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.

I prefer to paint my own models.

Why would i want someone to paint for me? Painting is the fun part. Ok converting is the really fun part but painting is pretty fun too.

No, I can hardly afford GW at the moment, and, whilst my painting isn't brilliant, it's good enough for me to enjoy on the battlefield

If I had a choice (for the same price) between a fresh kit sealed in the box or 1 that was propainted..... I'd go for the fresh sprues every time.

I'd feel a little embarrassed if I bought a painted army and someone said my models looked awesome, then asked me how I had painted them.

 gossipmeng wrote:
If I had a choice (for the same price) between a fresh kit sealed in the box or 1 that was propainted..... I'd go for the fresh sprues every time.

I'd feel a little embarrassed if I bought a painted army and someone said my models looked awesome, then asked me how I had painted them.

see, i don't get why that's a point of embarrassment. I will acknowledge that I find building minis a giant hoot, and painting a chore. I don't see why you should feel ashamed or embarrased that you took a shortcut to get a good-looking WYSIWYG army if it sped one along to get to playing if that's what they enjoy.

I enjoy painting but I am super slow (either through process or distractions) so I have had things painted for me.

Do I cherish more the ones (even if not up to a great standard) that i painted myself? Yes!

But my standard is not particularly high so having a few well painted mini's is worth the cost.

Define Standard, as far as I know there is no such animal. It's like saying use common sense. What's common for one person, is uncommon for another person.

I wouldn't mind even if it was just table top I really hate painting and building I just like having a completely painted army to field

EX: paid for a 2500 Eldar army from bluetablepainting I love the army and use it all the time

Nah, I enjoy painting and modelling too much.
That aside, if I wanted pro-painted models, I wouldn't pay over GW prices. I might pay over the price I normally pay for Warhams, but not over GW prices.

I'd rather paint them shittily myself. Half the fun of the hobby is building and painting your models.

No.
I like building and painting my own models no matter who painted the one for sale. Looking over your own work is way more rewarding.

No way would I pay for a "pro-painted" model. One I simply don't have the money they seem to watch to charge. and two: most of them aren't going to match my army colors unless I have it commissioned, so why pay pro-painted prices for something I'll need to redo anyway to match?

Yes, if it was an outstanding paint job and something I could learn by studying up close for my own painting.

OR, yes if it was scenery (I hate painting scenery and am just starting to talk to people to commission paint my scenery).

Otherwise, no, I'd paint it myself - that's the best part of the hobby for me.

I voted "Other".
I married my 'Eavy Metal Class figure painter.

I would pay 20% more in a heartbeat. Time spent doing other things with my kids has value

I'd rather paint them myself, buying pre painted ones would take a pile of fun out of the whole thing. Also, I can imagine people get the awkward conversation of: "oh your painting on this is awesome" "umm, it's not mine, I bought it like this"

 Glaiceana wrote:
I'd rather paint them myself, buying pre painted ones would take a pile of fun out of the whole thing. Also, I can imagine people get the awkward conversation of: "oh your painting on this is awesome" "umm, it's not mine, I bought it like this"

You know what makes for a more awkward conversation?
"I note your army is still unpainted.... at least you started on the second squad--sort of. At least you tried that New Year's resolution"
or
"changed your mind about how to paint them again?"

When I first started playing I bought a tech marine off eBay that was "pro painted". The pictures on eBay were excellent and the reviews where all good, I think we all know where this story ends. Of course on receipt of the model it had been based in black and speed painted. It was tabletop quality, but just barely. No highlights, no lowlights, no lense effects, no power weapon effects, and a so-so base (so none of the stuff in the photo). It had basically been dry brushed in about 5 colors. I wish I had the model to post a picture but alas, it has been lost to the perils of the warp.

To answer the question, yes once: no, never again. And I now feel I can produce high scale models. I still have trouble with the brightest colors but, eh.

Imnewherewheresthebathroom wrote:
When I first started playing I bought a tech marine off eBay that was "pro painted". The pictures on eBay were excellent and the reviews where all good, I think we all know where this story ends. Of course on receipt of the model it had been based in black and speed painted. It was tabletop quality, but just barely. No highlights, no lowlights, no lense effects, no power weapon effects, and a so-so base (so none of the stuff in the photo). It had basically been dry brushed in about 5 colors. I wish I had the model to post a picture but alas, it has been lost to the perils of the warp.

To answer the question, yes once: no, never again. And I now feel I can produce high scale models. I still have trouble with the brightest colors but, eh.

but that's ebay for you. You go to ebay expecting to get scammed.....

I'd pay more, simply because I often think I don't do my models justice. Seems a waste of a beautiful cast when I derp-paint all over it.

The way I see it is this:

1. I devalue even 'pro-painted' models compared to NIB.

2. It's not my paint job, nor is it my army, until I've worked hard to make everyone one of my IG guardsmen a unique persona.

3. It seriously isn't hard to learn how to paint to at least a tabletop quality. I started in 2000, with Eldar, by the time I finished my army boxed set (the one with the falcon, vyper, and guardians) I could paint just about anything to a tabletop quality.

4. I can convert, my models and pose them, and mess with them at my leisure without concern of people short changing me.

5. GW is overpriced as it is, I'm not adding more to my bill. Especially when I can go to Wally World and get a shelf full of paint for less then 20 bucks that works just as good as GW's pro gak.

 poda_t wrote:

Imnewherewheresthebathroom wrote:
When I first started playing I bought a tech marine off eBay that was "pro painted". The pictures on eBay were excellent and the reviews where all good, I think we all know where this story ends. Of course on receipt of the model it had been based in black and speed painted. It was tabletop quality, but just barely. No highlights, no lowlights, no lense effects, no power weapon effects, and a so-so base (so none of the stuff in the photo). It had basically been dry brushed in about 5 colors. I wish I had the model to post a picture but alas, it has been lost to the perils of the warp.

To answer the question, yes once: no, never again. And I now feel I can produce high scale models. I still have trouble with the brightest colors but, eh.

but that's ebay for you. You go to ebay expecting to get scammed.....

Never had that problem myself - I have had many models from ebay at cheaper than retail that get remarked on by others as really good paint jobs (everyone knows theya re not mine).

its just a case of looking for the right bargins - there are plenty out there.

I love painting and converting…but there's a little "maybe" in that I might get basic troops and mod the paint to my liking. Foundation layers can be tedious at times, and more often than nought I have had good success "modifying" pre-paint jobs like on Heroclix or FFG's Tannhauser lines.

I would if it was an amazing one of or a special edition

Personally, not for me thanks.
My painting skills are not that great (in fact, they're probably pretty bad), but I still enjoy looking at the models I painted and thinking to myself, I painted that.

 SkavenLord wrote:
Personally, not for me thanks.
My painting skills are not that great (in fact, they're probably pretty bad), but I still enjoy looking at the models I painted and thinking to myself, I painted that.

This pretty much verbatim for me.

I can't justify spending more to have someone else paint them for me. They're mine after all. Also, I thoroughly enjoy painting them whether or not someone else thinks I did a good job or not.

I would NOT pay for pro painted models. That takes all the fun out of it. I may not be the best painter in the world but im decent and that's half the fun.

Paint em, Game em

GW's product has become so expensive in the past several years that it should already come pro painted.

Hell, by this time next year there stuff will be 20% up in price.

I hope you DE players get your $60 boxes of 10 witches not cause they will be $72 soon enough.

I'm sorry, I had to I'm growing bitter.

Over all, I like to paint my own miniatures regardless. Its not called a hobby to be opening SM boxes like their action figures.

zombie_sky_diver wrote:
GW's product has become so expensive in the past several years that it should already come pro painted.

Hell, by this time next year there stuff will be 20% up in price.

I hope you DE players get your $60 boxes of 10 witches not cause they will be $72 soon enough.

I'm sorry, I had to I'm growing bitter.

Over all, I like to paint my own miniatures regardless. Its not called a hobby to be opening SM boxes like their action figures.

and what do you say to the person who thoroughly despises painting and assembly? What do you say to the person who just wants to play the game?

The painting isn't half bad, but when I improve, and have to go back and fix details.... that's a chore. When I'm working on th 113th guardsmen and I haven't even started on the vehicles... i start to lose focus on who has what painted, what details get what color, and I just want to get the damnable thing done and painted. I don't have the patience or the care to get them done. Will I hand them off to my nephew? No. Might I pay someone else to get the models done to a standard I find acceptable i.e. a professional painter, so that I can do other stuff, like, play the damn game? Certainly.

If the models themselves didn't cost so darned much, i mint have my tanks and walkers done professionally, but the actual troops i loge painting, and i get a better feel for them and develop them while painting them so as to write my warbands fluff