A review of Reikenor the Grimhailer after building one.
This review is over one of the several “Easy to Build” kits that GamesWorkshop puts out…more like “Easy to Break”. How I felt about this model before assembly was one of excitement and awe. It’s a very cool looking model. As I got into assembling it though, those feelings quickly turned into fear and dismay. Needless to say, the overall review and my feelings towards the model is an internally conflicting one.
**A DISCLAIMER ON THE EASY TO BUILD KITS
1) This kit has no reflection on the Easy to Build Dreadblade Harrows kit, which is another one of the Nighthaunt cavalry kits. It also is a tad spindly but none of the connecting joints are thin like you would see in the Reikenor kit. I had the pleasure of assembly all three of the ghost cav and I would 100% build Dreadblade Harrows again.
2) Overall I think the Easy to Build kits are great and typically I don’t run into issues with them. There some, such as this one, that are a little more trivial than others, but they usually do what they’re designed for; to help young modelers learn to assemble and paint at a discounted cost.
Okie dokie guys and gals, enough of the sweets let’s dive into the meats.
Pros:
1) To start things off on a good note, let’s just take a chance to appreciate the overall model aesthetic and sculpt… It’s a fucking grim reaper on a ghost pegasus. How is that not the coolest thing ever? The Nighthaunt line is one that I love to see across the table in any game, but especially in Kings of War. There’s something about just bricks and bricks of ghosts running at your face, that sometimes you’re ok with getting your ass beat by the sheer coolness of it all. Reikenor helping lead that charge is just the ghost cherry we all want on top. The sculpt has a very high arching pose which is a huge help when you need to square up on an enemy unit, or they need to square up to you. The pose also has a very cool stone skeleton angel (yeah I know, not the kinda angel I’m used to either) also integrated, and if that’s your cup of tea go ahead and pour another. The sculpt flows well, has a lot of details (such as the candles all over the model as well), it’s not in the way on the battlefield, but it also demands the eye of the opponent. These things make it an overall great centerpiece to an army.
2) THE BASE IS SO COOL! Each of these Easy to Build/Push Fit kits come with a specially sculpted base that they’re meant to push right onto with ease. Oftentimes that’s actually one of the downfalls to these kits. You’ll have a model rely on the base design to be an anchor point for balance, or the sculpt itself will be built into the base. Thankfully Reikenor wants NOTHING to do with that. I was able to take him from statue on up and put him on my own square base with little to no modeling work (I added a bit of tufts of grass and some cork, but that’s stuff I would’ve added anyways). Now let’s say you want to use the base he came with though? Well, since the model was originally designed for AoS, the base he comes with is circular. However, it is quite large. By eyeballing some measurements on my end (see I’m doing all the work for you guys, how can you not love me), I can tell you that if you cut the circular base down smooth and flat you could lay it across a 50mm square and cover most of the surface area. Then with just a little bit of flocking you’ve got a really cool sculpted base for your model. Even if your plan is to not use the bases at all they’re still really nice to have on hand to use for other projects down the road!
3) The assembly lived up to its name. It WAS easy to build this kit. Most of it was intuitive and I could not see why any newbie to the hobby would struggle in how to build this kit.
Cons:
1) The model felt like it was going to break constantly. I’ve felt more comfortable tearing the RAM out of a 2002 Gateway laptop than I did trying to put this model together. Most of this is only to do with the rider, as his steed is pretty hefty and was able to survive my gorilla fisted attempts at smashing parts together. The rider is assembled in a bunch of awkward thin pieces with his cowl and the only thing connecting him to the horse is a single, thin arm, that connects through a very thin peg that I almost snapped. Now, as an experienced modeler I managed to do ok. Nothing actually broke (joints got weak at times, but eh, no biggie) thankfully. However, if I was new and buying this as advertised “Easy to Build” I could totally see myself breaking this, and at the least being disappointed even if I managed not to break the dang thing.
2) Gaps, gaps, gaps, GAPS. I HATE GAPS! The model is riddled with gaps. Specifically on the rider. The way it’s designed, his cowl is in a handful of pieces that you’re trying to support with each piece to each other and gluing it was such a pain. You’re having to force each piece as tight as you can to prevent gaps, and that’s scary (reference point 1). The horse also seemed to have some problems with gaps, but Reikenor covers most of those which is a perk. Again, for a product steered towards new modelers this is upsetting. I would want my first impressions to be a good one, but gaps impress no one.
3) The cost. Now I’m sure several are going to read this and go “well it’s Games Workshop, the cost is always high…” blah blah blah. I’m going to simply compare it to the OTHER Easy to Build kits that are available. This was only ONE of three Easy to Build kits around the $65USD price range. The other two being a dreadnought (which kinda makes sense) and a single cavalry model as well. Honestly, for $65 it’s not worth it NOW that I’ve assembled it, and especially for new modelers. The biggest reason being for how easy I feel like it is for it to break. I would rather try and hunt down a Knight of Shrouds from the original AoS two player box, which provides a just as striking aesthetic, than risk trying to build one of these models again. I don’t mean to discourage anyone from buying this model, but if you’re planning to buy this piece just be careful with assembly. I’m always in support of someone pursuing a really cool idea (which is why I bought the model in the first place).
Well that’s all I wrote. Overall the model is a beautiful one that provides a striking focal point to any army or unit, but it comes with some particular risky downfalls in assembly.
Thanks again for listening, and if you liked this stuff let me know. I’m on board to do one of these a month, until you guys beg -/28 to make me stop… but even then I think you’ll be stuck with me a bit longer 😉 Happy gaming everybody!
