Something is stirring under the mountain - Smaug is here! P12 back in stock. Again.

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**Mysterious Pants**

$490 is pretty ludicrous for Smaug.

Will people buy these? When it comes to the tabletop, it doesn't seem like you'd get any use (LotR/Hobbit is a dying game anyhow), and for display purposes I'm sure you could find something cheaper. Not to mention that most of the Hobbit fanboys probably want their memorabilia ready to display, not sectioned off into 42 pieces and needing a paint job.

I'm also a bit curious about the extended disclaimer on their website.

"Advanced modelling skills are required. It is supplied unpainted and requires assembly - we recommend using Citadel Super Glue: Thick and Citadel Paints. Some preparation and cleaning will be required prior to painting. Small areas of flash and mould lines will need to be filed or sanded, and larger casting gates will need to be removed before construction."

I'd be interested in seeing an unboxing video or some images of the model prior to assembly. How odd

ED: Smaug sold out? Wot?

**Azreal13**

Caederes wrote:
Azreal13 wrote:
Have you seen this fella?

Admittedly only £50 cheaper, but might make the difference.

Does anyone know the size specifications for this? If it's not much bigger than the official Smaug model I probably won't bother, however it looks like it could be almost twice the size.

There's a photo on the website that shows the pieces arranged on a cutting mat with a scale grid printed on it, he looks bigger certainly, and there's a thread in Dakka Discussions that has a code which garners you a thumping discount.

Plus, he's not sold out.

The OP from the aforementioned thread..

mrshl9898 wrote:
Hi all, I have successfully negociated with the maker of this: http://www.geenemodels.com/dragon-kit/

Just mention my name "Andrew Marshall" to score it for $280 USD, better then their 390 and half off GWs price for an inferior mould

Link to scale pic..(no pun intended)
http://www.geenemodels.com/dragon-kit/#PhotoSwipe1418163179981

The cutting mat scale seems to suggest it's 45cm long, and he overhangs it front and back, I'd suggest nose to tail would be close to 30" at least, if stretched out straight.

**Verviedi**

Games Workshop wrote:
There are only 200 Webstore Exclusive Smaug™ miniatures available before christmas. Order yours today and receive a free upgrade to courier delivery, complete with a tracking number for extra peace of mind.

The mighty fire-drake, Smaug™ is doubtless the largest and most powerful of his kind left in Middle-earth™.

Smaug™ is built upon a stunningly detailed scenic base that depicts the vast treasures of Erebor. The Arkenstone™ and The One Ring can both clearly be seen amongst the gems and gold as Smaug™ looms over the would-be burglar Bilbo Baggins™.

This magnificent 42 piece miniature is hand cast using the highest quality resin (the same used by Forge World), and the most advanced techniques to produce a model with extremely fine detail. Every scale, horn and battle-scar has been expertly reproduced to create a beatifically authentic collectors piece.

Weighing in at 2.4kgs, the height of the miniature from the bottom of the base to the tip of Smaug’s™ wing is 8.4 inches (or 21.4 cm). The base is 9.2 inches (or 23.1 cm) long and 5.4 inches (or 13.3 cm) wide.

Please note: This miniature is not recommended for children under the age of 14. Advanced modelling skills are required. It is supplied unpainted and requires assembly - we recommend using Citadel Super Glue: Thick and Citadel Paints. Some preparation and cleaning will be required prior to painting. Small areas of flash and mould lines will need to be filed or sanded, and larger casting gates will need to be removed before construction.

So much Tm...

**Padre**

Yes, the Tm is strong in this one...

**Fenrir Kitsune**

Only 200 before Xmas? Leaves the opportunity for a second run after Xmas then.

**Kanluwen**

Interesting little tidbit on "What's New Today" about "Battle of the Five Armies"...

As you can see from the front cover, the Blood Angels are back this week with more new miniatures, these ones even more heavily-armoured than the last. But what’s that hiding behind issue 46? It’s a free gift, a 32-page supplement, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, containing a couple of new scenarios and rules for all the miniatures that have come out over the last few weeks, including the Champions of Erebor and the mighty Smaug. Want a copy? Make sure you pick up White Dwarf issue 46 tomorrow from your local Games Workshop, independent stockist or right here on the Games Workshop webstore.

This week’s White Dwarf also includes more new miniatures from The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, a Battle Report between the Blood Angels, Flesh Tearers and Tyranids, a very metallic Paint Splatter, stage-by-stage guides for painting Flesh Tearers, the concluding part of the Shield of Baal campaign and plenty more besides. How do we fit it all in? We chop it up with a chainsword and squeeze out all the unnecessary juices.

**Sidstyler**

Bumping because this is relevant. Garfy, from the Tale of Painters blog, apparently bought a Smaug model...which I'm not at all surprised about, he's been buying up all the Hobbit stuff. He did an unboxing and will most likely be showing off more of the model and maybe even doing tutorials later.

http://taleofpainters.blogspot.com/2014/12/review-smaug-unboxing-video-and-photos.html#more

**RiTides**

Thanks for that link, Sid!

**Vermis**

I think I'll be getting that WD, for, ah, um, just because.

these ones even more heavily-armoured than the last.

That's just what was missing.

Sidstyler wrote:
He did an unboxing

Whatever happened to the word 'review'? And do we really need a good look at all the bubblewrap or whatever in the box?

**Sidstyler**

Well...yeah. It's almost as important as the model itself, really. Makes a good stress reliever when taking breaks during assembly.

"Shred 'Til They're Dead!", ugh.

**Wolf**

Damn, the more I look at it the more i want it ... Opening soon "The fund Wolf's Smaug model" All donations are welcome hahah a man can dream.

**NAVARRO**

Not for me, to expensive and the pose is very boring, not even thinking in the storage space for it. I will gladly pass.

**Makaleth**

Garfy from Tale of Painters "Highly recommended" people buying this and for him the quality is worth the price.

I think we might have been too critical on GW. This is an impressive and highly detailed model.

**Azreal13**

Makaleth wrote:
Garfy from Tale of Painters "Highly recommended" people buying this and for him the quality is worth the price.

I think we might have been too critical on GW. This is an impressive and highly detailed model.

I haven't really felt people have heavily criticised the model, it is more that the model at the price offered really suffers in comparison to some of the other large dragons already available.

I'm sure, taken in isolation, that it is an excellent piece of kit, it's when it is viewed in the wider context of what else is available that it's downsides become more noticeable.

**jonolikespie**

Makaleth wrote:
Garfy from Tale of Painters "Highly recommended" people buying this and for him the quality is worth the price.

I think we might have been too critical on GW. This is an impressive and highly detailed model.

Looking at the pics on that link I think he and I have a different standard of quality.

**Deadawake1347**

jonolikespie wrote:
Makaleth wrote:
Garfy from Tale of Painters "Highly recommended" people buying this and for him the quality is worth the price.

I think we might have been too critical on GW. This is an impressive and highly detailed model.

Looking at the pics on that link I think he and I have a different standard of quality.

I, for one, find it hilarious that the most sharply detailed part of the model is the copyright information on Bilbo's base.
Bilbo himself, and especially his face, are more vague outlines than anything else, but damn are those letters crisp.
Priorities, I guess.

**Makaleth**

Deadawake1347 wrote:
jonolikespie wrote:
Makaleth wrote:
Garfy from Tale of Painters "Highly recommended" people buying this and for him the quality is worth the price.

I think we might have been too critical on GW. This is an impressive and highly detailed model.

Looking at the pics on that link I think he and I have a different standard of quality.

I, for one, find it hilarious that the most sharply detailed part of the model is the copyright information on Bilbo's base.
Bilbo himself, and especially his face, are more vague outlines than anything else, but damn are those letters crisp.
Priorities, I guess.

LOL! I saw that... but didn't think twice. The detail on the copyright is actually fantastic.

**Herzlos**

Makaleth wrote:
Garfy from Tale of Painters "Highly recommended" people buying this and for him the quality is worth the price.

I think we might have been too critical on GW. This is an impressive and highly detailed model.

Garfy from Tale of Painters is probably the most pro-GW biased blogger out there. He's the one that did an article claiming that the new format (when it was still monthly) WD was better than the old one. link. Note that the 1998 WD came with a free mini, and rules, but the 2013 had better pictures so won.

I'm not sure he's ever posted anything critical of GW.

I'm not saying the Smaug isn't a great model, but when you're reviewing it in isolation and comparing the price to a resin Thunderhawk, you're not portraying the bigger picture.
If it were £100 cheaper, I'd probably buy it.

**LuciusAR**

It's a shame we won't be seeing the Gundabad Orcs in plastic. I really liked the look of them in the film, they looked more like an army as opposed to the ragged mob of the Mordor Orcs.

**ImAGeek**

LuciusAR wrote:
It's a shame we won't be seeing the Gundabad Orcs in plastic. I really liked the look of them in the film, they looked more like an army as opposed to the ragged mob of the Mordor Orcs.

I loved the Gundabad orcs armour. It was very unusual and each was unique. I'm thinking about giving some of my planned Beastmen for WHF similar armour (I think it suits them best. Warhammer Orcs are nothing like the Hobbit/LotR film Orcs).

**reds8n**

Another size comparison shot

**godswildcard**

I really, REALLY want one....

**Paradigm**

There is no denying he's a whole lotta awesome, but he's just not £295 worth of awesome.

**godswildcard**

....which is why I don't have one.

Maybe I'll be able to trade someone some stuff for it. That seems less painful somehow. :-P

**ImAGeek**

Bloody hell. He is fantastic. I wish he was cheaper. Maybe £200 I'd consider it.

**perrsyu**

Will that mean there'll be more following Holiday? Additionally, could be as it's far away, but the neck as well as end look very easy and undetailed.

**reds8n**

perrsyu wrote:
Will that mean there'll be more following Holiday? .

My understanding is that there will be (at least) one more production run some time post Xmas/early next year.

Will again be a small/limited production run one is led to believe.

**reds8n**

and here we are ...

http://www.games-workshop.com/en-GB/Smaug

back in stock once more.

**Kid_Kyoto**

Vermis wrote:
I

Sidstyler wrote:
He did an unboxing

Whatever happened to the word 'review'? And do we really need a good look at all the bubblewrap or whatever in the box?

There's a useful difference, an 'unboxing' gives you initial impressions and a chance to see the item as it really is, stripped of photoshop and ad copy.

A real review requires assembling, painting and using the item in question.

**weeble1000**

Kid_Kyoto wrote:
Vermis wrote:
I

Sidstyler wrote:
He did an unboxing

Whatever happened to the word 'review'? And do we really need a good look at all the bubblewrap or whatever in the box?

There's a useful difference, an 'unboxing' gives you initial impressions and a chance to see the item as it really is, stripped of photoshop and ad copy.

A real review requires assembling, painting and using the item in question.

I really like unboxing reviews. I prefer a standalone unboxing review with an additional substantive quality review and tutorials/reviews on top of that, e.g. painting tutorial, assembly with review, product comparison reviews, etc.

I think an unboxing review gives you a good sense of how the item is packaged, which in my view is important, and how the item looks 'fresh out of the box' so to speak. I personally like to know if the item is shrink wrapped, bubble wrapped, packed in a printed cardstock box, in a blister, in little baggies, etc. Does the box have a vacuformed tray? Does it have open cell foam? Are the bits loose in a baggie? Are they cast on a single sprue? How wide are the gates? How does the model handle shipping and handling?