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 God In Action wrote:
It is impossible for a Smaug model to be even remotely to scale with the rest of the Hobbit figures.

Based on the model height of Bilbo in the 'Riddles in the Dark' set (22mm), in which Bilbo is upright, and Bilbo's height in the movie (4'2") we have a scale of roughly 1mm of model height for every 57.7mm of film height.

The very smallest estimation of Smaug's film length is 60m, and the largest 141m. This puts a to scale model of Smaug as being between 1.04m and up to 2.44m long. That's between 3'5" to 8' long for a to scale Smaug!

GW are not producing a to scale Smaug, that is at minimum 3 feet long.

Either, Smaug is not sized according to the film, or this dragon is not Smaug.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
It could be a display model. Perhaps of the scene in which Smaug's head is buried beneath treasure whilst Bilbo leans on the pile, cut off at some point in the neck.

Difficult? Yes.

Impossible? No.

A 3ft long Smaug, considering we already have models comfortably in the 2ft range, is eminently possible, especially as it won't be a 3ft long stick but is likely to be curled and posed, and the Smaug style of dragon is quite serpentine and not massively bulky.

There's also supposedly rules in the WD, so a display model is unlikely at this point.

For the price, 3ft is reasonable, if not a little small...

 Azreal13 wrote:

 God In Action wrote:
It is impossible for a Smaug model to be even remotely to scale with the rest of the Hobbit figures.

Based on the model height of Bilbo in the 'Riddles in the Dark' set (22mm), in which Bilbo is upright, and Bilbo's height in the movie (4'2") we have a scale of roughly 1mm of model height for every 57.7mm of film height.

The very smallest estimation of Smaug's film length is 60m, and the largest 141m. This puts a to scale model of Smaug as being between 1.04m and up to 2.44m long. That's between 3'5" to 8' long for a to scale Smaug!

GW are not producing a to scale Smaug, that is at minimum 3 feet long.

Either, Smaug is not sized according to the film, or this dragon is not Smaug.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
It could be a display model. Perhaps of the scene in which Smaug's head is buried beneath treasure whilst Bilbo leans on the pile, cut off at some point in the neck.

Difficult? Yes.

Impossible? No.

A 3ft long Smaug, considering we already have models comfortably in the 2ft range, is eminently possible, especially as it won't be a 3ft long stick but is likely to be curled and posed, and the Smaug style of dragon is quite serpentine and not massively bulky.

There's also supposedly rules in the WD, so a display model is unlikely at this point.

What two foot models do we have? The Thunderhawks? It just seems so unlikely as to verge towards impossible. Presuming you mean something like the Thunderhawk (I don't know the actual length of it) they are £411 and if two feet long, a three foot Smaug would mean that GW have produced a model 50% larger than even their largest, for about 25% less money- and all in a game which has a far smaller player base and far smaller demand!


Automatically Appended Next Post:
And remember that the 60m estimation (equivalent to a 3 foot model) is less than half the size actually suggested by the makers of the film themselves, which is far closer to the 130-140m range.

So to be truly in scale with the film depiction we're looking at an 8 foot model.

Well, the Reaver Titan must be in the ball park, the CMON Dragon I've already posted is stated as 24" tall, maybe the T.Hawk...

My point was that stating it is impossible for a scale Smaug to be in the offing, when large models already exist and GW have stated it is their biggest ever dragon (and, admittedly a long time ago, produced a dragon in metal that was quite substantial) and are charging what is rumoured to be an order of magnitude more than the existing largest dragon made by anyone to my knowledge means that "impossible" is not really an assertion that holds water right now.

I'm in no way saying that I'm anticipating a 5ft model, I'm just saying the evidence doesn't exist yet to dismiss it, especially if they've gone plastic.

Besides, there's a massive variation in the scales of Smaug (no pun intended) so they could pick 'a' scale and be correct. The book version is apparently around 25m I've read recently.

If this thing is made of finecast then 2' or more will be too big for that soft resin. If it were bigger it needs to be in forgeword resin.

Or plastic...

I read on the One Ring forum that he will be in plastic. Not saying it's true, but I think that would make sense from at least a stability and modelling PoV if not a financial one; being lighter, they could do far more with the posing ect.

Very fair point about the book version, that's entirely plausible and points to a model roughly 1'5" long.

Or perhaps it will just be a representation of a 140m Smaug, just a foot cut off at the ankle, a few feet across and representing Smaug way above the table

$500 for a 3ft tall model? I'd rather buy 5 2ft tall Metroplexes for the same amount...

 Paradigm wrote:
I read on the One Ring forum that he will be in plastic. Not saying it's true, but I think that would make sense from at least a stability and modelling PoV if not a financial one; being lighter, they could do far more with the posing ect.

It makes a lot of sense from GW's POV too, once the moulds are machined (a process that has gotten a lot cheaper in recent years apparently, and GW own their own kit) then the labour is much less than painstakingly casting enormous resin components with all the time, miscasting and wear and tear on silicone moulds that involves, they probably only need to sell a relative handful to recoup their costs, then they can sell them, should they choose to, for all time with little further investment. Factor in that some LotR collectors may be relative modelling novices who may be put off by a resin kit (hell, I'm a 25 year vet and work with resin probably 50% of the time, and I'd be intimidated) but more comfortable with plastic and it makes a lot of sense.

Hence we're almost definitely getting a resin Smaug!


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 God In Action wrote:
Very fair point about the book version, that's entirely plausible and points to a model roughly 1'5" long.

Or perhaps it will just be a representation of a 140m Smaug, just a foot cut off at the ankle, a few feet across and representing Smaug way above the table

Or a tail tip on a flying base!

We could be getting it simply because GW said they would do it when pitching for the licence before they realised that these films would not be the massive cash machine that LoTR was

and if it's in the contract then they have to go through with it

(plus making the 'biggest' dragon around would suit a company that believes it's the biggest and the best)

It will be interesting to see how it compares to this bad boy, which surely has to be the benchmark for fantasy dragons.

https://www.heresyminiatures.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=54&products_id=260

Yeah I should be getting mine at Xmas Pacific

He's a big boy, no doubt, but this pic


seems to show him on a 100mm base, which would make him a similar size to this



While one can prefer the aesthetics of one over another, Cang still has it for size I think.

Well if I can't get my hands on Smaug for what ever reason, I guess there is always the Legion of Everblight Archangel. He is pretty big, but I guess still only half the size of how Smaug should be.

Smaug is large, but as others have pointed out, not bulky. I think the largest kit GW currently makes is either the Stompa or the Baneblade. How many prues are in those?

I can see a Baneblade sized sprue containing a complete wing, plus some misc. parts. One sprue for the head, and a couple feet. Then 5 sprues for the body and tail. Add in one more sprue for misc. parts or spikes or something.

That would only be about 8-9 sprues to get a truly large Smaug of at least 30 inches long.

Davor wrote:
Is this a limited release or while quantities last? .

Probably. Most things from GW are, these days.

It seems a bit absurd to invest in models like this when they could release a plastic thunderhawk that people would be falling over to buy - and for many years after the Hobbit is forgotten (probably in about February once it leaves the cinemas).

A lot of people buying this, if it is as rumoured, will be speculators hoping to use it as an investment, as happened with the very limited void generator.

Magnificient egos had a dragon that was 2 feet tall to the top wing tips

http://www.fantization.com/viszeralyntheoraclegreaterdragon-limitededition.aspx

got one sitting here still in the box

not sure when i'll get around to it..or the FW fire dragon...or their chaos dragon, or the mierce one..sigh.

I can't stand the carmine dragon. think it looks pathetic for a dragon IMHO

Hope this new one is good and big. I'm fine to get it i use these for D&D...so bigger the better.

Sanjay

It won't be in plastic. They'll just go to the nearest zoo, stun a crocodile and varnish it. Staple on some wings, job done.

Graphite wrote:
They'll just go to the nearest zoo, stun a crocodile and varnish it. Staple on some wings, job done.

Love the way you think...sure you're not a North Queenslander?

(That's a compliment, by the way. I mention NQ because it's full of b****y crocs...)

Sorry GW, you're about 7 years and $440 too late for me...

http://www.amazon.com/Colossal-Dragon-Dungeons-Dragons-Icons/dp/0786941685/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1417330513&sr=8-2&keywords=red+dragon+miniature

So blood angels tac squads have access to heavy flamers, but Salamanders don't? rage. I like the new BA marines though. Might have to pick some up.

Ridiculous.
Just a model for collectors.

Part of me wants this because I like dragons and love Smaug, but not for that price.

 wuestenfux wrote:
Ridiculous.
Just a model for collectors.

At this stage I think most of the folks buying Hobbit/LotR minis are more collectors then actual players of the game, nothing wrong with that...

I can't see them releasing this as a plastic kit.

In the Hobbit II special edition they talk about the development of Smaug and how he kept getting bigger and bigger, until the final version which is about the size of 2 747 planes.


.... One does recall however that there were all those rumours about Forgeworld taking over the LOTR/HObbit line....

..wonder if maybe that was a misunderstanding relating to a possible FW release of Smaug ?

Had mamzel Carden sculpting all those monsters didn't they ? Practising maybe ?

Maybe, but they don't normally put prices for FW stuff in White Dwarf, but the prices are in the upcoming WD. Not that that means anything when it comes to GW however.

@azrael13: yeah 100mm base seems about right for the Heresy dragon, but I think he's done that for the pose mainly. He's quite hunched over. His wings however are MASSIVE. Definitely look capable of carrying the beast into the air unlike some of the other models you see out there.

 Howard A Treesong wrote:
It seems a bit absurd to invest in models like this when they could release a plastic thunderhawk that people would be falling over to buy - and for many years after the Hobbit is forgotten (probably in about February once it leaves the cinemas).

I agree with this. I hate how many sprues are devoted to one army (Another dreadnought? Another tactical squad?) but the Thunderhawk Gunship is such an iconic part of the setting that I'd be perfectly happy to see it made. And mechanical units are better suited to such kits than organic special characters, anyway.