Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Updated with a $0 option.


Again, I'm not saying that people HAVE to buy them. They are for a very specificy type of gamer who simply cannot paint their own models for one reason or another.

In a perfect world everyone who plays also partakes in every aspect of the hobby. Reality is that there are alot of primer and gray armies out there.

And again, I'm not talking about an AT-43 automated paint job. I mean a hand painted, tabletop quality job. Base colors shades and highlights, just not anything like eyeballs or major freehand work.

Flashman wrote:Finds self nodding in agreement at Howling Moon's comments... feels dirty and ashamed

it's ok. I know I'm right, most other people know I'm right, they just refuse to admit it.

Congratulations on stepping up a level.

Basicly assuming that you have the stuff to sell as a "in-stock, no waiting/turnaround time" basis, you are offering speed and convience at the trade off of customization. The problem that I see is that even using the exact same colors, the sets won't match the rest of the army if it's painted by someone else. Some may not care much, but I know that would be a big sticking point for many. I can't see paying more that 2x the original retail cost of the models, so $180 for most boxed sets. Now to see if that's worth it to you depends on why you are doing it. If this is just a supplemental income sort of thing (something to do to earn a few extra bucks in in evenings or weekends) and you enjoy painting, then I'd say it's probably a decent way to go. If it's something you want to try and actually make some decent money at, then you are going to have to get faster at assembly line painting if it takes 2 full days (16 hours) to knock out a boxed set.

aerethan wrote:Updated with a $0 option.


Again, I'm not saying that people HAVE to buy them. They are for a very specificy type of gamer who simply cannot paint their own models for one reason or another.

In a perfect world everyone who plays also partakes in every aspect of the hobby. Reality is that there are alot of primer and gray armies out there.

And again, I'm not talking about an AT-43 automated paint job. I mean a hand painted, tabletop quality job. Base colors shades and highlights, just not anything like eyeballs or major freehand work.

To repeat my question, are you talking about GW selling pre-painted figures or are you talking about you (hypothetically) buying GW figures, painting them and selling them?

Me buying painting and reselling.

Okay, then my advice is that you should look at what existing paint services charge for a unit.

Not only have they already been through the process of discovering the market rate, they will also be your competition if you go into this business.

I agree with KK for existing painting services.

The popular ones are always booked ,
then we have horror stories of painters running off with their customer's items -_-

Well I'm currently on www.awesomepaintjob.com as a commission painter. Les is booked until April, and I am looking for a way to make money until I get some work flowing in.

We are also now a sponsor for Adepticon and will be providing prize support for that event this year in the form of washes and pigments. Hopefully that exposure brings in more business as well.

I'm a hideously bad painter and painting is like root canal for me. Having said that I'd still rather fail magnificently by myself rather than pay for prepainted minis. I'd vote for paying $0 also.

Personally I like painting. Gives me something to do at work. I do; however; understand the desire to have somebody else do it since I'm a lazy bum. I paint miniatures at work is a prime example. :3

Ive painted over 15k points of BA alone so Im fine with buying pre-painted stuff to speed up my new armies

However, I find the amount of money people charge per model is way too high to consider.. Especially if you play WFB youre looking at a huge price tag even if someone ONLY charges 3$ a model which is very low

I got a quote for around 1500$ to paint the 50 BA I still had laying around.. after that quote I just finished them all in 2 weeks instead

aerethan wrote:Pretty straightforward. A battalion set runs $90. Provided the paintjob matched your army scheme, what would you pay for a boxed set that was already assembled and painted to a tabletop standard? I'm not talking about a "bartertown" paintjob where the models are crap and need to be stripped. I mean a good solid paintjob, decals and all.

I'd also have to take into account that many people 'in the know' get amazing discounts. If I'm paying the painter guy, I'm assuming he's getting at least 20% off. Some people have posted about getting more than 60% off.

That would have to be a factor.

Alpharius wrote:

The painting/modeling aspect is the ONLY thing keeping me in the game these days!

Take that away, and I'm finding another game to spend my time and money on...

This^.for myself,painting & modeling is 90% of the hobby,I would never consider purchasing a "pre-painted" army,I can understand how others might,but it just would hold no appeal for me.

Prepainted = mould lines all over the place, so no thanks.

My hobby is building and painting models. I have no interest in pre-painted models.