Review - Nagash, Supreme Lord of the Undead

The Nagash model is one of the most expensive plastic kits in the GW range. This particular example cost me £65, and I haven't seen it discounted for much less: GW has a policy of blocking discounters while staying within EU competition laws.

Let me say up front that I am not sure whether to review this as a display  or a wargaming model. The suits at GW have been trumpeting a new policy which is to dissociate themselves from wagaming, transforming the company into a 'bespoke model' manufacturer. However, since the Age of Sigmar debacle there seems to be one of those 180 degree swings that characterise what passes for a marketing strategy at the company. Now we we seeing promises of new games galore. All those 'specialist' games that were cancelled because they were uneconomic are apparently on the way back.

Anyway, here I will try to review the kit from both a modeller's and a wargamer's perspective, although I am firmly in the latter camp.

The first impact of opening the box is extreme disappointment. It is empty except for two large plastic sprues. A display modeller is going to be very pissed off. For example, compare this with the Tamiya 1:48 Fieseler Storch. You can find a review of this fairly typical display model here. The Storch box is just stuffed with goodies. Lots of sprues, decals and even etched components.

And you know what, the Storch can be had for as little as a measly £35 - see here - although I believe the full RRP is closer to the Nagash's cost.

 The Tamiya kit is much more finely detailed than the Nagash model. 

It also has a huge range of options for the discerning modeller.

The Nagash base is notably disappointing, being just a large blank piece of plastic. I had to delve around in my bits box for Mantic items to decorate it. That is not unusual for wargaming models but few of those cost sixty five quid.

 As a display model Nagash is lousy value for money. Frankly, I think GW delude themselves if they think this is going to sell well to modellers. Apart from anything else, such people like kits with a provenance - either from real history or solid 'mythological' backgounds from Achilles to the Starship Enterprise.

As a wargaming kit, Nagash is harder to value. One is not just buying a kit but a game playing piece so value for money rather depends how much Age of Sigmar (or some similar game for which the model has utility) features in your life. It is fair to point out that offhand I can't think of any other manufacturer offering something similar in plastic.

Personally, I was underwhelmed as a purchaser. I did not feel I had value for money, I don't think the final result is all that impressive 'in the flesh', and I won't use the model enough to justify the outlay.

Avoid.