Reviewed by Martin Seidler
Martin has over 50 years of model-building experience and has completed 30+ Book Nook kits in just a few months. He specialises in adding lighting, custom details, and storytelling elements to bring each build to life.
Summary Table
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Build Number | #23 |
| Difficulty Rating | 2 out of 5 |
| Recommended For | Beginners and customization enthusiasts |
| Overall Score | 7 out of 10 |
| Main Strengths | Strong customization potential, solid quality, clear instructions |
| Main Weakness | Original design is fairly simple without modifications |
Introduction
This is one of those simple beginner-style kits that can actually turn into something really cool with a bit of customization and imagination.
It was among the very first kits I bought when I completely fell into this hobby. It looked interesting, it was cheap on Temu, and that combination was enough to get my attention immediately. Around the same time, however, many more sophisticated and visually richer kits started arriving, so this one slowly kept sliding lower and lower in the queue.
Eventually I received the water gel materials which I considered essential for improving what is otherwise a graphically rather simple kit, so I finally decided to pull it out of the stash. I had already started building the waterfall structure when Anavrin’s Whispering Hollow arrived, and since both kits shared a similar fantasy atmosphere, I paused this one and focused on the Anavrin build first. That project actually became my testing ground for learning how to work with water gel effects. After successfully finishing the Anavrin beauty, I returned back to the Valley of the Ring with much more confidence.
Build Quality & First Impressions
The kit itself is very simple and, honestly, would probably feel a bit plain without at least some customization. On the other hand, the overall quality is very good, the fit of parts is solid, instructions are clear, and the lighting kit is surprisingly well prepared with proper connectors and generous wire lengths.
Originally I planned to make the whole valley lush and green, but a friend explained to me why the scorched land devastated by Smaug actually makes sense while the riverside town can remain alive and green. That changed my whole approach to the final scenery.
Customizations Applied
- Smaug’s flame is illuminated by a small yellow LED shining through flame effects made from yellow UV resin. To be honest, I expected a stronger result and I am not completely satisfied with this particular effect.
- The waterfall was rebuilt using real stones and water gel. The final result looks much better in reality than in photos or video clips.
- I used rocks, sand, and partially burned real tree branches to create the scorched land in the rear part of the valley.
- The clouds were created using fluffy material from another kit. Originally it was mainly intended to prevent reflections of the ceiling light from the rear mirror, but the final atmosphere turned out surprisingly good.
- I also added a tiny blue LED under the bridge to enhance the river colors. In real ambient lighting it looks fantastic, although it completely changes the colors captured by the phone camera, so I had to cover it while taking photos and videos.
- And finally… yes, I obviously added far more greenery than necessary. At this point I probably have to admit I am slightly addicted to vegetation details.
Final Thoughts
Cleaning and painting the edges was, as always, an obligatory routine. Thinning some visible edges, especially on Smaug, also helped reduce the flat 2D appearance.
Overall, despite the simplicity of the original kit, the final result makes me genuinely happy — and most importantly, the whole project was a lot of fun to build.
Difficulty rating 2 of 5 very suitable for beginners.
Overall score 7 of 10. The missing points are only due to simplicity of the design. Otherwise very good product which I can recommend for beginners and also to anybody who wants to play with customizations.
Check out the price on Amazon here
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