Anyone have experience selling old-ish WHFB armies?

[MedMos]

So first up, I have a roughly 6th ed. Dark Elf "army"/collection of models in various states of non-completeness. This is pretty much the state of it at the moment.

Dark (grey) elves

• MedMos
• Jan 1, 2019

Needs paint...

A few questions to consider:
1) I hear a lot of lament from people selling their armies way back when, but I never really played this army, and my first fantasy army/love is Vampire Counts anyway. So wouldn't it be better to try and move this and get something I'd actually use?
2) Is there even a market for these not-quite-old-school (middle school?) models?
3) Would it make sense to get it painted first? Could I maybe sell it for a little more? It would give me some motivation to finally get some paint on these, and I would get some hobby joy out of them before (hopefully) shipping them off.

I'm hoping you knowledgeable yakkers might help me with these considerations. I've never sold any models before, only traded a few with some mates from my FLGS.

 

[Punktaku]

1) after years of collecting WFB armies, I played exactly one game of WFB so I regretted nothing when i sold off my collection.
2) probably. My collection was slightly earlier era, and the only thing that didn’t sell was a unit of wood elves with great weapons and shields. They weren’t a legal unit anymore, so I guess that’s why?
3) Iffy. There are two types of buyers: “I hate to paint so I’d like to buy nicely pre painted minis” and “I’m going to paint these myself, so if I don’t have to strip the models I’m more interested.” There’s probably some in between like “I like the models and my friend will paint them” types. So it’s really kinda hit or miss. Do you want to invest your time in painting them? I think that’s the real question.

 

[Ben_S]

Disclaimer: I have no experience here, so this is all educated guess work.

2) Is there even a market for these not-quite-old-school (middle school?) models?

I think so, though it likely varies by location. So, it makes a difference whether you're willing to ship (especially overseas) or would prefer a local pick-up.

3) Would it make sense to get it painted first? Could I maybe sell it for a little more? It would give me some motivation to finally get some paint on these, and I would get some hobby joy out of them before (hopefully) shipping them off.

I suspect there are different markets. Some players would like to pick up a fully painted (and therefore game/tournament ready) army, even if it's only decent tabletop standard. Others want to make and paint their own stuff.

My guess is that the former market for WFB has shrunk since the game is dead. (Unless you know that people are still playing in your area.) Those still collecting are more likely to be in it for the hobby, so I would suggest you're better off selling unpainted.

1) I hear a lot of lament from people selling their armies way back when, but I never really played this army, and my first fantasy army/love is Vampire Counts anyway. So wouldn't it be better to try and move this and get something I'd actually use?

My suggestion would be convert some of those warriors into grave guard, then you can use them in your VC army...

 

[Luke82]

I still play WHFB and there is definitely a market for all eras of the toys, so always worth putting on eBay or elsewhere. There is a Middelhammer trading outpost on FB too expressly for people looking for these sorts of models.

On balance I would say don’t paint them, better saving the painting time for the vamp counts stuff you replace it with and a lot of people collecting this stuff want it for the hobby challenge of the army they always wanted as a kid, so painting is a big draw for it… if you were a few models shy I’d say finish off but painting to sell probs won’t be worth your time.

I’ve bought and sold WHFB minis in all sorts of conditions, people make do with what’s available.

 

[MedMos]

3) Iffy. There are two types of buyers: “I hate to paint so I’d like to buy nicely pre painted minis” and “I’m going to paint these myself, so if I don’t have to strip the models I’m more interested.” There’s probably some in between like “I like the models and my friend will paint them” types. So it’s really kinda hit or miss. Do you want to invest your time in painting them? I think that’s the real question.

I suspect there are different markets. Some players would like to pick up a fully painted (and therefore game/tournament ready) army, even if it's only decent tabletop standard. Others want to make and paint their own stuff.

My guess is that the former market for WFB has shrunk since the game is dead. (Unless you know that people are still playing in your area.) Those still collecting are more likely to be in it for the hobby, so I would suggest you're better off selling unpainted.

I kinda wanted to paint them... But it seems like it might be a waste of time. I can paint to an ok standard, I feel, but it wouldn't be a tournament ready army by any means. So maybe I should try to sell them piecemeal, as is, so someone could do their own thing with them?

My suggestion would be convert some of those warriors into grave guard, then you can use them in your VC army...

The thing is, I already have 20 of the official Grave Guard, so mixing them in might be a stretch... I also haven't played fantasy in years. I think I would scavenge some of the models to use as conversion fodder for Frostgrave, though!

Thanks for the answers, guys! Just managed to see @Luke82 's answer before posting, so seems like the consensus is "don't bother painting". Further input still appreciated.

 

[Ben_S]

I think I would scavenge some of the models to use as conversion fodder for Frostgrave, though!

I was thinking about converting some of these into wraith knights, but I may use Oathmark or Fireforge kits instead - haven't decided.

 

[MedMos]

I was thinking about converting some of these into wraith knights, but I may use Oathmark or Fireforge kits instead - haven't decided.

Is that a 2nd edition type? I'm still on 1st. And having VC, I've got most of the undeadites I would ever need. 😄 But I need stuff like statues for Living Museum...

 

[Ben_S]

Thaw of the Lich Lord. These guys:

FGV312 - Wraith Knights - North Star Military Figures

Buy Wraith Knights online

www.northstarfigures.com

 

[MedMos]

Oooh, those are kinda cool... No pun intended.

 

[Tiny]

Old and old-ish Warhammer goes for tidy money these days. I sell mine either on eBay or through specific Facebook groups such as the Middlehammer trading group (think its called that).

Painting them usually reduces value unless you do a particularly exceptional job.

 

[MedMos]

Well, that definitely settles it. No painting. Just curious, does anyone get a feeling if it is an international interest, or more UK-based?

 

[Tiny]

There is definitely international interest. I shipped most of the oldhammer I've sold recently abroad.

 

[MedMos]

Thanks, @Tiny. And thanks, everyone. I guess I should just pick out what I'm going to keep and put the rest up for sale ASAP...

 

[Ben_S]

Are you selling as a lot or splitting? That's the other question I regularly see. I don't know the best answer.

 

[Tiny]

For maximum profit, split into units. For minimum effort, sell as one lot.

 

[MedMos]

I guess I'm splitting @Ben_S, as it isn't any kind of coherent force. But I'm open to input? And as I'm writing, @Tiny comes in with more info. I do like minimum effort...