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.

Hey guys,

So I went to my local GW for the first time after I got my bike down here (making the trip pretty easy).

I noticed that the display minis aren't exactly top-notch, probably because they have to get stuff painted as quickly as possible (AKA, Skaven that looked like they'd been sprayed and then washed ).

So I wondered, has anyone ever painted for their local GW as a favour? I obviously wouldn't expect them to let me, what with me being a new face and all... But I was wondering if anyone ever came to an arrangement to paint some of their stuff simply for the fun of it.

I can imagine it leading to complications if they need whole squads done or something and you only want to paint for a couple of hours every couple of weeks

Actually, come to think of it, if I were a GW manager I'd probably prefer to let my own staff paint the minis: At least then there's some guaranteed consistency.

Erm. Depends on the store. It's not unheard of, but nor is it a univeral practice.

I'd ask the manager, that way you know for sure.

Just be aware that the price might be the occasional painting lesson given on a particular technique.

Heh, one of the reasons I wish I could work at a GW is to paint/teach painting...

Annoyingly I don't think (provided I pass, ofc) my parents would be too impressed with me entering said career with a degree

I do it all the time. It allows me to paint the new shiny things without buying them for which i would never use them again! But that's just because the manager of our store is busy enough, and it feels nice supporting the local store.

Hrm, maybe next week I'll try slip in an offer... Like I said, though, new face.

But their Island of Blood set is unpainted! :O

Well, bar the Skaven they'd just sprayed the last time I went.

As others have said it depends on the store and the boss/staff. Many stores are happy for the help but tend to have regulars that paint for them when they need it also your painting ability would be a factor also. The manager at my local store explained once that in store they basically have 3 painting standards speed painted which is crap, table top which they use on their intro boards and stuff, then cabinet standard which goes on display. So yeah go ask and see what they need.

Yeah i used to do it all the time . but they will want you to use the colours and techniqes that are the standard also you need to be fast/neat/and reliable. also they have to trust that your not gona run off with ther new minis.

I've done it for a non-GW. If they are afraid of you running off with product you might offer to paint in store?

On my work introduction I went to a local FLGS (non-GW) and I spent my whole week painting minis for the Island of Blood massive FaBa game (I learned to paint skaven good in like 5 mins + paint drying time )

My GWstore had this painting crew guy, who when he is not working/introducing the game to someone/ giving advice which model for which army(most often time correct), Paint with us, on the table

I've done pre-release models for non-GW stockists but I'm not sure if they have any special policy in their direct retail stores.
As Sir Mystery has mentioned, it can't hurt to ask. As far as I've seen, the good GW stores are always busy and get very little time to paint their models, but it obviously depends on the skills and numbers of staff in addition to any number of other factors!

I do know someone who paints the display models for the local GW. He doesn't even do a good job, but because he's the biggest GW afficiando in existence (I've had shouting contests with him on multiple occasions just because I've commented on how a model could be made better!) and turns up at the store every single weekend, usually dropping $100+ in the process, all the staff are really good 'friends' with him, so he just has to ask and he can paint whatever he wants...

I can't see them refusing; take in some examples of your work, tell them you're a committed hobbyist and you'd like to help out the store.

Like others have said, depends on many factors. They would probably need to get to know you first, as far as I'm aware you wouldn't be able to take the models home, they would have to be in store. GW prefer all of one squad to be painted by the same person, so don't offer unless you know you would be able to see it through in a reasonable time frame. Plus you'd need to be half decent, tidy and reliable. And then I suppose it's down to how much stuff they need painting and if they are always running behind.

I know that area managers do give a little breathing room and don't expect every brand new model or product they are pushing to be painted up in a couple of days, but then again some things do pile up.

My store has got an entire IOB painted to an intro board standard (ok, but just basics with washes and 2 or 3 details picked out) and another IOB on the go for the cabinet which has been in progress for a couple of months now but is only at about 20% at the moment.

So the works there, just depends on different managers and many factors.

Can't hurt to ask, all they can say is No.

when i used to work at my local GW we were always gratful of help especially when new games were released ( like warmaster yes i know showing my age LOL) however you would not have that much freedom as the minis would have to be painted in standard colours ( i.e the ones shown in the rule book for example) and only using GW paints and standard techneques that the staff can teach wich normaly cancels out alot of top painting techneques hope that helps but what i would sergest is taking a case full of different minis down and talking to the manager i did this and ended up with a job but the pay was peanuts but helped me through uni before joining the RAF

Heh I'd love to get a job there whilst I'm at Uni, but they hire through head office now and they're spoilt for choice really...

I've volunteered my time to assist with shop painted, building, and cleaning models. Its not something i've set a plan for. Just if i'm there day of, and they need a hand, yea i'll offer to help. Usually the GT gamer guys offer up services

I don't understand why you'd volunteer your time to a multinational corporation for no pay. What do you get out of this? I must be missing something.

Some of us enjoy painting new and interesting models we wouldn't ever get our hands on otherwise: Since I won't buy anything I don't plan to use in an army.

Henners91 wrote:Heh I'd love to get a job there whilst I'm at Uni, but they hire through head office now and they're spoilt for choice really...

That's not actually always true. I started part time at my local store recently with a view to moving to full time as a trainee manager after the current trainee manager moves on.

I got the job by spending time at my local GW, by being honest about my knowledge of hobby and by being positive. The manager knew I was looking for a job, I told him i'd like to work at GW and one day I walked in and the Area Manager was in. I spoke to him for about 2 minutes literally, told him a little bit about myself and what I wanted to do and the next thing I know the manager asked me to fill out my details on the New Starter form on their in store PC.

Been there a few months now and all is going well

So don't think that you have no chance at all, everyone does. I wasn't even technically interviewed lol.

That's quite reassuring... and a nice dream to have ;P

Henners91 wrote:Some of us enjoy painting new and interesting models we wouldn't ever get our hands on otherwise: Since I won't buy anything I don't plan to use in an army.

I guess part of the reason I don't get it is that for me, I find painting to be an unpleasant chore, really. I definitely like building them, and then playing, but eh, painting. But I understand the latter point of view.

Ouze wrote:

Henners91 wrote:Some of us enjoy painting new and interesting models we wouldn't ever get our hands on otherwise: Since I won't buy anything I don't plan to use in an army.

I guess part of the reason I don't get it is that for me, I find painting to be an unpleasant chore, really. I definitely like building them, and then playing, but eh, painting. But I understand the latter point of view.

Painting can be a chore for anyone if it's for their army: I must've painted about 60 guardsmen and I am only about half way...

Now my FIRST EVER guardsman was a wonderful experience, a brand new model I could experiment with and paint as a learning experience.

But nowadays I have to literally sit down and force myself to paint them :(

Anyhoo, I'd happily paint a squad for a GW, but probably not an army... though I doubt one would ask for the latter.

Henners91 wrote:That's quite reassuring... and a nice dream to have ;P

Not a dream my friend, although the discount I receive is a dream come true!

The Decapitator wrote:

Henners91 wrote:Heh I'd love to get a job there whilst I'm at Uni, but they hire through head office now and they're spoilt for choice really...

That's not actually always true. I started part time at my local store recently with a view to moving to full time as a trainee manager after the current trainee manager moves on.

I got the job by spending time at my local GW, by being honest about my knowledge of hobby and by being positive. The manager knew I was looking for a job, I told him i'd like to work at GW and one day I walked in and the Area Manager was in. I spoke to him for about 2 minutes literally, told him a little bit about myself and what I wanted to do and the next thing I know the manager asked me to fill out my details on the New Starter form on their in store PC.

Been there a few months now and all is going well

So don't think that you have no chance at all, everyone does. I wasn't even technically interviewed lol.

How did that happen, as I chatted with one of the H.R/become legendary team guys on one visit to my local GW and they dont take on anything but trainee managers. no temps, no part timers, no sales assistant types???

I to help out my loca GW, conversion mostly and the manager filled the guy in on what I do and seemed fairly impressed. Not saying "why not me" or having a whinge as cant commit to moving all over te Uk just for training just yet. Just confused to how you got a part time role?.

Mr Mystery wrote:Erm. Depends on the store. It's not unheard of, but nor is it a univeral practice.

I'd ask the manager, that way you know for sure.

Just be aware that the price might be the occasional painting lesson given on a particular technique.

+1, it's quite obvious and did not require a thread. Also, you should probably take along something you have painted recently to show them as an example.

My FLGS has a Youngbloods GD winner that bangs out their display models. I'm probably going to see about putting something in the cases there since I might play 1 game every 6 months. MAYBE.


I would never paint for free for a GW store. That should be the job of the anime fan's that work there.

Eberious wrote:

The Decapitator wrote:

Henners91 wrote:Heh I'd love to get a job there whilst I'm at Uni, but they hire through head office now and they're spoilt for choice really...

That's not actually always true. I started part time at my local store recently with a view to moving to full time as a trainee manager after the current trainee manager moves on.

I got the job by spending time at my local GW, by being honest about my knowledge of hobby and by being positive. The manager knew I was looking for a job, I told him i'd like to work at GW and one day I walked in and the Area Manager was in. I spoke to him for about 2 minutes literally, told him a little bit about myself and what I wanted to do and the next thing I know the manager asked me to fill out my details on the New Starter form on their in store PC.

Been there a few months now and all is going well

So don't think that you have no chance at all, everyone does. I wasn't even technically interviewed lol.

How did that happen, as I chatted with one of the H.R/become legendary team guys on one visit to my local GW and they dont take on anything but trainee managers. no temps, no part timers, no sales assistant types???

I to help out my loca GW, conversion mostly and the manager filled the guy in on what I do and seemed fairly impressed. Not saying "why not me" or having a whinge as cant commit to moving all over te Uk just for training just yet. Just confused to how you got a part time role?.

Not really sure, I was as surprised as anyone when I was told. Because the manager had previously told me that I couldn't get a job there because I was a part of the hobby community and I came in the store regulaly, which I explained was only because I was looking for a job and if I was working then I wouldn't be in nearly as much. So anyway I just accepted my fate and said I was going to apply for the trainee manager course as I don't have any ties (children, wife etc) so I could move to anywhere they wanted to put me.

Then a week later was when I went it and the manager asked if I was still looking for work, and pointed me in the direction of the Area Manager who was in at a the time and said it was him who I needed to speak to. So as I said, I told him about me and what I wanted to do and explained about my hobby interests and that was it. Then a few hours later the manager came upto me and said "Full or Part time?", to which I replied "Full time if possible, but anything really is cool." Then "When can you start?" to which the answer was "Now?!?" lol and then we went over to the in store PC and he asked me to fill out my details and bank details on their new starter form.

Basically i've been taken on as a part timer (20 hours basic) over Xmas, but doing more hours where needed (working a full time week next week as people are out covering other stores). As our store is reasonably busy at most times, we have to have 2 people in the store most times and are not allowed to close for lunch so that's probably why they needed to take me on. When the Trainee Manager goes, which could literally be at any time, as they can just take hm away to run a store - I will be put up to full time and started on my own being legendary course which I'm really looking forward to

Also I'm the 2nd part timer they have had in the last year so it's obviously not unheared of for GW to employ Part Timer's should they generate the sales to warrant having them.

Anyway, like I said I was surprised as anyone but it just goes to show that you shouldn't give up. If it's something you really want to do then theres every chance that if you show yourself well and that you are the kind of person the manager/Area Manager would want in their stores then theres always opportunitys out there.

I've painted various models for my local GW, usually "painting tax" models. I helped out with the new DE range, the HE 2nd wave and the IoB set.
Recently GW HQ has cracked down on the number of figures GW staffers are allowed to paint for free. Nowadays i only get to work on the latest releases, wich isn't too bad any way.

I once painted 20 clanrats from the Island of Blood for my local store, Macclesfield