“Ere's wot we's gonna do, right? First I'se gonna yell Waaagh! an' 'den I'se gonna run up to 'em an' krump 'em.”
In 2022 the McFarlane Warhammer 40k expanded further into the rich universe of the 41st Millennium with the introduction of the first Ork figures to the line. The Ork’s were also the first Megafig’s to be released in the WH40k series and saw the basic packaging expanded to a larger format window box to enclose these larger characters although with a continuation of the same design principles and colour schemes - including the dark gothic art of the outer box and the deep yellow card back framing the figure in its inner tray. Like the standard releases, the Megafig’s still had the display stand included - glued to the card back - despite it offering little practical use on a figure of such size and weight.
In hand the weight is clearly noticeable, the Orks are substantial chunks of plastic and feel robust and solid. Our Meganob stands just over 7 inches tall out of the box, the same height as the Space Marines released to date. It is the figure's bulk and width that brings it into Megafig territory and the base look is enhanced with a backpack and totem which once installed increases the total height to somewhere close to 10 inches.
The Orks are designed with a similar principle to the Marines, a standard body over which additional parts and paintwork can be applied to create multiple variants from a set of limited parts. The Meganob is wearing the Mek-build Ork Power Armour which is all cast in grey but interestingly is then weathered with drybrushing of silver to create a worn look on the metal components - something we haven’t seen too much in the line to date. Non-clan-specific symbols are applied to the armour at the knees, on a central red chest panel, and around onto the backpack and its large horned skull totem.
Each arm features the first site of green Ork skin which then extends around the back of the torso itself. The skin is cast in green, but then also overpainted/washed to add texture and weathering. The arms terminate in nasty-looking weaponry. The left-hand ends in a claw that articulates open and closed. The right arm - the Shoota specified in the figure's name - is a large blaster with running wires and cables and a notched bayonet.
The head is set back into the Power Armour, and the Megnob then features a clip-in metal look face plate in the shape of a huge jaw. This is the same hefty plastic as the figure but has a bit of give in it which is needed to maneuver it into the discreet slots within the head cavity allowing it to sit in position. The Ork head itself is suitably grotesque, painted in the same way as the other exposed skin and with yellowing tusks sitting in a deep red maw and further red in the tiny eyes. The Meganob is wearing a metal skull cap with spikes and this has a black and white chequered paint design.
There are no accessories as such for the Meganob once the backpack and faceplate are fitted. Articulation comes in at 17 points in total, including the open & close movement of the clawed hand. The Meganob movement is very much limited by its size and design and even with a raft of leg joints including articulated toe movement, your choices are neutral stances only. Despite his size and bulk, the Meganob is hard to pose standing, with the feet not quite sitting flat and the considerable weight and bulk of the upper torso.
Arm movement is limited as well thanks to the huge weaponry on either side, the elbows do not bend by much but do feature pistons that move in and out as the elbow is moved. The only extensive arm movement is the ability to raise and lower the shoulders. The head is jointed and can turn within its socket, and there is a touch of torso movement around the waist.
The Megafig format comes at a premium price, and at the point these were released they were retailing between £35 and £40 which was nearly double that of a Space Marine. The Meganob does stand taller than a Marine, but only by the height of its totem - it is the bulk and potentially the additional paint work and weathering that grants the figure Megafig status. The Ork’s did not sell particularly well at the full RRP lacking as much appeal as the Space Marines themselves, an issue seen with other races such as the Necrons, and other troopers like the Battle Sisters. They have found themselves being sold at considerably less than their RRP at discount retailers, and are still not flying off the shelves.
This is a shame as the lack of collector support will start to shape the way McFarlane thinks about future releases, and we can see that already with a focus very much back on the Space Marines that sell so well with no obvious sign of any further aliens or opponents. For those still on the fence about adding Ork’s to their WH40k McFarlane collection - as I was for a good couple of years - then I would suggest taking the plunge on at least one. The look of the Ork Meganob figure is impressive and aligned perfectly with the source material. The engineering is solid, although the backpack and face plate are lacking in security when installed. And I can look past limited articulation and no discernible accessories when you have a figure with a giant claw for one hand and a Shoota for the other.
Keep Track of all the Warhammer 40k figures from McFarlane at our comprehensive
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About Me : As a child of the 70's and 80's I grew up in a golden age for action figures and in my youth bought and sold myself through collections of Star Wars, G.I. Joe (Action Force) and M.A.S.K. while also dabbling in He-Man, Transformers and Ghostbusters. Roll forward and I am now reliving that Youth with the action figures of today and am a collector and fan of the larger 6-8 inch figures from my favourite movie and TV licences - including the ones mentioned above, but also the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Doctor Who and the Aliens. I launched The Mephitsu Archives in 2015 with a view of creating a UK focused site or these figures where fans can pick up the latest action figure news, read reviews and get information on where to buy their figures and what is currently on store shelves. I hope I am delivering that to you guys...