I've lost count of how a lot of hours I've invested scrolling through listings for used warhammer minis just to save the few bucks upon my next task. Honestly, hunting for offers has become almost as much of a hobby for me as the real painting and video gaming. If you've actually looked over the price of a brand-new box of Area Marines or a centerpiece Greater Daemon and felt your own wallet scream within terror, you aren't alone. The supplementary market is a literal lifesaver for those of all of us who would like to field the 2, 000-point military without taking away a second mortgage.
But it's not just regarding the money. There's a specific type of thrill that comes with finding a hidden gem in a blurry eBay photograph or snagging the "job lot" that someone just desired from their garage. Installed quite understand what you're going to get, and that's half the fun.
In which the Best Deals Usually Hide
In case you're just beginning to look for used warhammer minis , your own first instinct is usually probably eBay. It's the big a single, obviously. It's obtained probably the most volume, but it's also the most competitive. You'll find yourself within bidding wars over a half-painted team of Intercessors even more often than you'd like. I've discovered that the actual magic happens in the niche sides of the internet.
Facebook Market place is an untapped goldmine if you're individual. Since it's regional, you can often prevent shipping costs, plus sometimes you discover people who are usually just clearing out old "toys" and don't realize that the particular dusty box associated with metal Orks in their attic is really worth a good chunk of switch. Then there's Reddit's r/miniswap, which will be fantastic because the local community there generally understands their stuff, plus you can often trade your own unused plastic intended for something you actually desire.
If you're in Europe or the UK, Kobold Trader is generally the holy grail. They purchase and sell used warhammer minis at a massive scale. Their explanations are usually pretty honest, which saves you the head ache of guessing whether or not that "pro-painted" model is actually decent or just dunked within a bucket associated with house paint.
The Different States associated with Pre-Owned Plastic
When you're surfing for used warhammer minis , you'll see they generally get into three categories. Knowing the difference—and the risks involved—is key in order to not getting sculpted off.
The Holy Grail: Brand new on Sprue (NOS)
This is definitely exactly what this sounds like. Someone bought a container set, realized they had no time to build it, and now they're selling the plastic structures. This is actually the best-case scenario. You get the full building experience, almost all the extra parts for your bits box, and the particular satisfaction of knowing no one provides messed up the particular mold lines however. Usually, you can snag these intended for about 15-20% off the retail price.
The "Assembled" Risk
Buying versions that are currently glued together will be a bit of the gamble. You possess to look closely at the photos. Did they use super glue or plastic glue? When it's super stuff, you can usually appear the arms or even heads off by putting the small in the freezer with regard to a bit. If they used plastic stuff, those parts are usually fused forever. I've bought plenty associated with used warhammer minis where the previous owner decided to give a guy two remaining arms or place a bolter on upside down. You've been warned.
The particular "Pro-Painted" Mystery
We've all noticed it. A list titled "PRO-PAINTED" accompanied by a picture of the model that appears like it has been painted with an item of broccoli. Except if the person is a literal award-winning artist, "pro-painted" is usually just program code for "I painted this and I want my money back. " Don't let a negative color job scare you away, though. As long as the details aren't completely buried under 5 layers of unthinned craft paint, you can fix it.
The Art of Stripping plus Salvaging
This is where the real cost savings happen. If you're prepared to do a little "restoration" function, you can purchase "ugly" used warhammer minis with regard to dirt cheap plus turn them directly into masterpieces. I in fact find the process associated with stripping old color quite therapeutic.
For those of us in the particular hobby, 99% Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) will be your best friend. You just soak the particular models for regarding 20 minutes, get a vintage toothbrush, and scrub. The outdated paint usually simply sloughs off like a bad burning. If you're coping with stubborn metal minis from the 90s, you may use even more powerful stuff like Acetone, but never ever use Acetone on plastic—it will turn your own expensive Space Water into a puddle of grey goo in seconds.
As soon as they're stripped back to the gray plastic, it's such as having a brand-new kit. Plus, there's something really pleasing about "saving" an auto dvd unit from a life time of being unattractive and giving it a proper place within a cohesive military.
Building a good Army on a Budget
If you're trying to build a full army, don't buy things a single box at the time. Look for "job lots" or "army lots. " Sometimes players leave the hobby completely and wish to sell their particular entire 3, 000-point collection in one go. While the upfront cost will be higher, the per-model price is generally huge low.
I once picked up a massive lots of used warhammer minis intended for a Tyranid military that exercised to about $2 for each model. Sure, I actually had to invest per week scrubbing away some questionable fluorescents green paint, but when compared with buying individuals kits new from the store, We probably saved more than $400. That's money that can proceed toward more important things, like more dice or the slightly nicer carrying case.
Staying away from the Recast Trap
One issue you have to watch out there for when hunting for used warhammer minis is the world of "recasts. " These are usually illegal resin copies of official models. While they're frequently cheaper, the product quality may be hit or even miss, and almost all official stores or even tournaments won't let you get them.
You can usually inform a recast with the smell (it's frequently quite chemical-heavy) or the weight. If the model that should be plastic feels like a weird, frail resin, you may have a recast on your hands. If the price seems way too good to become true—like a $150 Primarch for $30—it's probably not an standard product. If you don't care, that's one thing, but if you're trying to build a "legal" selection, look out.
Exactly why Second-Hand is Better for the Globe (and Your Wallet)
Let's end up being real: Warhammer is really a luxury hobby. By using a lot associated with plastic, so that as much as we love it, the waste can add up. Buying used warhammer minis is basically the particular "reduce, reuse, recycle" of the wargaming globe. You're keeping plastic material away from landfills and giving someone else's abandoned project the second life.
There's furthermore a sense of the past with used minis. I have several old metal models that have clearly already been through three or four different owners over the last 20 years. They've been painted different shades, fought in hundreds of battles, and now they're sitting down on my rack. There's something great about being the existing caretaker of individuals little soldiers.
Eventually, whether you're a veteran player searching to expand your 10th army or even a newbie trying to figure out how to obtain started without going broke, the marketplace for used warhammer minis is definitely your best resource. It takes a little more work than just clicking "add to cart" on the shiny new website, but the money you save and the stories you find on the way make this totally worth the particular effort. Happy hunting, and may your eBay snipes often be successful!