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So for quite a while now i have been searching for a model case that fits all the criteria. Durable, compact enough to move around easily. lightweight, good quality foam inserts etc but didn't want to pay the seemingly huge prices GW advertises for their cases. I didn't realize how bad GW's overcharging had gotten until i saw their brand new Citadel Ardcase out on the GW store page. $265 seems incredibly steep for such a small case. What really annoyed me is that upon doing a bit of research i found the EXACT same case (a marine safe case) for $64.99 at my local boating store. They didnt create this amazing case they just took the idea already created by someone else smacked a GW sticker on it and rode the gravy train all the way to the bank. They must think us stupid, that we don't look around for a better deal! who do they think they are really!, i can see why the hobby has taken such a huge hit in the past 10yrs. Don't fall for their tricks guys and girls, their are plenty of other alternatives to GW's paints brushes terrain cases... actually everything bar the miniatures ( some companies do do good alternative models though). its time we stop lining their pockets and say enough's enough. Maybe just maybe they might start giving back to their customer ( im not holding my breath though). i have been part of this community going on 15yrs and have watched it slowly being sucked dry by GW's greed and im sick f it. I now buy all my models paints and accessories online from other vendors. Same quality or better at a fraction of the price. Fingers crossed GW gets bought out by another company that actually gives 2 gaks bout its customer base, because its obvious GW doesn't. Anyone else have any completely obvious GW money grab stories??? ( obviously you all do, you have been buying their overprices models for years lol) I didn't mean for this to be a rant im just sick and tired of them getting away with it.

Welcome to GW. All of their hobby supplies are just re-branded stuff from other companies. You pay a significant markup for a GW logo and the convenience of buying it at your local GW store. If you want to save money the only things you should ever buy from GW are models and paint. Everything else is available for less money and often with better quality at the same time.

Gw have nice washes. And some nice models that are well worth buying.

Beyond that, for paints, I stick with P3.

For accessories, drill bits, glue, tools etc I usually go to my local hardware store or other third party. Plenty good deals out there.

 Peregrine wrote:
Welcome to GW. All of their hobby supplies are just re-branded stuff from other companies. You pay a significant markup for a GW logo and the convenience of buying it at your local GW store. If you want to save money the only things you should ever buy from GW are models and paint. Everything else is available for less money and often with better quality at the same time.

This and even then you're probably better off with Vallejo paints or something else.

As for expensive models, you could probably get them cheaper through third party stores but if you're using GW tables and not buying their product, they may have a quiet word with you.

 Peregrine wrote:
Welcome to GW. All of their hobby supplies are just re-branded stuff from other companies. You pay a significant markup for a GW logo and the convenience of buying it at your local GW store. If you want to save money the only things you should ever buy from GW are models and paint. Everything else is available for less money and often with better quality at the same time.

There's not even a need to but their paints - Vallejo paints are cheaper, just as good, and you get more for your money, and the dropper style bottles are nice.

 Do_I_Not_Like_That wrote:

 Peregrine wrote:
Welcome to GW. All of their hobby supplies are just re-branded stuff from other companies. You pay a significant markup for a GW logo and the convenience of buying it at your local GW store. If you want to save money the only things you should ever buy from GW are models and paint. Everything else is available for less money and often with better quality at the same time.

There's not even a need to but their paints - Vallejo paints are cheaper, just as good, and you get more for your money, and the dropper style bottles are nice.

The quality of Vallejo is hit and miss though. Whilst they have an excellent range of colours (so many that I struggle to tell some of them apart), some dry to an ugly glossy finish, or tend to be very runny and lack enough pigment to cover well. But most of the paints are as good as if not better. I tend to use the washes, technical paints and metallic paints from Citadel, everything else is Vallejo. When I find a Vallejo paint to be poor quality, I mix it with a Citadel paint or use a Citadel paint instead.

I would happily abandon Citadel paints altogether and just use Vallejo otherwise.

I think we've already had this thread
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/0/687624.page

 Frozocrone wrote:

 Peregrine wrote:
Welcome to GW. All of their hobby supplies are just re-branded stuff from other companies. You pay a significant markup for a GW logo and the convenience of buying it at your local GW store. If you want to save money the only things you should ever buy from GW are models and paint. Everything else is available for less money and often with better quality at the same time.

This and even then you're probably better off with Vallejo paints or something else.

As for expensive models, you could probably get them cheaper through third party stores but if you're using GW tables and not buying their product, they may have a quiet word with you.

Do you think that GW employees would actually talk to you if you come in with a full army that you didn't buy there? That would be so awkward lol

As for paints I buy citadel paints but definitely stay away from their other hobby stuff.

How would they even know? And more to the point, what right would they have to object? All that matters is that its official GW miniatures, vs non-GW miniatures. Where the miniatures were purchased from is irrelevant. When we buy Warhammer minis from discount retailers, they don't come with a disclaimer that they cannot be used in GW stores because they weren't purchased there.

If GW objects to people playing in their stores, but not buying from those stores, then they should change company policy.

Either stop distributing to 3rd party discount retailers and only sell through GW stores, or charge people for playing in GW stores. Perhaps GW stores should be ran like gaming clubs, and charge regular players a subscription fee whenever they attend the store and participate in gaming, or waive the fee if they make a purchase. After all, by providing a gaming space the store is providing a service. Its fair to charge for that service.

My club charges people a £2.50 sub everytime they attend. Newcomers get their first visit free. If you don't attend one week, you don't pay. Perhaps GW should do something similar.

 Shadow Captain Edithae wrote:
If GW objects to people playing in their stores, but not buying from those stores, then they should change company policy.

I don't think "GW" objects. However store managers are judged on their sales, not the number of people using the gaming tables, so the store manager themselves may object.

If GW wants to fix it, they need to come up with another way other than raw sales per store for judging the success of a manager, otherwise managers are put in the awkward position of wanting to support the community but also requiring that the community support them so they don't get fired.

parko wrote:
i saw their brand new Citadel Ardcase out on the GW store page.
...
What really annoyed me is that upon doing a bit of research i found the EXACT same case (a marine safe case) for $64.99 at my local boating store.

So anyway, link?

 Shadow Captain Edithae wrote:
Perhaps GW stores should be ran like gaming clubs, and charge regular players a subscription fee whenever they attend the store and participate in gaming, or waive the fee if they make a purchase.

At which point there ceases to be any reason to go to a GW store to play, and everyone goes to one of the independent stores in the area that doesn't charge a fee.

I'd be interested in the brand name of the case you found.

Edit: typo

 TheWaspinator wrote:
I'd be interested in the brand new of the case you found.

you know what? +1

Deadnight wrote:
Gw have nice washes.

I haven't yet found a suitable replacement for Nuln oil but that's the last remaining GW holdout amongst my modeling kit.

Just how big is the 'Ard case? I can't seem to find dimensions for it anywhere.

 Do_I_Not_Like_That wrote:

 Peregrine wrote:
Welcome to GW. All of their hobby supplies are just re-branded stuff from other companies. You pay a significant markup for a GW logo and the convenience of buying it at your local GW store. If you want to save money the only things you should ever buy from GW are models and paint. Everything else is available for less money and often with better quality at the same time.

There's not even a need to but their paints - Vallejo paints are cheaper, just as good, and you get more for your money, and the dropper style bottles are nice.

Apart from greens. Vallejo Game Color greens are terrible. Especially Dark Green. And maybe it's just me, but a lot of the Vallejo dropper nozzles seem to split. :(

 AndrewGPaul wrote:

 Do_I_Not_Like_That wrote:

 Peregrine wrote:
Welcome to GW. All of their hobby supplies are just re-branded stuff from other companies. You pay a significant markup for a GW logo and the convenience of buying it at your local GW store. If you want to save money the only things you should ever buy from GW are models and paint. Everything else is available for less money and often with better quality at the same time.

There's not even a need to but their paints - Vallejo paints are cheaper, just as good, and you get more for your money, and the dropper style bottles are nice.

Apart from greens. Vallejo Game Color greens are terrible. Especially Dark Green. And maybe it's just me, but a lot of the Vallejo dropper nozzles seem to split. :(

Never had that problem, before.

 Azazelx wrote:

parko wrote:
i saw their brand new Citadel Ardcase out on the GW store page.
...
What really annoyed me is that upon doing a bit of research i found the EXACT same case (a marine safe case) for $64.99 at my local boating store.

Automatically Appended Next Post:

TheWaspinator wrote:I'd be interested in the brand name of the case you found.

Edit: typo

carldooley wrote:

 TheWaspinator wrote:
I'd be interested in the brand new of the case you found.

you know what? +1

Azazelx wrote:

parko wrote:
i saw their brand new Citadel Ardcase out on the GW store page.
...
What really annoyed me is that upon doing a bit of research i found the EXACT same case (a marine safe case) for $64.99 at my local boating store.

So anyway, link?

TheWaspinator wrote:I'd be interested in the brand name of the case you found.

Edit: typo

Silent Puffin? wrote:

Deadnight wrote:
Gw have nice washes.

I haven't yet found a suitable replacement for Nuln oil but that's the last remaining GW holdout amongst my modeling kit.

Just how big is the 'Ard case? I can't seem to find dimensions for it anywhere.

http://www.bcf.com.au/online-store/products/MARINE-SAFETY-CASE-LGE-BLUELINE.aspx?pid=342271#Recommendations

I do live in AUS though and BCF is a AUS and NZ company not US or UK

 Peregrine wrote:

 Shadow Captain Edithae wrote:
Perhaps GW stores should be ran like gaming clubs, and charge regular players a subscription fee whenever they attend the store and participate in gaming, or waive the fee if they make a purchase.

At which point there ceases to be any reason to go to a GW store to play, and everyone goes to one of the independent stores in the area that doesn't charge a fee.

If they were 100% consistent with their usual princing mentality, GW would actually charge people a fee for the golden privilege of setting a foot in one of their magnificent official stores. Then another fee for speaking to an official Games Workshop Store Manager (tm) plus another one for playing on the available tables.

And I'm 100% certain some people would pay gladly.

 TheWaspinator wrote:
I'd be interested in the brand name of the case you found.

Edit: typo

Look for Pelican case alternatives or knockoffs

 Chute82 wrote:

Look for Pelican case alternatives or knockoffs

Peli cases are a bit overkill for models, we use them at work for airdropping delicate(ish) kit. They aren't that expensive though.

 Peregrine wrote:

 Shadow Captain Edithae wrote:
Perhaps GW stores should be ran like gaming clubs, and charge regular players a subscription fee whenever they attend the store and participate in gaming, or waive the fee if they make a purchase.

At which point there ceases to be any reason to go to a GW store to play, and everyone goes to one of the independent stores in the area that doesn't charge a fee.

I fail to see any negatives with that.

I like the use of the word greed. Next time your boss offers a raise tell him you don't believe in greed and don't want the money

Or, you know, don't buy it...

 Silent Puffin? wrote:

Deadnight wrote:
Gw have nice washes.

I haven't yet found a suitable replacement for Nuln oil but that's the last remaining GW holdout amongst my modeling kit.

Army Painter.

Soft Tone Ink is Gryphonne Sepia. Strong Tone Ink is Devlan Mud. Dark Tone Ink is Badab Black. Their coloured inks are the same as the coloured GW inks of that same era. The names say Ink, but they're 1:1 for GW's washes from that time. They even flow better and tend to not pool as much on flat surfaces. They did a better job colour matching them than GW did.

 AndrewGPaul wrote:

 Do_I_Not_Like_That wrote:

 Peregrine wrote:
Welcome to GW. All of their hobby supplies are just re-branded stuff from other companies. You pay a significant markup for a GW logo and the convenience of buying it at your local GW store. If you want to save money the only things you should ever buy from GW are models and paint. Everything else is available for less money and often with better quality at the same time.

There's not even a need to but their paints - Vallejo paints are cheaper, just as good, and you get more for your money, and the dropper style bottles are nice.

Apart from greens. Vallejo Game Color greens are terrible. Especially Dark Green. And maybe it's just me, but a lot of the Vallejo dropper nozzles seem to split. :(

Game color just sucks period. Stick to model color for vallejo. Otherwise I'd say use P3 or Reaper. GW washes and technical are very good however. I don't mind their standard paint line, but it has blown up twice now, and the pots utterly suck.

I've bought 4 reaper paints. Dark green, dark blue, a yellow and their version of tentacle pink. All 4 sucked. The green was totally watery and funny, the pink was super thick and gloppy, the yellow was similar to GW's with its inability to cover nicely, and the blue kept separating. Haven't bought a reaper paint since. My roommate uses Vallejo, which I don't have anything against, except that I'm not a fan of the dropped bottles. So...GW is it for me. I do have a couple Tamaya clears too; those are great!

 timetowaste85 wrote:
I've bought 4 reaper paints. Dark green, dark blue, a yellow and their version of tentacle pink. All 4 sucked. The green was totally watery and funny, the pink was super thick and gloppy, the yellow was similar to GW's with its inability to cover nicely, and the blue kept separating. Haven't bought a reaper paint since. My roommate uses Vallejo, which I don't have anything against, except that I'm not a fan of the dropped bottles. So...GW is it for me. I do have a couple Tamaya clears too; those are great!

Reaper paint needs shaking like it insulted you. Otherwise it can split and be pretty gross.

 Shadow Captain Edithae wrote:
How would they even know? And more to the point, what right would they have to object? All that matters is that its official GW miniatures, vs non-GW miniatures. Where the miniatures were purchased from is irrelevant. When we buy Warhammer minis from discount retailers, they don't come with a disclaimer that they cannot be used in GW stores because they weren't purchased there.

If GW objects to people playing in their stores, but not buying from those stores, then they should change company policy.

Either stop distributing to 3rd party discount retailers and only sell through GW stores, or charge people for playing in GW stores. Perhaps GW stores should be ran like gaming clubs, and charge regular players a subscription fee whenever they attend the store and participate in gaming, or waive the fee if they make a purchase. After all, by providing a gaming space the store is providing a service. Its fair to charge for that service.

My club charges people a £2.50 sub everytime they attend. Newcomers get their first visit free. If you don't attend one week, you don't pay. Perhaps GW should do something similar.

The problem most GW Managers have is when you come into their store to play on their tables and then tell customers about online retailers and how you can totally get a army on the cheap then play for free in their store. That is the problem.

Me personally if I use a stores tables I buy ~something~ from the store, a paint, a brush a book/novel something just as a thank you for letting me use your gaming space. Then again its been about 10 years since I've gamed at a gaming store, beerhammer and basement/ living room tables FTW baby!

Yep another GW rebrand and up-price. They've been doing it for years with hobby supplies, why not cases?

For those looking for a cheaper option, just look for "Seahorse" cases on Amazon. High quality made-in USA stuff. Not quite as cheap as the on Parko found, but still not much over half the price as the GW version. You can find other brands if you search for "Protective equipment case". The Barska Brand looks rather nice also and even cheaper.

I personally find that the $15 Plano 4-pistol hardcases are stronger than most mini cases and more tough enough for my uses.
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/0/362407.page
Of course they're neither waterproof nor strong enough to drive a car over, but your needs for mini storage may be different than mine.