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 2 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 5 o'clock view
Goblin Warg 5 o'clock view

Thanks for reading about my latest miniature figures. There are new Oathmark boxed sets for human cavalry riders also Orc foot soldiers. I am highly likely to get those and share photos here. Stay tuned!