Ive only been modelling and gameing with gamesworkshop for about 6 years now. During that time i have found that not only has my attitude towards the hobby changed but so has my painting skills. When i looked back at the first models that i ever bought (space marines (: ) i found that i have a certain fondness for these 5 simple models, no matter how badly i painted them or how wrongly i made them they still make me smile because i know that this is where i started and this is where my love for this great hobby began. Below is my crudely (I prefer to call it 'humbly') painted Space Marine Command Squad, the first models i ever bought, made and painted.

I wanted to create this small forum for people to post up their first models or even just talk about what was the first GamesWorkshop model that they ever bought, it doenst just have to be 40k or WHF, it can be from anything.

The first "model" I bought was the cadian battle force back in 04. I dont have those models anymore as I sold the army, but I have always loved guard.

The very first model I owned and painted was Ragnar Blackmane with his wolves, Frecki and Geri...... Around the end of RT and the release of 2nd Ed.

I'll try to find a picture but I'm doing this on my phone at work, so can't say wether it will be a success or not!

My first model was in the case with the rest of my army that was stolen when my house was broken into.
:(

First model painted was a elven warrior from the Warriors of the Last Alliance LOTR boxset a year or so after the movie trilogy was released

I have a ungor that I painted ina GW store years ago... if only I could find him :(

I bought the battle of black reach box set last year, still have all of them but some of them need ALOT of work.

My first model was a dark eldar jet bike from 3rd edition never took any photos of it and it died along with the rest of my old dark eldar army in the great fall (from the table) in 07

My first model was a pack of High elf silver helms regiment, I still have them, all though I painted them as kid, so they look like gak

I am frankly not sure, but i believe it was a bretonnian knight on foot with a hammer. Could also be an ugly plastic saurus, some of gw:s first plastics.

the oldest stegadon model..

9 years old, got a Necarch Vampire on nightmare.

My first model was a DE Raider. I remember I couldn't figure everything out so the console is glued to the piolts face. Still have it and it is painted horribly...just can't bring myself to get rid of it.

I remember painting my first model as a little kid (probably around 4 or 5 at the time)

It was an archer, but I don't remember what system it was for, I also remember painting some assault marines my dad bough lol

The first model I painted was the Thalos Hammerer for Chainmail. Here's an example (not mine):

Pretty sure my first unit was a squad of Blood Claws around '95ish. Still got them, but they've been paint stripped since then

My first models painted were a blister pack of the old old Iron Claw Squats and the original plastic GW Skeletons box set when I was 8.

My first model was the tactical squad from AOBR

The space orks from the 2nd edition starter were my first Games Workshop models.

Tactical squad from Battle for Macrage was my first model. If you don't count legos.

Stupid work computer doesn't have my pictures. It's a carnifex.

My first model I built and painted was a small squad of ork boyz.

Mine was the free plastic wizard with WD193 ('96). Second was (I think) a metal Bloodletter, the one in the back pages of the 2nd Edition rulebook, assaulting the BT.

Here's my first model and my favorite.

My first model was a cold one rider for lizardmen.

Imperial Guard Chimera. Was on the fence about whether or not to get into wargaming and the Chimera looked fairly complex while not costing too much money.

Plastic Dwarves (back when they were single piece with shield), bought and painted for Mordheim. Can't post a pic, as they are now proudly serving as Dwarf Warriors in my mate's Dwarf army (so glad they are still around and cracking skulls).

I only started the hobby 2-3 months ago but here are my first 3 models, a wych, trueborn, and warrior. All trueborn and high ranking people were painted to be vampires as per their fluff.

Unfortunately my camera broke so I couldnt take any more recent pictures that would be of better quality.

A box of Necron Warriors. I remember wanting them to be a deep blue, so I bought a can of spray paint from wal-mart and went to town, only to later discover that gloss spray paint isn't such a good idea. Oh the joy of being young and dumb...

My first models were some Warzone miniatures Imperial and Bauhaus, for Warhammer were some Ultramarines 2 tactical sqauds, 1 Dreaghnought, 1 captain and some blisters with metal veterans! Damn nostalgia indeed!

My first ever miniatures were a box of Fire Warriors as Christmas present 2 years ago from my friends. And now they still aren't painted... Maybe someday..

My first ever mini was a Tau gun drone. My boyfriend had way too many of them so he let me assemble and paint one to see if I would enjoy the hobby.

My first ever models were probably some plastic cars from Dark Future (if anyone actually remembers that?), but my first proper models were the space hulk ones and a blister of the original chaos terminators I bought at the same time. Sadly I dont have any of them now :-(

/

My first model was a 4th ed apiring champ. I was 9. he has now gone missing =(

My first model was an Epic Bombard in 1992. Long since disappeared. My first ever 40k model painted was an old Imperial Guard Rapier Laser Destroyer and two crewmen.

Sgtwaz wrote:This is my first mini I ever painted back in 1993 when I was thirteen. I remember being excited about painting it as I needed it for my first game of 2nd ed. against a friend. My illegal force consisted of this guy, 5 swooping hawks and a wraithlord (or eldar dreadnought if you prefer). The red and yellow was done mostly with inks straight on top of the undercoat which I didn't think was wrong at the time .He has been rebased since (poorly) and had the wings pinned only recently which I spent most of the time glueing back as I never even heard of pinning at the time. I decided not to try to repaint or touch up for prosperity's sake. It has to be my favourite mini in my collection as it reminds me of a time when I was actually excited to play a game of 40k.

Baharroth

thirteen? holy crud, that's a very well painted first model. I'll have to take a look at some of your most recently painted models right after I submit this post

I remember putting together the trees that came with some of my younger brother's Tau models. Stabbed myself pretty good getting them off the sprue. That was better than 10 years ago now...

Just started in the hobby for myself... first purchase? A box of necron warriors. Check out the progress in my sig.

My first mini ever painted was a Clan War Phoenix clan Samurai. I have no idea which one.

My first 40K model was probably an Ork boy. No idea which one as its probably sitting in a case with 200 of his brothers.

My very 1st model was a chaos android from space crusade and God knows where its at. I had hair back then... been so long

I traded a Transformer for a handful of fantasy miniatures, a combination of Ral Parthas and Grenadiers - a few orks, hobgoblins, a demon-like creature... there might have been a roper in there too. I still have a few of them in my mini's bin which is like a modern miniatures history lesson.

While I got hooked on 40k very shortly after 2nd edition was released and bought the Marines/Orks starter set, the first GW miniatures I bought were a few packs of Chaos Warriors.

My first minis were Ork boyz about six years ago. I remember glueing them together with PVA-glue on our kitchen table.. You can guess did the glue hold Ahh good times.

DeadestDai wrote:and the original plastic GW Skeletons box set when I was 8.

Oh right, that's true, that was my first models too I remember now. Back then the plastic was beige though, so I didn't think I needed to paint the skeletons

My very first models were one of the original Hive Tyrants and a box of those blue plastic genestealers back in 1994 or so.

My first GW figgies where the 'new libarians' in 88-89?....I thought swords and books...these guys are awsome...then the guy showed me the RT book and I was hooked. I discovered Space Marine and Adeptus Titanicus shortly after ( I am a macross, gundam, robotech, space battle ship yamato fan)....good times...good times....

Saintspirit wrote:

DeadestDai wrote:and the original plastic GW Skeletons box set when I was 8.

Oh right, that's true, that was my first models too I remember now. Back then the plastic was beige though, so I didn't think I needed to paint the skeletons

Heh, yeah - pretty much just painted the weapons and stuck some poorly aimed red dots in their eyes.

It was a box of plastic Skinks for Warhammer fantasy. They were the snap together models, so they were cheap, and I thought they looked cool. I remember talking to my dad (I was pretty young), and planning what I would get in terms of my Lizardman army.

I ended up playing 40k instead.

Mine was a Crimson Fist Dreadnought, but unfortunately there was an incident involving it and my little Brother and a 2.5 Tonne Four-Wheel-Drive = road kill

I was just cleaning out my old cupboard and found a lot of junk, but also a couple of gems! These 3 models were painted like 10 - 15 years ago and I gave up on the hobby soon after. I got back into it a few weeks ago so it was cool to find them.





I also found a brand new box of 13th Company Storm Claws, result!

My first mini would have been Slannhound Handler and Slannhounds. Oh that has been so long ago.

My first model was a Space Marine, I walked into a GW that had just opened and I was looking for Battletech mini's.
I asked if they sold BTech, and left that day a sad panda because they didn't have any...

I went back the next day on a Sunday, there was a 'Mega-Battle' going on, I got to take charge of a squad of marine, and I got hooked!

Bought myself a combat squad, some plastic glue, went and assembled my very first mini that night and thought that it was the coolest thing ever. The detail of the mini and just the possibility for poses I could make with it. It had the Corvus (beak) head, rockin the bolter, and the little pouches that I never used on a marine after this squad.
Then I painted it as a White Consul marine, and realized then that painting white was not my idea of a good time as a beginner. So I switched to some Ultramarines, and then flip flopped with different armies for a while until Codex Space Wolves came out and actually did an army of them and played in the 3rd War of Armageddon where they were destroyed in every game...
Exit Space Wolves, enter BRAND NEW CHAOS!!! WHATTTTT!!! And now I am a Chaos Devout Black Legion.

A box of Lizardman Skinks, I never learnt to play Warhammer, but I still have a soft-spot in my heart for Lizardmen, which is appropriate seeing as there was a time when I could list the period, region, contemporaries of and binomial name of most species of dinosaur.

Just checked eBay and those Storm Claws I just found in my cupboard sell for about £25, on they go!

^my very first Sentinel, nearly three years ago.

Cool sentinel!
Did you end up painting the rest of the model?

My first GW Models I painted were Tactical Marines with Boltguns. I think that was in 2008

My first miniatures in general to paint were the ones from the Khador Battleforce box. That was back in 2007.

My first models were some Black Orcs I bought because my partner was getting into the hobby and I wanted to see what it was all about. It was at the time I was playing WAR online, and I thought Black Orcs in the game looked pretty cool. I bought them only to paint as something we could do together on a rainy afternoon, but it started a long slide down a very slippery slope

My first models I bought with the purpose of making an army were Daemonettes of Slaanesh. After the Orcs they looked so tiny! At that time I hadn't realised the level of detail that needed to be painted on the models. They're still unpainted

My first model was a space marine squad i painted them so badly that i quit the hobby. Then some months later i grew a passion for painting minitures and here i am now winning painting comps at local stores and gaming clubs. practise and passion makes perfect.

I sadly cannot post the picture of my first model as it is not based... (well I can't post in this forum) BUT!

I've got a link the photo in my P&M Blog

http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/60/375997.page#3173818

Alfndrate wrote:I sadly cannot post the picture of my first model as it is not based... (well I can't post in this forum) BUT!

I've got a link the photo in my P&M Blog

http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/60/375997.page#3173818

It looks great in all honesty, I don't actually mind if the models aren't fully completed, as long as no one else has anything against the photos being put in this forum?

Space marines from the 2nd ed I believe..no pictures though, sorry!

My very first models i painted were a small group of space marine assault troops which was around 5 years ago, they were ok but i didnt have enough equipment to do a better job.

My first was an Ork Warbike that I remember painting without using Humbrol enamel paints straight onto the plastic as that's what I'd done from previous Airfix plane modelling!

My first model was Dire Avenger Exarch that I painted purple and white, I didn't undercoat him or the rest of his squad though.

I painted these guys about 3 years ago (before I realised that they´d invented washes & the like)

The Goff Orks from second edition i followed that painting guide as good as my 11 year old hands and brain could do. I remember running out of black for the last fews boots so some of them ended up with bright red docs haha.

I think mine were the old spacemarine scouts, or it migt have been the really old eldar striking scorpions, I cant quite remember as i was 6 when i started wargaming in the end of 2nd edition

This little number was painted way back when GW dragons were majestic, awe inspiring beasts, rather than the insipid mounts (which even need added armour!!???!!) on offer these days!

I think mine was an old (around 02) Ork boy with a bow... Yes i started as a WHFB dude...

My first model was Leman Russ in a blister pack with his two wolves. painted in all space wolves grey (c'mon i was 11) and i think i bought a pack of blood claws with him.

Mine were a pair of plastic beaky RT marines. A shop in Cardiff called Encounter Games (long gone) used to break up the boxes of marines and skeletons and sell off the sprues individually for £1 each.

Had all my first marines and a few skeletons that way. If you ask me, the 2nd edition marines all in static poses were a backwards step after that.

Here is my first 40K. You can tell because I put the White Scar decal on backwards.

My first models were the plastic Space Marines in the second editon box set. It looked like I painted them with a q-tip, but hey, I had reeally small hands back then...

Some incredible first models on here...

I couldn't post a picture of mine because:
a) it's a long way away from me now.
b) shame.

A 1st edition marine painted with humbrol enamels and a sharpened matchstick for detail, I will let you work out for yourself whether it looked good or not.

My first model, I was 4 years old. Now I'm 15. Wow how things have changed. haha

Leman Russ with his two wolves!!!! Still have it with the not so good paint job!!! Bought that one over 18 years ago!!!!

Good grief I feel old now!

My first painted model was the AoBR Terminator Sergeant. I don't have a camera so no pics i'm afraid :p

1995. It was a gretchin model. It was unprimed. It was terrible.

I learned quickly, took on orks, and painted a very fine bad moon army.

The first miniature I ever painted was the fighter from the 1995 Introduction to Advanced Dungeons and Dragons box set. My parents wouldn't buy me any art supplies, since they didn't want to encourage 'that sort of behavior'. So I went to school (6th grade at the time) and stole an 8-pack of crappy watercolor paint- the kind that comes in a plastic make-up case, and you wet the brush and rub it on the paint to get some. It wouldn't take to the BRIGHT BLUE plastic though, so I primered them in white-out and then painted them again. And again. And again and again and again, until I got enough layers on there to cover up the fact that they were primered in white out.

Thankfully, I was the first of my friends to actually try to paint any of our miniatures (we all played Battletech and D&D at this time) so they didn't look terrible, since there was nothing better around to compare them to. Pretty soon thereafter I bought some testor's paint to paint my Battletech miniatures, and eventually started buying GW paint once I discovered it. But, yeah, started out with white-out and watercolors. Thankfully I lost all those miniatures.

My first model was a painted Eldar farseer that i got in a trade lol

Ah... this makes me regret that I got rid of my first models. I bought the 2nd edition starter box back in the day. I didn't really know what I had, I just remember thinking that all the little toys in there looked cool. I ended up painting all the marines black with silver trim. They ended up with a grand total of 3 colors on them. While painting the orks I discovered how to do washes. Using watered down black paint I detailed their faces. I thought I was pretty clever and wandered if anyone else knew about my secret technique. I remember being very pleased with them until about 2 years later after I had learned to paint. In disgust I traded them at a local hobby shop for something else and I can't even remember what it was.

Good to see some genuine first efforts on here.

Please allow me some sarcasm, as well as to indulge my insecurities regarding painting and modelling.

Sample post:

"This was my first model, painted when I was 2 years old using just boxing gloves and chalk. I was a late developer and hadn't developed full motor control at that time, forcing me to wedge the chalk in my nostril. As you can see, it was before the invention of acrylic paints, my painting has improved a lot since this point. "

Mine were the original Eldar Harlequins that came in a box with some very dodgy artwork on the front. I remember painting them with enamels...I wonder where they are now.

My first mini was a skeleton from Citadel, example from google below as I no longer have the minis from when I first started collecting many years ago.

Wulfen Andy wrote:Leman Russ with his two wolves!!!! Still have it with the not so good paint job!!! Bought that one over 18 years ago!!!!

Good grief I feel old now!

That is exactly the same as my first purchase! Awesome stuff.....

Like 2 years ago i decided to pick some space wolves miniatures, and to "learn the painting tricks" i bought 5 AOBR Nobs.
Those are that Nobs:



The funny part: i ended giving up from SW, and decided to continue with Orkz, Painting some grots right now lol

The PK was scratch build, but im rebuilding it

box of 16 warriors way back in 3rd ed

Here is one of my first models. 20 or so years old

Space Marine on Jetbike, circa 1988

Mine was an Orc from when I started gaming playing d&d. Was painted some years after purchase using the new (well old now) Citadel paint kit had 9 paints in it iirc and I still think I have the hobgoblin orange from it and I know for a fact I have the orc brown. will try and get some pics uploaded. Mini was bought late 70's early 80's.

This was one of my first models, though it's really not this forums cup of tea. It was the first figure I had ever won a medal for at a national show. The pics are terrible but it still sits in my display case though space marines are starting to surround it!

Mine was a Tentacle Pink Titan from adeptus titanicus in about 1990.

jchichon, that is awesome!

Thanks Las but I have come a long way since then. I see soooo many flaws with that paintjob! But I will always cherish that one. Now if I can just get better painting mini's!!!

3rd ed. CSM battleforce. Because more spikes was more awesome back then.

the first model miniature I ever tried, was actually from an Epic 40K starter box. I still have the box and my original works! LOL I will try and post pics of them.

I painted them with a paint pen..... that did not turn out well

I painted my first model during second ed. it was an ork boy...can't seem to find him

First model Iowned and painted was an easterling from LOTR.

A box of 36 (really, 39) plastic Space Dwarfs. I assembled and painted like two of them, then moved on to other armies before giving up the hobby completely near the end of high school. Found the box years later and after long-since selling off my other armies to friends. Now, I've decided to get back into 40k with my new(old) Squat army.

My first.Space Marine Rouge Trader box set!I repainted them about 10 years ago.Not very good.I should go back and base em at the least.lol.Cool topic!

I'm pretty sure these are my first and second 40k models

Dwarf Lords of Legends

http://www.solegends.com/citboxes/bc3dwflords/index.htm

still have them in my army

a small box of Goblins for fantasy, five with spears and five with bows. They're still a part of my O&G army to this day

A Space Marine Landspeeder from the 3ed starer box. It was constructed with Elmer's Glue (we were dumb back then) and has held together up until today!

Space Marine Terminator Chaplain.

My first model was a single pose CSM. I accidentally painted him word bearers because I thought the colors looked nice, and now I paint most of my chaos marines that way! I had trouble with the eyes, but you know. The first model I painted I still have him. He can fit into my other word bearers units.

Ulric the Slayer, bought him and the Space Wolf codex because they where the cheapet things I could find at the time.

My first model was one of the newer Eldar Pathfinders.

Fond memories.

An RTB01 plastic marine Pity the only paints commonly sold near me when I got em were humbrol enamels... urgh they ended up ugly, not sure where they ended up. Thankfully the second box I bought paints with them

Back at the end of 2005 (back in 4th ed), I bought a box of CSM. Built and painted a squad of mixed weapons because I didn't know I couldn't. Still regretting that I ever got rid of them.

This is my one. It was summer of 1998 I think (quite confused on BG it might be a BA mixed with Legion of Doom).
Then I restart the hobby a coupple of years ago, I found that model in the cellar and I rework it (I leave the flame on power fist cause it is cool )....

What an awesome post!

The first model I painted, was the special mini set with 5 ultramarines in it, a brush, and the paints, they looked so bad xD

My first model ever was the IG Catachan Lt with bolter. I purchased him about 14 years ago from a comic book store in NJ. I actually
just repainted him to better standards. Been hooked on miniatures ever since

A SM Land Speeder Storm was the first one I bought, assembled and painted all by my lonesome. It took me almost two weeks because I put so much love into it. Now it would take me a few hours.

My first model was a necron warrior when I jumped into 40k and bought a necron battleforce about half way through 4th edition.

My first 40K model was a Black Templars Emperor's Champion that I bought just because I thought that it looked cool back in like '97 or '98. I might have to go back and touch it up a bit and then reseal it since it's paint is starting to chip.

First model ever that I did by myself was a Ral Partha TDR-5S Thunderbolt from Classic Battletech that I bought with my allowance back in the late '80s, early '90s. All I know is that it had to be earlier than '94 when I bought it.

Any of you guys remember this?

Way back, back when 40k was still in 4th edition, there was a brief run of official GW magazines to promote the LOTR movie trilogy. I bought quite a lot of them and they came with.... *GASP-SHOCK-HORROR* free models (iirc they were extremely cheap and only had about 90 pages) and my first of which was Isildur. I did an alright job on him, looking back, until one day I decided I'd try blood effects and it looked like he'd stuck his sword in a bottle of tomato sauce.

I bought the odd box of Last Alliance guys and Gondor Warriors but never got into it, and the gaming hobby was practically non-existent in my area by the time I got into the gaming side of things. Seriously, the Gondor Warrior shields and the frustration I had painting them probably killed off my passion for LOTR singlehandedly.

I look back at my Grima model though and I wander what the hell possessed me when I painted it, I'm still surprised at how well It came out.

My first minis were the Judges from the Judge Dredd line ooooh gotta be 20+ yrs ago.

CW

Revell B-29 back in the 1970's ..it no longer exists ..after building it and painting it and making it look good ..it got launched with two Size C Model Rocket Engines and some fire works on it the following 4th of july ..Made a pretty show ..not much was left ...

Well, the first "mini" I had to paint and own was some non descript Mage from a Ral Partha line of D&D miniatures. Man, those were some great times - it was the first thing I painted and the first time I had something tangible to represent my character. As for GW, I would venture to say my first mini was a box of Epic Space Marines. One of the shiniest moments from a really rough and crappy childhood.

My first was a chaos space marine, horribly painted at the time, but i kept on working at it and repainted him many times, i recently gave him a head and arm swap to lightning claws, making him the aspiring champ in his squad. And it was 3 years ago so not that old.

My first models would have been random baddies from Warhammer Quest, or 2nd edition 40K Gretchin. No longer have any of that stuff, though...

Painted badly? When I finish my tact marines ill post them, then you can see a bad paint job lol.

It must have been 1994. My brother had bought the first WD released in german, thinking it was a Roleplaying mag. He found himself desinterested and passed the mag on to me. Shortly after I got the 2nd edition starter for my ninth birthday.

I didn't try painting until a few years later. The first mini was a marine from that box and a total desaster. I thought if the paint had blood angel in the name I could just put it on the model from the pot. Turns out it was a wash.

Almost all models from that time went the way of the dodo, but I still have a grot from that starter box I first got, primed an untarnished white.

For extra points, the first thing I tried was hunting for vintage minis in every LGS in a 150 km radius. I just thought all those oop minis shown in the rulebook looked much better then the minis of the current lines. I was a nine year old wargaming hipster

My first painted model was the plastic gretchin from the way old 40k boxset. Still got him too

My first models were eldar wraithguard. They have since been repainted and enhanced upon but the same basic colors are there. Still need to finish painting the rest of my army... CURSE YOU MMORPG's!!!!!

I didn't paint these particulars, but y'know what I mean. Shame on you if you don't.

My first models were a box of second edition genestealers and Khorne berzerkers. Passed a GW overseas in England on a trip with my family when I was about 9 or 10, Had no idea what the store was all about but the models intrigued me a lot.

My first model was a '63 chevy impala continental softtop
First mini was a confederate rifleman.
First GW mini was a vyper jetbike. (Which i still have and use).

My first mini was a Ral Partha figure from the Battletech line. A Star League era Highlander assault `Mech.

I had the brilliant idea to paint it metallic purple, and since the head of the `Mech reminded me of a nun's habit I decided it paint it white and black. I loved my shiny purple, white and black `Mech and would use it in every game I played regardless of whether or not I was using a Highlander. I still have the miniature but stupidly stripped it about 10 years back to re-purpose it. Losing that crappy paint job is a big regret of mine.

The old 4th -maybe- 3rd ed Starter Paint set with five Ultra Marines.

I also purchased this old Starcraft Marine. It came bare plastic and had to be painted. A dog ate it and I nearly skinned the beast for it's pelt.

 Mr.Omega wrote:


Any of you guys remember this?

Way back, back when 40k was still in 4th edition, there was a brief run of official GW magazines to promote the LOTR movie trilogy. I bought quite a lot of them and they came with.... *GASP-SHOCK-HORROR* free models (iirc they were extremely cheap and only had about 90 pages)

YES!!! I'm so glad I'm not the only one who got these!
My first models were a small Uruk-hai and a small High Elven force for LOTR SBG which I bought on Ebay. They came with a bunch of these magazines and I thought they were awesome!
After that I got a bunch more of these due to their incredible price in comparison to other ways to purchase sets of GW minis.

My first ever Model I painted, Tyranid Tervigon. I was so proud of this model when I painted her. I didnt know what wash or inks were, just painted in what colors I wanted. Ive learned a lot since her.....

Dark angel current 40k starter paint set. Had a great time doing it. They have since been stripped twice as I didn't have a snowflakes chance in hell of looking good with their 1st and 2nd paintjobs. Green is a trickier color than it looks. I decided to strip them on my first visit to the dakka gallery. You are all bastards

Omg accidental thread necromancy. please forgive me.

My First ever model. not even primed

The 2nd edition Catachan LT and a couple of stormtroopers were my first miniatures. Picked them up from a comic book store called Hero Town in NJ. That was probably in 1999. Alas the stormtroopers are long lost to the warp.

The first models I ever owned were probably original SM from the 80s that I got given when I was younger.

Ahh... Nostalgia...

The first miniatures I painted were Swedish Caroleans, that you cast yourself. You bought rubber molds for them and little bricks of pewter, that you melted on the stove.

I used some absolutely horrible glossy paint for them, that would take several hours to dry, but good god did me and my friends have fun with those armies. Several years later I got into Warhammer Fantasy, Bretonnians and Citadel paint. I was stunned by the quality