I just finished pinning and assembling a Dragon II. It is a very nice model, and a very nice replacement for the classic Dragon, and I am very much considering getting multiples of them, for the sake of conversions.
However, the thing is HUGE.
It doesn't look too bad next to the Wolverine II and Primitive Shadow Hawk - they go quite well together. It's a fair bit beefier than the MAD-4X, another recent model, but it is passable. The Karhu is also not too far off and they're of a similar weight too, and the Grim Reaper isn't so bad either.
Aside from that, though, it dwarfs almost every model I have, with most assaults looking fragile and weedy next to the Dragon II, even the Banshee 11X having a hard time staying relevant. It's not just that it's been scaled up somewhat, it's also incredibly wide. It's a sweet model, if a little tedious to work on for extended periods of time, and it seems like it could be fun to both paint and works as an eye-catcher.
I don't think the scale is bad for a war game, but it is impractical for a board game.
I agree with the sentiment that bigger models are impractical for the purpose of playing games on a hexmap, and I also feel casting them in pewter isn't optimal anymore if they keep putting out larger models like this. Wouldn't resin be far cheaper both to produce and transport due to lower weight? It's easier to work with, can hold details just as well, and doesn't put as much strain on the paint when being transported or used.
I do think larger models are a good thing, because the older ones are not very impressive to look at, while the more recent ones better match models for other games, and draw more attention. IWM are fully capable of delivering interesting and fun kits, and I hope they continue to do so. However, while they tend to match some competitors for price in certain areas, I do wish some steps would be taken to create cheaper entry points for newbies, like resin lance packs featuring basic models for each faction, using some up-to-date sculpts, because frankly I don't get a lot of good feedback on the CGL plastics at all save for the Timber Wolf. I'm currently looking at ordering a large variety of the more recent models, both because they look nice but also to get a better idea of how they scale up to each other. They look like fun projects, but I'm going to need bigger foam trays if they're all like the Dragon II.
On the topic of which 'mechs that need a redesign badly, look no further than the Jenner.
