I wasn’t fanatical enough to order the limited edition Smaug model just to review, but I know someone who did get one!
Garfy over at Table of Painters in the UK got the big wurm, and made a terrific unboxing /review feature on it.
Even if you don’t play LoTR or the Hobbit, I think we can all appreciate a great looking (and cast) model.
Checkout the full story below, and be sure to pop on over to Table of Painters as well, they do good things for the hobby! -MBG
In this three minute video I unbox the £295 monster that is Smaug. It’s an absolutely epic model, so please enjoy the video, subscribe, share and like it.
The box art is gorgeous. I think it’s one of my favourite boxes from Games Workshop in ages. Smug looks magnificent on it.
I thought I’d post some extreme close ups (party on Garf) because whilst the video is filmed in full 1080p HD these photographs show the wrinkles, scales, damage, scars and coins in fascinating detail.
The included Bilbo model is another brilliant addition to this set. He’s so tiny yet perfectly sculpted.
This resin kit is impressive. The price point is actually pretty good when compared to some of the bigger Forge World models I own (£400 for aThunderhawk Gunship, £250 for a Harridan) Smaug isn’t bad for £295. The sculpt is astounding. Every single scale, scratch and spike is there in meticulous detail.
The parts have huge pegs to join the kit together cutting down on the need for pinning (I will probably still pin most of mine). Another great touch is the box and instructions. Something that is usually missing from Forge World models. I’d love to see Forgeworld models get this kind of treatment.
I’m so happy with my Smaug, I’d recommend it to anyone. Even if you don’t collect Hobbit Citadel Miniatures, you’ll be hard pressed finding a more impressive sculpt then this.
About the Author: Rob Baer
Rob Baer
Job Title: Managing Editor
Founded Spikey Bits in 2009
Socials: Rob Baer on Facebook and @catdaddymbg on X
About Rob Baer: Founder, Publisher, & Managing Editor of Spikey Bits, the leading tabletop gaming news website focused on the hobby side of wargaming and miniatures.
Rob also co-founded and currently hosts the Long War Podcast, which has over 350 episodes and focuses on tabletop miniatures gaming, specializing in Warhammer 40k. and spent six years writing for Bell of Lost Souls.
Every year, along with his co-hosts, he helps host the Long War 40k Doubles Tournament at Adepticon and the Long War 40k Doubles at Las Vegas Open, which attracts over 350 players from around the world.
Rob has won many Warhammer 40k Tournaments over the years, including multiple first-place finishes in Warhammer 40k Grand Tournaments over the years and even winning 1st place at the Adepticon 40k Team Tournament.
With over 30 years of experience in retail and distribution, Rob knows all the products and exactly which ones are the best. As a member of GAMA (Game Manufacturers Association), he advocates for gaming stores and manufacturers in these difficult times, always looking for the next big thing to feature for the miniatures hobby, helping everyone to provide the value consumers want.
While he’s played every edition of Warhammer 40k and Warhammer Fantasy (since 5th Edition) and has been hobbying on miniatures since the 1980s, Titans of all sizes will always be his favorite! It’s even rumored that his hobby vault rivals the Solemnance Galleries, containing rulebooks filled with lore from editions long past, ancient packs of black-bordered Magic Cards, and models made of both pewter and resin.
