Best Part To Buying Minis?

[Blaxkleric]

Just got an email telling me my latest Pendraken purchase (British Sudanese) are in the post and its made my evening. But its also got me thinking as to which part of buying miniatures I actually enjoy the most. So is it the looking through the website or catalogue selecting the figures? Is it seeing that package lying on the floor upon your return home from work? Is is the first few minutes spent busily looking through your purchase and marvelling at the figures? Or is it setting them out ready to start undercoating/painting?

I'm think I'm a bit  and think its the selecting/ordering them part I enjoy the most, because just as soon as they arrive I realise the enormity of the lead mountain I have to paint 

Thoughts?

Blaxkleric
http://fantorical.blogspot.com/

[nikharwood]

Interesting observation / question!

I must admit that I really enjoy the planning / design phase: figuring out what I want to do & how to achieve it; what figures I need [including any work-arounds] - this is a process that helps me relax - so I tend to have many, many more projects already 'designed' than I will have on-the-go...for example, in my folder at the moment there are about 14 different army lists which I could submit orders for right now...

Having said that, I really do enjoy everything else; the unpacking, the looking, the prepping & basing - and then the painting.

Oh - and then subsequently seeing them all get shot to pieces on the tabletop too 

[Steve J]

I also love the planning stage and the inevitable tweaks that follow after the first rough list is drawn up. Opening the pack is always great fun but agree that the enormity of the task that lies ahead can be daunting, but once they reach the table it is very satisfying. Having several projects on the go at any one time helps me maintain focus, as I can flit from one to another dependent upon time that I have available each evening/weekend.

[Nosher]

"Oh - and then subsequently seeing them all get shot to pieces on the tabletop too"

Particularly tanks eh Nik?...........................................

For me it has to be the rattle of the letterbox and that thud that can only mean a big bag of lead has hit the doormat Which brings on instant panic if the missus is anywhere in earshot

[cudders]

For me it has to be the rattle of the letterbox and that thud that can only mean a big bag of lead has hit the doormat Which brings on instant panic if the missus is anywhere in earshot

  Not just me then! I just point out how many shoes she has and that usually does the trick 

Cudders

[Maenoferren]

Having spent a whole Saturday on the website hunting for everything i needed from all the different ranges I must admit it was the choosing in this case. Second is the opening the packet and then going ooooh and ahhhh and trying to remember what I ordered as I made so many changes (Sorry leon ) followed by the dull realisation that i will have to paint the whole lot along with the 15mm wwII 28mm WWII  the pirates, the fantasy stuff, the terrain making projects etc etc etc. which is in a bit of hiatus as I am knackered each evening after doing the work bit then getting the place ready for a) the horses coming in and b) getting the house ready for the baby next week.... eeeek!!!!

[Eldamarelf]

I guess the picking out what bits you need is always fun I really enjoy pening up the packages as well though my last delivery which was in 2 parcels (you can guess how much stuff was in them if you want) arrived almost a week apart due to the rather annoying Royal Mail. I now have several thousand figures to get painted luckilly for me i was involved in a ourchase of the World Tank Museum miniatures so most of my painting is the odd vehichle and a bucket load of soldiers and trucks which I must really be getting on with as they are meant to being used this weekend well 3 corps worth of russians are anyhow.

Back to the painting table it is then!!

Tom h
aka Bilbo

[sixsideddice]

For me, the most pleasurable part is knowing the budget I have to work with, then spending happy hours poring over the catalogues and lists, deciding which I need and which I must sadly do without (until another pay cheque); checking sites for ideas on unit construction, historical accuracy over the satellite period I have chosen to focus on and purchase (when relevant of course), and then the careful clicking of the mouse as each order is placed, cross referenced of course, that I have correctly added each 10mm packet on my final mailing list.

Like others have said, the knowing they are in the post, culminating in the `THUMP!` on the floor as the heavy parcel arrives through the letter box, is a massive part of the excitement.

But I share the views already expressed... sometimes, upon opening everything up, I am left with a momentary feeling of despair as it dawns on me all the work which lies ahead of me. Rows and rows of 10mm men which will only come to life after a long hard haul to get them fit for the table.

But all in all.... it’s all a treasured experience only another gamer can share and fully emphasise with and understand. Maybe book collectors are a similar kin as well?

Six

[Blaxkleric]

Like others have said, the knowing they are in the post, culminating in the `THUMP!` on the floor as the heavy parcel arrives through the letter box, is a massive part of the excitement.

But I share the views already expressed... sometimes, upon opening everything up, I am left with a momentary feeling of despair as it dawns on me all the work which lies ahead of me. Rows and rows of 10mm men which will only come to life after a long hard haul to get them fit for the table.

Experienced the 'THUMP!' earlier today  but still haven't opened them so I don't yet experience the despair 

Blaxkleric
http://fantorical.blogspot.com/

[sixsideddice]

I love the blog Blaxkleric... really interesting and imaginative stuff. Its got my imagination working nicely :-)


Six

[lentulus]

The moment the cash is set aside to pay the long-planned order.

[Dickie255]

Ah yes - the Transtheoretical Model of wargaming (or Zen & the art of Pendraken)

Precontemplation - I really have enough figures/models to paint for another x days/weeks/months/years!

Contentemplation - well actually that book/film/article would be really good to do in 10mm and ....

Preparation - I'll just have a look on the website and make a list. I'll only need at the most 3 or 4 packs/models but there again.........

Action - I must get on the website at 2am and order! This is the bit when my knees go wobbly

Maintenance - The waiting, the thud, the ooh ah of opening the package and yes! Yes! Yes!


My name is Dickie255 and I have a problem

[Sandinista]

Opening the package and sorting them into the units to paint does it for me 

[Last Hussar]

For me it has to be the rattle of the letterbox and that thud that can only mean a big bag of lead has hit the doormat Which brings on instant panic if the missus is anywhere in earshot

I'm 'Always' buying soldiers.  'Always' in this context means a couple of 2nd hand army packs at the Milton Keynes show in May, and 1 more a few months later.  From what she said last weekend there is a never ending stream of lead men into our house.  I'd like to thank who ever is ordering and buying them for me.  Can you tell me where they are?

I like the planning. The packs to be bought, which regiments to do, calculating the basing. Everything except paiting the ruddy things.  You have to be some sort of masochist pervert to enjoy painting an army (in any scale).  I'm looking at you Harwood.

(Currently looking of a spray paint the colour of US vietnam uniform)

[nikharwood]

I'm 'Always' buying soldiers.  'Always' in this context means a couple of 2nd hand army packs at the Milton Keynes show in May, and 1 more a few months later.  From what she said last weekend there is a never ending stream of lead men into our house.  I'd like to thank who ever is ordering and buying them for me.  Can you tell me where they are?

Love it - this is getting printed out for SWMBO's benefit in this household 

I like the planning. The packs to be bought, which regiments to do, calculating the basing. Everything except paiting the ruddy things.  You have to be some sort of masochist pervert to enjoy painting an army (in any scale).  I'm looking at you Harwood.

Guilty as charged - but who showed you the pics??! Oh, hang on, you're talking about painting  ...
"Masochist pervert" - another one for the epitaph 

(Currently looking of a spray paint the colour of US vietnam uniform)

Don't just look at it it - point it at the figures & press the button!!!