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Hi I used to play Warhammer (bother fantasy and 40k) when I was younger and have fond memories of making and paiting the models with the help of my Dad, who has now passed away. I have decided to start collecting/playing again partly from nostalgia, partyl because I remember how much I enjoyed it and partly because it would make me feel closer to my Dad who I'm feeling further away from as time goes on.

Now a lot of stuff got thrown out without me asking but there is a drawe in my garage full of miniatures (in various states of completion) but no where near enough to put an army together. Even as a child I remember warhammer was an expensive hobby but now the prices seem to have over doubled and I fear it will take forever to save up enough to buy the paints, brushes, miniatures themselves, etc and so it's going to be along time till I can get to the fun parts again, playing and painting.

I was wondering, and this is probably a common and slightly stupid question, if there is a cheaper way to get everything I need than saving up and paying the astronomical GW prices for every little thing I need.

Any pointers/help would be appreciated and I apologise if I have posted this in the wrong place, as you can see, I'm new here.

Ebay, Bartertown and the Dakka Swap Shop for cheap deals.

Don't fall for the 'GW Hobby' crap. Don't buy their paint, don't buy their brushes, don't buy their tools, don't buy their glue, flock, sand, whatever. All horribly overpriced.

Also, where will you be playing? If it's in your house, or in a local, non-GW FLGS, feel free to buy other manufacturer's models.

Thankyou. Yeah I've allready started looking on ebay, I havn't heard of bartertown before but I'll check it out. I've also looked on craig'slist with no luck.

ATM I have no idea where I'll be playing but probably with a gaming gorup somewhere, if I can find one.

And I probably will include some non-GW miniatures in my army/armies but it would probably be more along the lines of having them as standard bearers/generals/sergeants or whatever, so they wouldnt rally be making up a large proportion of my army. I really like a lot of the GW models aswell, allthough after browsing the GW site for a whie some of my avourite models are long gone :(

So can you reccomend a good hobby to buy paints, brushes, flock, etc? And while buying brushes, tools and stuff not from GW sounds like a good idea, I ill basically be starting from scratch as a painter. I used to do the undercoat and large bits that were one colour while my dad painted all the fiddly bits 'cus I was young and didn't have the patience lol. So I was planning on following guides in my old White Dwarfs and online to get me on the right track. These seem to often work in terms of the GW names for differnet paints, how easy will I find it to find an equivalent paint? Especially because the habit paint has of looking completely different when dry to the "preview" on the pot. Also do different model paints "behave" differently (hw runny they are and such) or are they all pretty much the same?


Edit: Also I was wandering what age range of people play Gw, I know in the GW local outlet it is normally mainloy younger people. What is a good way to meet people my own age (early twenties) in my local area who would like to play/set up a group/allready have one?

Sorry for all the newbie questions.

No problem - I'm actually in the same age category as you, and it hasn't been that long since I was asking the same sort of questions.

For paints, I can recommend the Paint Range Compatibility Chart here on Dakka. It has the paint range for GW, and then equivalent colors for a number of different competitors.

Now, if you were here in the States, I'd say to try and find a local Michaels (craft store) for brushes, flack, etc. I'm even lucky enough to have a local hobby (i.e. model train) shop nearby for other stuff. So that's probably your best bet - a local craft store.

Barring that, you always have the internet. Maelstrom Games has a huge inventory of hobby goods, with an online discount as well. Wayland Games is another option, but be careful with them, since their inventory amount isn't always correct. I can't speak for different properties of paints (having used GW and now moving on to Vallejo and P3) but consistency has generally been the same, unless you purposely thin the paints yourself.

As for age, GW games are prolific enough to the point where you'll find the players range from snot-nosed kids to old men who should have moved on to historicals . You could always ask your local GW redshirt if there are any players your age, or check the internet for meetup groups in your area.

Although, I have to say, I'm not much more experienced in the wargaming hobby than yourself. C'mon, Dakka! Get in here and lend the guy a hand.

Hey, i STARTED with historicals

40K didn't even exist then.

OP- What army/ies do you have models for?

You may want to pick just one army to start with, and trade or shelve models for the others, unless you have orks

If you do you can loot any other race's vehicles for your army

You appear to be in the uk so as suggested Wayland and maelstrom are the go to places for discount wargames but there are plenty others.

Mantic are a new company producing cheap parallel miniatures ranges basically for use with GW games pretty mixed bag but good for filling out regiments. Depending in your army there are also other companies that sell cheap but quality miniatures you could use, perry for example.

Then there are the many clubs in the uk, if you are near one I'm sure they will be glad to point you in the right direction and possibly able to help you out with an army to borrow for games.

If you want cheap rules then take a look at the bitz companies as well as eBay. You should be able to get the mini rule books for about £10.

Finally don't discount GW they are pretty good at the introductory aspects of gaming and painting sO you could up your skills there, they also have gets nights for older folk.

Don't overlook the acrylic paints at the craft store. They are much cheaper than official hobby paint and you get 2-3 times as much. Some of the very cheap brands are garbage, look for brands like Color Traditions.
You can make your own flock from sawdust or sand- have a look around your local DIY store.

Hi there I can pretty much echo the advice given so far in this thread, I recently got back into it the last few years too (I'm also in my early twenties). I'd really recommend eBay, try various search strings if you can because I find a lot of listings aren't named correctly etc. If you're after models for a common army like space marines you can get some fantastic bargains and bulk lots on there, most will be partially or fully assembled, some painted. If you were looking for the cheap as possible new in box miniatures then it's Maelstrom in Mansfield and Wayland games really for the biggest discounts.

Whereabouts in the country are you based if you don't mind me asking?

All the best

infinite that compatability chart certainly looks useful, thanks for pointing it out.

I think there is a model train shop in the next town over from me so I'll take a look in there when I get chance to see if they have anything suitale.

And I'm glad that there is a wide age range of people playing.


Ascalam I have some random models, the most I have of one "type" are Night Goblins and Wood Elves in fantasy and (unsurprisingly) Space Marines for 40k, some really poorly painted Blood Angels (don't think I got help with those ones lol).


notprop I looked at some of those Mantic miniatures and some of them look pretty good, like you said I'd probably use them to fill out regiments and they look ALOT cheaper.

I have completely forgot about a rulebook until you reminded me, I guess there has probably been several new editions since I last played.

Thankyou for the offer to try and help lend me an army but I'll have to decline because a) I'd be so worried about breaking/damaging the paintwork on someone else's model, who I don't even know in real life. and b) part of the fun for me playing with an army I've put together and painted myself.

I've been scouring ebay redbristles but I don't have any cash available to spend on my card until next week (I don't belelive in credit cards and overdrafts lol.)


And too all the people who asked I live in South Derbyshire.


A few fresh questions, if you don't mind. Some of the miniatures are broken (mainly arms that have came off or snapped weapons) would I be right in thinking I can fix them easily when the break is clean with a bit of modellin glue (can't remember the proper name for it, the type that kinda melts the plastic.) And with metal ones does the same apply but with superglue (again hazy memorey, is it superglue used for metal ones?) I have some Goblin Fanatics who came seperated from their base. Also there are some miniatures that need a new paint job (the ones I attempted myself) can I use paint stripper of some kind on them without damaging the miniature it's self? And how crazy am I going to drive myself painting miniatures that are allready constructed?

Superglue is good on metal and plastic models. Plastic cement is better on plastics, as it forms an actual bond between the parts, but superglue is fine for both.

For stripping, use dettol or simple green (a general household cleaner) for plastics - soak them for about 24 hours, then clean them under water with a tooth brush (don't plan on using it later either). Nail polish remover is great for metals, but it will destroy any plastic components.

ReturningPlayer wrote:

And too all the people who asked I live in South Derbyshire.


A few fresh questions, if you don't mind. Some of the miniatures are broken (mainly arms that have came off or snapped weapons) would I be right in thinking I can fix them easily when the break is clean with a bit of modellin glue (can't remember the proper name for it, the type that kinda melts the plastic.) And with metal ones does the same apply but with superglue (again hazy memorey, is it superglue used for metal ones?) I have some Goblin Fanatics who came seperated from their base. Also there are some miniatures that need a new paint job (the ones I attempted myself) can I use paint stripper of some kind on them without damaging the miniature it's self? And how crazy am I going to drive myself painting miniatures that are allready constructed?

I'm from Derby myself (currently live in London) and am looking to move back up soon so if I do I'll be in touch for a beginner game! (I barely play, mostly paint)

I've bought broken models before and I didnt find it much of a problem to fix them. just use a file ( a nail file will do for now) to smooth over the two surfaces that have separated and remove the dried on glue. For plastics you're right it's the plastic glue that melts the two pieces back together, for metals use a super glue, and you can get from Wilkos etc, the little tubes. As long as they're built in a way that doesnt obscure lots of detail you want to paint you shouldnt have a problem really.

If you want to strip them of paint first (and seeing as simple green isnt that easy to find in the uk) I can heartily recommend Fairy Power Spray, a few squirts on the model to cover it, put it in a tupperware box for a few hours then scrub it off in the sink with an old tooth brush or something, metals will come up as new, and I've got plastics down to bare primer or better with it. Worth a shot!