Scoring Cheap Used Warhammer Minis for Your Army
I've lost count of how several hours I've invested scrolling through entries for used warhammer minis just to save a few bucks upon my next project. Honestly, looking for offers has become almost as much associated with a hobby for me personally as the real painting and video gaming. If you've ever viewed the cost of a brand-new box of Room Marines or a centerpiece Greater Daemon and felt your wallet scream within terror, you aren't alone. The secondary market is a literal lifesaver regarding those of us who wish to field the 2, 000-point army without taking out there a second home loan.
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 photo or snagging the "job lot" that will someone just wanted away from their garage. You never quite know what you're going to get, plus that's half the particular fun.
In which the Best Deals Usually Hide
When you're just beginning to look for used warhammer minis , your own first instinct will be probably eBay. It's the big one, obviously. It's obtained one of the most volume, yet it's also the most competitive. You'll find yourself in bidding wars more than a half-painted team of Intercessors more often than you'd like. I've found that the true magic happens within the niche edges of the web.
Facebook Marketplace is an untapped goldmine if you're individual. Since it's local, you are able to often prevent shipping costs, plus sometimes you find people who are just clearing away old "toys" and don't understand that the dusty box associated with metal Orks in their attic is really worth a decent chunk of change. Then there's Reddit's r/miniswap, which will be fantastic because the neighborhood there generally knows their stuff, plus you can usually trade your very own unused plastic intended for something you actually want.
If you're in Europe or the UK, Troll Trader is essentially the holy grail. They purchase and sell used warhammer minis at a substantial scale. Their explanations are usually pretty honest, which saves you the head ache of guessing whether that "pro-painted" design is actually decent or just dunked within a bucket associated with house paint.
The various States of Pre-Owned Plastic
When you're looking for used warhammer minis , you'll see they generally get into three categories. The actual difference—and the dangers involved—is key to not getting cut off.
The Holy Grail: New on Sprue (NOS)
This is definitely exactly what it sounds like. Somebody bought a package set, realized they had no time to build it, plus now they're offering the plastic structures. This is actually the best-case situation. You get the full building experience, just about all the extra parts for your pieces box, and the particular satisfaction of knowing no one offers messed up the mold lines yet. Usually, you may snag these regarding about 15-20% off the retail price.
The "Assembled" Risk
Buying versions that are already glued together is usually a bit of the gamble. You have to look carefully at the pictures. Did they make use of super glue or plastic glue? When it's super glue, you are able to usually pop the arms or heads off simply by putting the small in the freezer with regard to a bit. If they used plastic glue, those parts are usually fused forever. I've bought plenty of used warhammer minis where the previous owner made a decision to give a guy two still left arms or put a bolter on upside down. You've been warned.
The "Pro-Painted" Mystery
We've all observed it. A listing titled "PRO-PAINTED" accompanied by a photograph of the model that appears to be it has been painted with a piece of broccoli. Except if the person is usually a literal award-winning artist, "pro-painted" is usually usually just program code for "I coated this and I actually want my cash back. " Don't let a negative paint job scare you away, though. Simply because long as the details aren't completely buried under 5 layers of unthinned craft paint, you can fix this.
The Artwork of Stripping plus Salvaging
This is where the real savings happen. If you're ready to do the little "restoration" function, you can buy "ugly" used warhammer minis for dirt cheap and turn them into masterpieces. I really find the process associated with stripping old paint quite therapeutic.
For those associated with us in the hobby, 99% Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) is definitely your best friend. You just soak the models for regarding 20 minutes, grab a classic toothbrush, and scrub. The outdated paint usually just sloughs off such as a bad burning. If you're coping with stubborn metal minis from the 90s, you may use even stronger things like Acetone, but never make use of Acetone on plastic—it will turn your own expensive Space Water right into a puddle of grey goo within seconds.
As soon as they're stripped back to the gray plastic, it's like having a brand-new kit. Plus, there's something really gratifying about "saving" a model from a lifetime of being unsightly and creating a proper place in a cohesive military.
Building an Army on a Budget
If you're trying to build the full army, don't buy things one box at the time. Look with regard to "job lots" or even "army lots. " Sometimes players keep the hobby entirely and wish to sell their particular entire 3, 000-point collection in one particular go. While the particular upfront cost is definitely higher, the per-model price is generally insanely low.
I once picked up a huge wide range of used warhammer minis for a Tyranid army that exercised in order to about $2 for each model. Sure, I actually had to spend a week scrubbing off some questionable neon green paint, yet when compared with buying those kits new in the store, We probably saved over $400. That's cash that can move toward more essential things, like even more dice or the slightly nicer holding case.
Staying away from the Recast Snare
One issue you need to watch away for when looking for used warhammer minis is the world of "recasts. " These are usually illegal resin copies of official models. While they're frequently cheaper, the quality can be hit or even miss, and almost all official stores or even tournaments won't let you play with all of them.
You can usually inform a recast by the smell (it's frequently quite chemical-heavy) or maybe the weight. If a model that ought to be plastic seems like a weird, brittle resin, you may have a recast on your fingers. If the cost seems way too good to become true—like a $150 Primarch for $30—it's probably not an established product. If you don't care, that's one thing, but if you're trying in order to develop a "legal" collection, keep your eyes peeled.
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 of plastic, so that as very much as we like it, the waste can also add up. Buying used warhammer minis is basically the "reduce, reuse, recycle" from the wargaming planet. You're keeping plastic out of landfills plus giving someone else's abandoned project the second life.
There's furthermore a sense of history with used minis. I have a few old metal versions that have clearly been through 3 or 4 various owners over the last twenty years. They've been painted different shades, fought in hundreds of battles, and now they're seated on my space. There's something awesome about being the existing caretaker of all those little soldiers.
In the long run, whether you're a veteran player looking to expand your own 10th army or even a newbie trying to figure out how to obtain started without going broke, the market for used warhammer minis is usually your best resource. It takes a bit more work than simply clicking "add in order to cart" on the shiny new website, but the money you save as well as the stories you find on the way make this totally worth the particular effort. Happy looking, and may your eBay snipes often be successful!