Opinions on buying painted miniatures... & a poll!

Rangefinder · **Posted:** Tue Jul 08, 2014 8:35 pm

I have forces that I have spent lots of time painting.
It does feel good to finish a cohesive Warband.
And they have turned out pretty decent, IMHO.
I have also bid on, and won, really great painted miniatures.
The two times I purchased painted miniatures, the paint was just so good.
Additionally, they cost less than retail value, not counting paint or time.

What is the communities' feeling on buying already painted miniatures?

I was really against it before, but now welcome the opportunity
to pick up miniatures that have exceptional craftsmanship.

halauas · **Posted:** Tue Jul 08, 2014 8:41 pm

I am not against it nor i think its bad at all.
However painting is a huge part of this hobby and there isnt better feeling than personalizing your army. Doing or painting something unique and making this army your own, that nobody else has

I hope that did answer your question

doegred winsterhand · **Posted:** Tue Jul 08, 2014 8:49 pm

I paint a lot. But I have purchased nicely painted Uruk's and men of Minas Tirith just to add to the armies I already had. Kind of fun going from 40 to 60 quickly with any army!

First Ager Smith · **Posted:** Tue Jul 08, 2014 8:49 pm

In most cases when I bid on or buy from e-bay I take into consideration the paint job or lack there-of. If the model is unpainted or just primed, the ok fine, bid as normal. However if the paint job is JUST AWESOME then I might be more aggressive in my bidding. That being said, I will not pay out the nose for a "pro painted" model w/ x10 mark up in price. Full retail price, maybe.

Dezartfox · **Posted:** Tue Jul 08, 2014 8:59 pm

Painting is a huge part of the hobby but there's a lot of people who don't have time to paint, or want a great looking force and don't mind paying for it. Which is where commission painters like myself and D.M.S come in

I only buy things I can strip easily or unpainted. I've got some great bargains recently.

halauas · **Posted:** Tue Jul 08, 2014 9:21 pm

I wont disagree to anything at all, everything is well accepted and normal. My opinion tho is that if you dont paint atleast your main/favorite army, you dont spend time preparing them, you dont throw a miniature at the wall because you paint one eye epic and the other has failed over 10 times to look the same you cant love an army, thus cant play (for gamers) as good with it.

* Secondary armies are a pain to paint all over and buying ready ones is not a bad idea at all. Unless you like to have a shelf with over 1200 unpainted minis looking at you for years now (like myself)

Mapper · **Posted:** Tue Jul 08, 2014 10:21 pm

If I buy a painted model, it is usually in small quantities that I will then strip off the paint. I don't buy a model based on how well it is painted, but if I need the model or if I find it at my FLGS bin box. It doesn't matter to me if it is painted or not.

NarsilReforged · **Joined:** Sun Sep 22, 2013 11:13 am **Posts:** 316

I'd never buy a painted model/s. If it was painted I'd strip it. I like all of my miniatures to be painted by myself. That said I'm not against the selling and buying of painted models.

Hodush · **Posted:** Wed Jul 09, 2014 2:17 am

I'm not against it, but the prices are marked up way too high, so I would only consider it for a display only piece if i could be assured of results.

Having said that, I have never bought "pro painted" and never will I don't think, its a challenge and fun to be able to paint the things you spend good money on.

Sticky Fingersss · **Joined:** Sat Oct 09, 2010 11:20 am **Posts:** 1776

I'm not against the practice of buying painted models, however its not my style. For me, the whole idea of this hobby is that you get to create the universe through your own vision. If I bought them pre-painted, that's a huge chunk of the hobby taken out, and it would feel more like "toys" rather than a personlised art piece.

Sacrilege83 · **Posted:** Wed Jul 09, 2014 4:35 pm

I have purchased second hand painted models for cheap, but not because they were painted, I wanted the models. So I have these nicely painted Uruk-crossbows that would be nice for gaming, but there's nothing special about them to me personally because I didn't do the work.

Danglos · **Joined:** Fri Mar 28, 2014 2:00 am **Posts:** 45

I understand why people buy painted, or ger commision painters to do their models, but for me painting is one of the most enjoyable and rewarding aspects of the hobby.

Bilbo · **Posted:** Mon Jul 14, 2014 12:44 pm

I have achieved a level of painting that I am happy with, and to me fielding miniatures painted by someone else is fielding someone else's army! Painting and modelling is to me as an important side of the hobby as gaming.

LordoftheBrownRing · **Posted:** Tue Jul 15, 2014 3:02 am

I have bought some terrible ones to strip and re paint or sell again.

I have bought some Exquisite ones too that I keep and love....I dont care I didnt paint it. If itsa tough job I know I wont be happy with myself after all my work, Ill not care.

That being said.....I dont ever go on ebay saying hey, I want to buy painted stuff.

But it all depends on the deal. If its a great price, sure. Or ill buy some nice stuff, keep parts and re sell the rest.
I often find myself holding onto some painted miniatures for months before I finally say....ahhh...I really should get rid of this...Ill never use it lol.

I still own a Thranduil someone else painted. I love it, and wouldnt know what to do with my own. Its one of my favorite painted purchases ever.

I do prefer to still do them myself though even though I suck lol. Just so I can do it my way and color. Especially with painted AND basing combo.

I say a resounding hell yes to the poll.

rumtap · **Posted:** Tue Jul 15, 2014 3:13 am

I recently picked up some painted Moria goblins. I wouldn't call them pro painted and they are around my level of painting. I don't normally buy painted but I did this time. Why? The price. I had been hunting for a metal moria goblin captain for a while and they were all going at $20-30 on ebay. Too much for my blood for a single mini. Then I saw a painted set, Moria Goblin King, 2 captains and 2 warbands all ready to rock and roll for $20.

I took the bargain and don't regret it.

The only difficulty is the basing is different to my style so I've had to tinker with them so they blend in better, but that's a small price to pay.

JamesR · **Posted:** Tue Jul 15, 2014 12:47 pm

I only buy painted models of I intend to strip them, I've painted a few for commission and I think that's fine, but most paint jobs on eBay are so terrible I'd be genuinely ashamed of fielding them

Sacrilege83 · **Posted:** Tue Jul 15, 2014 1:50 pm

If you're in this strictly for the gaming aspect, is it necessary to go full detail for your army? You would think just having the army base painted to make it look colorful from afar would be enough, and then go pro painted for the heroes. For collectors that have all their models on display, it's more important to have the best paint job possible. When playing the game fielding my armies, my friends aren't picking up models to examine the paint job on them.

LordoftheBrownRing · **Posted:** Tue Jul 15, 2014 9:36 pm

Sacrilege83 wrote:

If you're in this strictly for the gaming aspect, is it necessary to go full detail for your army? You would think just having the army base painted to make it look colorful from afar would be enough, and then go pro painted for the heroes. For collectors that have all their models on display, it's more important to have the best paint job possible. When playing the game fielding my armies, my friends aren't picking up models to examine the paint job on them.

Thats generally exactly what I do. My hunters for example, are painted so that if I take a picture from like 1-2 ft away on a nice table with terrain, they look part of the battle. Otherwise, belts and stuff are avoided.

rumtap · **Posted:** Wed Jul 16, 2014 1:39 am

LordoftheBrownRing wrote:

Thats generally exactly what I do. My hunters for example, are painted so that if I take a picture from like 1-2 ft away on a nice table with terrain, they look part of the battle. Otherwise, belts and stuff are avoided.

Same here, paint to play not to display.

JamesR · **Posted:** Wed Jul 16, 2014 1:50 am

I always put my best effort into every piece. I take pride in the quality of each piece, I game all the time but I enjoy all aspects of the hobby

Opinions on buying painted miniatures... & a poll!

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