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So how do you all feel about using Special or Limited Edition models like you would any other mini?
I mean taking out of the plastic, painting, converting, whatever. Is it a no-no or is it fair game?
I'd love to hear feedback about this.

Unless you're buying them solely for their resale value down the track, why not?

They're minis. I buy them either to use them in game, or to paint them for display.

insaniak wrote:Unless you're buying them solely for their resale value down the track, why not?

They're minis. I buy them either to use them in game, or to paint them for display.

Pretty much my take as well. If I'm going to spend the money, why not.

How much glory will your limited edition Space Marine captain get sitting in his blister pack in a box somewhere? I say put em on the field!

I do it all the time, especially if I get it off the secondary market. If I'm spending the money and taking to the time to get one, I'm damn well going to use it.

I don't think I would play this game (or collect it) if I didn't get to use my Limited Edition and Special Edition models. To me, they are a way to give your army more character, just like unique conversions and paint jobs. I love having them, and I love seeing people use them. Recognizing old, rare, and out-of-production minis is one way for long-term or seriously crazy gamers to identify each other.

I just wish Games Workshop didn't make it so hard to get limited edition minis. I don't mean "make more of them", I mean, 'sell them to people who want to buy them'. I love this year's Games Day mini, but I'm not able to go to Chicago (local charity tournament is that weekend!), so it's making it really hard for me to get one.

I'm a huge ork collector, and I'm really finding it hard to find a Forgeworld Ork Sqwadron Commander at anything approaching a rational price (and not buying something that is probably a recast). I (and most people) can't make it to specific events, tournaments, and shows. GW has a web site, and is in the business of selling models. Why not sell them to people who want to buy them? I appreciate not keeping them on the market for an extended period of time, but seriously? You have to go to specific events to buy them? Grrrr.

I specifically bought the Gamesday Kroot "Angkhor Prok" to use in my Kroot Merc army back when they came out. I promptly cut off his basic knife to give him a feral-looking powersword from the Gorkamorka Mutie range.

I'm glad to hear most people feel the same way so far.
I saw this guy and decided I needed a Penal Legion squad for him
to play custodian over. Without the dog:

I'm using a couple of limited ed things (I think they are limited ed...) scattered around my armies, they are just pretty models by and large, so theres no reason why they shouldn't make their way into their army.

P.S. Was the marco columbo mini special? Or is it just oop.

I was running a Games Day Ork Nob (from GorkaMorka apparently) in my army for years without knowing it was a limited edition...

I only ever bought one model specifically for "paint and display" purposes and that was the 25th anniversary Space Marine. I still have not painted him...

Brian P wrote:I was running a Games Day Ork Nob (from GorkaMorka apparently) in my army for years without knowing it was a limited edition...

I only ever bought one model specifically for "paint and display" purposes and that was the 25th anniversary Space Marine. I still have not painted him...

And old man once told me "Life's what happens whae you make other plans". I know your pain too well.

Brian P wrote:I was running a Games Day Ork Nob (from GorkaMorka apparently) in my army for years without knowing it was a limited edition...

Is it the nob who has his foot up on an ammo box and is shooting his shoota with one hand? If so, that's one of my favorite Ork models GW has ever produced, and I'd definitely put him in a Nob squad!

Back in 2003 I bought a large lot of used Harlequins. I didn't know for years later that I had an alternate posed Solitare that was supposed to be not available to the public. That is possibly my rarest model and I currently have it leading a squad of Halequins in my Eldar army.

I also have the Angkor Prok model. (I loved to used a close-combat Tau army) Imagine taking 100 kroot plus attached hounds, then infiltrating them and Prok letting them all re-roll to-hit rolls.

motyak wrote:P.S. Was the marco columbo mini special? Or is it just oop.

He was a special limited release for the Conquest of the New World campaign. I have one myself as a canon engineer.

BrookM wrote:

motyak wrote:P.S. Was the marco columbo mini special? Or is it just oop.

He was a special limited release for the Conquest of the New World campaign. I have one myself as a canon engineer.

That's not quite true. He was originally released in boxes in 2003 for the 10th anniversary of GW Spain.

"Sculpted by Juan Diaz especially for the 10th anniversary of GW Espana and released at the 2003 Spanish Games Day.
The original run of Spanish boxes were individually numbered, see below. The piece has since been released in blisters. "

Platuan4th wrote:

BrookM wrote:

motyak wrote:P.S. Was the marco columbo mini special? Or is it just oop.

He was a special limited release for the Conquest of the New World campaign. I have one myself as a canon engineer.

That's not quite true. He was originally released in boxes in 2003 for the 10th anniversary of GW Spain.

"Sculpted by Juan Diaz especially for the 10th anniversary of GW Espana and released at the 2003 Spanish Games Day.
The original run of Spanish boxes were individually numbered, see below. The piece has since been released in blisters. "

Ah, well, learn something new every day.

BrookM wrote:

Platuan4th wrote:

BrookM wrote:

motyak wrote:P.S. Was the marco columbo mini special? Or is it just oop.

He was a special limited release for the Conquest of the New World campaign. I have one myself as a canon engineer.

That's not quite true. He was originally released in boxes in 2003 for the 10th anniversary of GW Spain.

"Sculpted by Juan Diaz especially for the 10th anniversary of GW Espana and released at the 2003 Spanish Games Day.
The original run of Spanish boxes were individually numbered, see below. The piece has since been released in blisters. "

Ah, well, learn something new every day.

Me too, actually. I thought he was older than that and came with a previous version of the Helblaster.

I realize now that the Leonardo figure from the older metal is a different named person in the background.

I love whipping this guy out whenever I play my Orkz.



The models exist to be painted and played, limited or not.

If I were to collect Limited run models, I'd get 2. One to paint and one to keep pristine.

I've recently been collecting OOP Empire character models and plan on painting up every one of them. Granted they weren't limited editions or anything.

The only stuff I wouldn't ever paint would be unreleased models as those are insanely rare.

They are toys and meant to be played with, no matter how "rare" they are.

SilverMK2 wrote:They are toys and meant to be played with, no matter how "rare" they are.

Except that vintage prototype boba fett from '79. That thing better stay pristine!

Aerethan wrote:

SilverMK2 wrote:They are toys and meant to be played with, no matter how "rare" they are.

Except that vintage prototype boba fett from '79. That thing better stay pristine!

Yeah, I don't really get that... same with people who collect toy trains and then never run them (and in some cases never display them in case the UV fades them and the air wafts dust onto the box or something...).

Or really rich people who own various works of art/etc and then have them locked away in the bank; the entire reason for their existance is so people can look at them so put a nail in the wall and hang the bloody thing up.

If I had that Fett I'd totally display it. Perhaps not in a place where it was hit by the sun all day.

I don't understand owning art that isn't displayed either.

I've not heard of model railroaders keeping locos in the box, although I am aware of the rarity of some things like prototypes and such that are done in very small runs.

I wouldn't collect anything if I couldn't display it. If I had a rare Fett model that was meant to be painted, I'd paint it. And if I was worried that my own painting wouldn't do it justice, I'd commission it.

Luckily the only things I collect really are OOP GW models and certain sculpts that I just love. Sometimes I get the OOP stuff dirt cheap too which is awesome(got all 4 Elector Count sculpts for $5ea recently).

Marco Columbo is a major want on my list along with a Gamesday Slann and Archaon on foot.

My collectors wish list of current HQ models is over $1100 retail sadly, so that will take a while to work towards.

Most limited edition figures GW produce are not so limited, even the Gameday figures are made in large quantities. Ask yourself why you want the figures? If you plan to resell for a high value then save them, but if they are just going to take up space you may as well make them. What's the point in buying a model and stashing it away with no intention to make it?

Some figures are insanely rare, the 'unreleased' studio pieces, and genuinely limited things when GW were a much smaller company or from special releases like the Black Library figures that were barely cast in the hundreds. You might want to think twice about hacking them up, you would be destroying one if a few remaining copies in some cases.

But most Limided releases are not very limited today. The only thing that makes them hard to find is that GW will only sell them to people going to the Gamesday. And they do so in the full knowledge that they go straight on eBay for three times their original price as people try to profit from them and get the GD ticket price back. GW create this situation by having a event that is grossly overpriced and has very little to see. Indeed, the miniature seems to be the main attraction for many. GW seem to exploit that, it's a shame. They could make their events cheaper and more interesting. The miniature would just be a little extra rather than a very expensive model on top of a hugely priced entrance fee.

I'd definitely play with LE or special edition models (though I never pay market value for them). If you don't use them in a game, because of value how far do you take that line of reasoning?

I've got some uber-rare RT era figs that are probably worth as much or more than most LE figs. Should I not paint them up because of value? My 2005 GD Vet and those RT figs will all eventually get painted up with the rest of the army (when I get around to it....). As to whether or not I'd convert them, I haven't thought that far ahead yet.

alarmingrick wrote:I'm glad to hear most people feel the same way so far.
I saw this guy and decided I needed a Penal Legion squad for him
to play custodian over. Without the dog:

I'd keep the dog and either base them together or base him separately to stand in for one of the penal troopers. Adds a bit of character to your force.

Not sure how much of a limited edition he actually was, but I bought 3 Archaons on foot so I could use one for games and keep the others to decide what to do with them later (they are still waiting in their blisters).

I buy special and limited editions models to give my army some flair. Not to stay in a blister and collect precious resale value.

d-usa wrote:I buy special and limited editions models to give my army some flair. Not to stay in a blister and collect precious resale value.

Indeed, it really, really annoys me when people buy up limited edition stuff speculating on price increases making it worthwhile. I don't have a problem if someone buys multiple copies of something to actually use them though.

If I have an army for them, I paint them up and use them. If I don't (like with my Archeon on foot model), I keep them in the blister until I find a need for them.

I am hit or miss on including LE minis in an army. If I need them in the army I will include them. If I don't need them I simply want them just to own them. I am a collector first, hobbyist 2nd.

I have started to change my stance though. From now on I only want painted minis in my collection. If I don't have time to paint it, I send it off to my commission painter. If That doesn't happen I promptly stick it up on ebay.