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So I've been collected for the past 16 years or so. I dip in and out, but always buy rule books and new models that come out. Being an Eldar player I love the, always have always will. Just like I love Protoss.

But, with the new prices I've come to a cross roads. I had to buy the new stuff, but afterwards I realised dam. I've spent a hell of a lot of money. So i figured I'd rather spend just as much money on models that I won't see every day.

I saw this on a blog i absolutely love:
http://taleofpainters.blogspot.co.at/2012/09/showcase-eldar-warlock-unofficial-model.html

I've always found these whilst looking:
http://oi41.tinypic.com/2zr3s6p.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b93/exoditejon/Eldar%20Projects/w1small.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b93/exoditejon/Eldar%20Projects/Cast.jpg
http://kaughnorscave.blogspot.com.au/2013/04/whoa-check-out-these-jet-bike-models.html

Got me to thinking, how many unoffical models are there... and where the hell other than hoping one falls out of the ebay sky could i buy them from... I've search on the internet for around 3 days trying to find a place. Everywhere has dead links and shadows... :(

Any pointers? Or give up?

Exciting to hear the news :O

Well, there's tons and tons of third party manufacturers. Some are little garage groups, some are bigger. There was actually a huge lawsuit with Chapterhouse Studios, who make derivative models based on 40k stuff. They had to take down their Tervigon and Eldar models (both of which looked like Play-Doh to me) but a number of their conversion bits remain.

Personally, the only 3rd party model maker who really "gets" GW's style is Victoria Lamb, who does some excellent IG regiments: http://victoriaminiatures.highwire.com/

There are also a few little guys on eBay (often coming out of Russia) who make some third party bits. I know of at least one who made some really excellent Terminator Thousand Sons, Iron Warriors, and other Chaos Legion bits/models, but they only pop up so often.

They tend to frown on "those sites" on most boards.

Some of the "alternates" are borderline IP issues (others are clear cut IP issues).

The unofficial warlock doesn't have the "zing" of a Jes Goodwin figure - even if it WAS sculpted by an ex-GW peon.

Mark Copplestone is also ex-GW, for example, and I wouldn't have him sculpt 'eldar' either.

hummm good point about people not wanting to talk about them. But being Dakka Dakka, I'm pretty sure its about modelling and not just GW models

Thanks for http://victoriaminiatures.highwire.com/, although I couldn't see any Eldar But i remember seeing Chapterhouse ones, I wasn't to sure about this one I must say.

I guess, unless there are some people who know more I'll go back to hoping to get lucky on ebay :(

You could check here: http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/373197.page

Lots of great resources.

Kromlech, Raging Heroes, and Puppets War all make some great GW stand-ins.

If you want orky stuff, Kromlech is definitely better than GW. It's amazing.

I'm getting tempted by Anvil Industies Steam Lords as well. I like the distinct look they have an the departure from how GW's space marines look but it still all meshes.

Another thumbs up on Kromlech - some very nice ork and guard stuff.

Raging Heroes just finished a Kickstarter for what amounts to three female Imperial Guard armies - I am in for way too much, though not for use in 40K.

Olley's Armies for Scrunts (Squats by any other name would smell... as sweet?) If you miss Squats take a look at Bob's work.

But Victoria Lamb... ... ... in a class by itself. Love her work.

On the low end of the scale... Mantic has a new game titled Deadzone coming out that looks appealing. They also have Orx and Forge Fathers - not the best models, but the price is decent. Their Corporation... possibly the best models that they have made, outside of Undead.

Not all sites are anti-GW-Alternates by any means.

The Auld Grump

Unofficial, or unreleased? If you're looking for unreleased figures that occasionally pop up ebay seems like your best bet. Also, this may interest you - http://www.collecting-citadel-miniatures.com/wiki/index.php/Category:Unreleased

depending on what it is. i find for alot of stuff ya paying more for non GW stuff than ya would for the real deal.

if ya wants a bargain. Ebay

Lutharr101 wrote:
depending on what it is. i find for alot of stuff ya paying more for non GW stuff than ya would for the real deal.

if ya wants a bargain. Ebay

What do you mean real deal? The 3rd party stuff is still real. Yes some of it is more expensive than GW but it's often not. It's not as if you can claim variety is a bad thing.

Holy crap, I want those Jetbikes! Where did they come from?

I know right, they are awesome!!

I'm more into painting than anything else. But sadly, I'm only into painting aliens :p Clever ones at that. But either way I love looking at all these alternatives. I had no idea there were so many high quality models out there. The orc stuff rules and some of the demons out there are brilliant.

Also, unreleased, unofficial. It makes no difference, I just want to be able to buy them. I've see the wiki page, trouble is this doesn't tell me where to buy them :(

Still keep the sites coming, looking around is hella fun.

The unreleased models in the wiki are incredibly rare (they were never released for production so there are only a handful of prototypes in existence), so you'll only stumble across them on ebay from time to time.

The 'unofficial' stuff is generally currently produced and available on the webstore of the manufacturer.

These guys make some great guard models [even though they're metal]:

http://www.pig-iron-productions.com/

I getting some heads for my guard from them.

Pig iron stuff is awesome. I had forgotten about them. Thanks for the reminder!

 Brother SRM wrote:
Well, there's tons and tons of third party manufacturers. Some are little garage groups, some are bigger. There was actually a huge lawsuit with Chapterhouse Studios, who make derivative models based on 40k stuff. They had to take down their Tervigon and Eldar models (both of which looked like Play-Doh to me) but a number of their conversion bits remain.

Personally, the only 3rd party model maker who really "gets" GW's style is Victoria Lamb, who does some excellent IG regiments: http://victoriaminiatures.highwire.com/

There are also a few little guys on eBay (often coming out of Russia) who make some third party bits. I know of at least one who made some really excellent Terminator Thousand Sons, Iron Warriors, and other Chaos Legion bits/models, but they only pop up so often.

Throw in Kromlech as the ultimate ork bits maker and yeah, you're right. Their meganob is incredible, and at the same price as GW literally blows it out of the water.

I'd also argue max mini for space marine, they have some excellent bits.

If I ever did a Guard army, it would be with Victoria Lambs stuff making camo cloaked Guard.

Maxmini.eu has some great Space warriors bits
http://www.maxmini.eu/store/index.php

 chromedog wrote:
They tend to frown on "those sites" on most boards.

Some of the "alternates" are borderline IP issues (others are clear cut IP issues).

The unofficial warlock doesn't have the "zing" of a Jes Goodwin figure - even if it WAS sculpted by an ex-GW peon.

Mark Copplestone is also ex-GW, for example, and I wouldn't have him sculpt 'eldar' either.

thanks for your opinion but i think your entirely wrong that sculpt is far better then the crap they have now.. you know what opinions are like we all have one and they all stink

Rle68 wrote:

 chromedog wrote:
They tend to frown on "those sites" on most boards.

Some of the "alternates" are borderline IP issues (others are clear cut IP issues).

The unofficial warlock doesn't have the "zing" of a Jes Goodwin figure - even if it WAS sculpted by an ex-GW peon.

Mark Copplestone is also ex-GW, for example, and I wouldn't have him sculpt 'eldar' either.

thanks for your opinion but i think your entirely wrong that sculpt is far better then the crap they have now.. you know what opinions are like we all have one and they all stink

Like your grammar. Zing.

 Jehan-reznor wrote:
Maxmini.eu has some great Space warriors bits
http://www.maxmini.eu/store/index.php

Also - their Gothic Jetbike is very nice and their Steambike is pretty danged good for steampunk gaming.

I have not tried any of their bits, but their vehicles are very nice indeed.

The Auld Grump

oooo, interesting pig iron... Dam it, I might change armies :p

Interestedly i just bought this:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ultra-Rare-Citadel-Miniatures-Great-Spined-Dragon-Mint-Boxed-Instructions-/190865860752?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEWNX%3AIT&nma=true&si=JyG6qoQE2knXM7dzpczih9e5IIQ%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc
and this little bad boy lol:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Citadel-GW-Warhammer-OOP-Dwarf-Adventurer-Villager-Rat-Catcher-/261242256961?ViewItem=&item=261242256961&nma=true&si=JyG6qoQE2knXM7dzpczih9e5IIQ%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

I've also got the forgeworld 13" dragon. Now i'm trying to think up a situation where I use the two in a diorama of some kind. Thank you ebay!

Cool that you bought those two models... but what does that have to do with anything?

 Brother SRM wrote:
Cool that you bought those two models... but what does that have to do with anything?

Wait, so I shouldn't post the Feebay auctions I just won....? ( )

 Brother SRM wrote:
Cool that you bought those two models... but what does that have to do with anything?

O i'm sorry, I thought that so few of you gave me links to eldar models as requested this thread was just a free for all on models....

It's important to craft both the original post and the thread title carefully as people can respond to both or either.

In short, ebay is the only place to hunt them down

Just means paying through the roof for them.

From Proxie Models, some day soon.

I decided to teach myself how to make hard plastic models in my garage and have spent about 3 years tinkering with it part time. I have a blog which I have been scolded for linking to, but it details the process pretty much step by step. Here is a pic of some almost done figures I have been playing around with to learn organic modeling;



I need to do a bit more clean up work and see how it turns out. This is from a $30 plastic injection mold-so if I can refine the process it is going to be interesting to see what can be done. Just thought I would let you know that many of us have taken radical reactions to high prices. Your looking for alternatives is a lot more reasonable than making alternatives.

Others have taken a more reasoned approach, and do resin casting and even spin casting in there garages, basements and garden sheds...though I have really been looking hard at getting a prototyping machine and doing up sprues of things like bases, weapons and other small items.

Granted, if I could talk you into it, that would allow me to avoid the hassle...