Wishy Washy! To open my minis or not?

O

OriginalAragorn

New member
I'm starting to get into old 70's and 80's Ral Partha miniatures, particularly the All Things Dark and Deep series and the AD&D Monsters series.

But as I find myself getting these blister packs in the mail I'm voraciously tearing into them so I can check 'em out! I'm doing so because I guess it's more important to have pieces I can display, paint, fondle (ahem!) etc.

The flip side to this is that they become less valuable once they're opened and even less valuable once painted (unless I'm such a great painter that I add value). Which I'm not at that level yet!!

For those that collect older minis, how do you handle your minis? Do you:
A) leave them in blister?
B) open them, assemble them, but not paint them?
C) paint 'em up?
D) some other option?

Just curious because its a bit of a conflict for me.

PS: I can afford to slowly collect these, but I can't afford to collect TWO sets (one to paint, one to keep in package).

Thanks
 
freakinacage

freakinacage

Well-known member
If I like the mini, I buy two. If it's just a collectors thing, just one. You can always try three - one to paint, one to keep and one to sell. Recoup some money
 
QuietiManes

QuietiManes

New member
Sounds like a silly thing to worry about. I mean, it's like a fictional dilemma.

Either you're buying them as a financial investment, which means keep your hands off! Or you're buying them as an investment in a fun hobby, in which case, hurry up and paint the thing! Then fondle it after the protective clear coat has cured...otherwise, your only option is to buy multiples, as has been suggested.
 
O

OriginalAragorn

New member
Good feedback, thanks. And I know it may sound silly, but it was a serious question. I've been wondering how most people handle collecting vs using.
 
C

cyberakuma

New member
i hadn't bought anything old that was sealed in it's blister for a long time and part of me felt the way of the action figure collector with needing to keep it mint on card for all of about ten seconds as i realised i can't play them in a game still in the blister so what was the point in buying them to stare at covered in flash and mold lines if it is really collectible it doesn't make a great deal of difference if it is out of the packaging or still in it paint makes more of a difference poorly painted stuff sells for less sure but that i guess coverss the labour costs of stripping the minis as rare pieces that have been previously stripped i've seen sell for as much as new ones but really i'm for the gaming i'm not running a shop and what those minis will gain in value by being completely unused will never cover what they cost you in rent from space stealing in their packaging especially if they are providing you no service or pleasure let shops worry about keeping packets pristine play with your damn toys already
 
uglybug

uglybug

New member
What minis are you talking about? I don't think their are many minis out there that are considered collectibles unless you move up to some of the old sci fi kits that were released at the time of whatever movie or show that came out with them. If its an old ral partha or rare GW model I don't think it needs to be in its blister pack. The person that has searched high and low for a particular mini wants the mini itself. It's not like collecting britians old toy soldiers were the box helps elevate the price.
I hate to say it but sometimes just because a model says OOP on eBay doesn't mean you need to buy it fast. Now I'm really curious as to what your collecting, maybe share with us and people can help in determining how rare they may be.
 
K

Kalidane

New member
Numerous times I have purchased 2-3 of a thing just in case it went out of production without notice. One to paint, one to hang onto unopened as an obsessive kinda thing and maybe one more just in case. Of uhhh...

As it turned out it was all pulled from shelves and straight up vanished. Until returning from the dead as finecast. So I win the internet.

Really really wish I bought more Rackham though. Major slip up there.

Now I'm not going to say that I fondle minis but I don't not know what you mean there

It is all going to come down to your purpose in purchasing, ultimately.

There is a particular GW release that I have paid a bit for, and several times, but I've never seen it in an unopened blister. I would pay easily twice as much for NIB. I'm sooo tempted to check ebay to see if it is there now!
 
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