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A few months ago, I picked up the Ophidian Archway, which was surprisingly difficult to assemble - all the pieces were slightly bowed and didn't contact each other, it just didn't fit together. I did assemble it eventually, and it looks good enough, but I now have some money in my budget and I was planning on picking up Numinous Occulum and Baleful Realmgates, and one day, I absolutely plan on getting a piece or two from the dreadfort.

My question is if the newer models are still problematic (I remember hearing the realmgates were), and if there is some way to make assembly easier? With softer plastics, you can boil the pieces, bend them, then shock them with ice water to keep shape - can you do that with the terrain pieces? I didn't think to try last time.

I suggest dry fit and then pin certain areas, such as the slightly warped part before gluing. Use green stuff to fill and sculpt holes.

Another thought - the terrain is, technically, modular. If you could magnetize it, you would have more options, right? But with how poorly it all fits together, I'm guessing magnets are out of the question.

 Sqorgar wrote:


My question is if the newer models are still problematic (I remember hearing the realmgates were), and if there is some way to make assembly easier? With softer plastics, you can boil the pieces, bend them, then shock them with ice water to keep shape - can you do that with the terrain pieces? I didn't think to try last time.

Yes, unfortunately all the new terrain for AoS (I'm not sure about the dreadhold, but all the others are) is not casted in GW's factory and is outsourced in China. With this come the issues that you've experienced and a slightly worse detail and bigger pieces. Currently there is only one piece of terrain from the fantasy range that I'd recommend and that is the Garden of Morr (provided they haven't outsourced it aswell)

P.S. Had a look at the dreadhold sprues in a video - the plastic and the sprues themselves look weird and not of GW's doing. IMO - casted in china aswell.

I had no problem with my Numinous Occulum. Some pieces did require me holding them in place for a bit while the plastic glue took hold to make them align, specifically the sphere, but nothing I couldn't handle. I also have the Ophidian Archway but I didn't assemble it myself. Would certainly recommend them though, they look amazing.

 CoreCommander wrote:

 Sqorgar wrote:


My question is if the newer models are still problematic (I remember hearing the realmgates were), and if there is some way to make assembly easier? With softer plastics, you can boil the pieces, bend them, then shock them with ice water to keep shape - can you do that with the terrain pieces? I didn't think to try last time.

Yes, unfortunately all the new terrain for AoS (I'm not sure about the dreadhold, but all the others are) is not casted in GW's factory and is outsourced in China. With this come the issues that you've experienced and a slightly worse detail and bigger pieces. Currently there is only one piece of terrain from the fantasy range that I'd recommend and that is the Garden of Morr (provided they haven't outsourced it aswell)

P.S. Had a look at the dreadhold sprues in a video - the plastic and the sprues themselves look weird and not of GW's doing. IMO - casted in china aswell.

I bought the Garden of Morr recently (opened it today) and it was on the sprue like any other kit. I think the outsourced kits don't come on sprues? Anyway the kit looks amazing quality but I have not built it yet.

Lastly, I think it's availability is just until the last few boxes are sold, I wouldn't hold your breath at more being made so I would buy it quick!

 Bottle wrote:


I bought the Garden of Morr recently (opened it today) and it was on the sprue like any other kit. I think the outsourced kits don't come on sprues? Anyway the kit looks amazing quality but I have not built it yet.

That's why I recommended it - because it is a "true" GW kit. Also I wouldn't be surprised if they release it again (as this is the second time I think) even if this print runs out.

Oh sure, I just wanted to confirm that it wasn't outsourced still.

I don't think this is a second print run though, but instead probably them selling all the boxes that weren't sold in the stores. Similar to when Space Hulk reemerged on the Webstore. :-)

 Mymearan wrote:
I had no problem with my Numinous Occulum. Some pieces did require me holding them in place for a bit while the plastic glue took hold to make them align, specifically the sphere, but nothing I couldn't handle. I also have the Ophidian Archway but I didn't assemble it myself. Would certainly recommend them though, they look amazing.

Yeah, the only piece I put together is Dragonfate Dias, even though I bought all of the non-Chaos terrain. Dragonfate fit together perfectly.

I'm surprised that Ophidian went together so badly. Perhaps I'll snip it up and take a look.

It's fairly easy to warp large pieces of polystyrene back to tru fit by immersing them in very hot water. This makes plastic soften slightly, so you can bend it to a new position. You then immerse it in cold water to draw off the heat and fix the plastic in its new form.

Obviously you need to be careful about burning your fingers when doing this.

The outsourced terrain does come on sprues btw.