Saturday 16 January 2016

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.









12 comments:

  1. Unless you play Warhammer or AoS, then buy? ;)

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  2. Pretty much. Is a unique kit. It may well be worth the price of it is critical to your AoS or Warhammer army. Value is in the eye of the beholder.

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  3. When I told a friend how much a single GW figure costs, he was truly shocked. This model really does take the biscuit as there's not that much too it. So glad I dumped 28mm years ago for 10mm and smaller.

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    1. My eyes are too bad now to paint small models but this does indeed take the biscuit - and the entire tray of scones.

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    2. Could have got a lot of scones for 65 quid.

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  4. Remember folks! WHFB was to expensive...now go and buy our 'cheap' Nagash to lead your army!

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  5. I think I got mine for just under £50 from Darksphere games. I was also underwhelmed at what I saw in the box. He will serve adequately as a level 10 Liche Lord for Warhammer Quest though.

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    1. I think I have been rarely been so disappointed by a kit.

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