Pendraken Miniatures Forum

Wider Wargaming => General Discussion => Topic started by: getagrip on 20 February 2015, 09:01:27 AM

Title: What have you bought that was a complete waste of money?
Post by: getagrip on 20 February 2015, 09:01:27 AM
As mentioned on Fig.ht's post, I bought some washers to use as bases for Warmaster command units.  I'd previously used 10p pieces as I like the extra weight for what are really small units.

I hunted around and found the size I needed in my local hardware shop; £1 for ten ex VAT.  They had a small hole in the middle which I covered with a piece of card.  It was only when I was waiting for the card to dry that it occurred to me I'd actually spent more on the washers (which were lighter AND had a hole) than the 10p's they replaced! :-[

So, what are your stupid / useless / ridiculous Wargaming purchases?
Title: Re: What have you bought that was a complete waste of money?
Post by: Techno on 20 February 2015, 09:18:09 AM
About 80% of the modeling/dental tools I've bought in the past.
"Ooooh.....That looks as though it'll be useful."
But I've never found out exactly what for. X_X

for example....I saw Bob Naismith using something called a gingevectomy fish 5 (I think) once.
Must have one of those if Bob uses one.
Haven't used it in 25 years.
Cheers - Phil
Title: Re: What have you bought that was a complete waste of money?
Post by: getagrip on 20 February 2015, 09:24:46 AM
Quote from: Techno on 20 February 2015, 09:18:09 AM

a gingevectomy fish 5 (I think)


Just googled that, don't, just DON'T  :-& :-& :-&
Title: Re: What have you bought that was a complete waste of money?
Post by: Orcs on 20 February 2015, 09:58:45 AM
10mm 88  Flak gun on Carriage from another manufacturer  - It was so badly cast I binned it.
Javis Foam Hedges and walls - Binned again.

Various commercial dips. They never seemed to do what they claimed

My ex wife?  :-\  While I did not buy her she cost a fortune and was not particuarly useful  :d
Title: Re: What have you bought that was a complete waste of money?
Post by: Subedai on 20 February 2015, 10:37:10 AM
Quote from: Just a few Orcs on 20 February 2015, 09:58:45 AM
10mm 88  Flak gun on Carriage from another manufacturer  - It was so badly cast I binned it.
Javis Foam Hedges and walls - Binned again.

Various commercial dips. They never seemed to do what they claimed


Same here, although the dip I bought is still in the bottle and the hedges are still in the packet. Luckily it was only a small dip as I would have never have splashed out that amount on the Army Painter stuff. This was in the days before I found out about Magic Wash.

There's probably other stuff that I have squirrelled away that hasn't seen the light of day for donkeys but I know I will find a use for it, usually about three weeks after I throw it away...so now I don't throw away anything vaguely wargames related.
Title: Re: What have you bought that was a complete waste of money?
Post by: Roy on 20 February 2015, 10:42:40 AM
The majority of the rules books I've possesed.

Games I've actually played since 1993:

1993 - 1998: the school years
[GW] Space marine
[GW] Warhammer 40,000
[GW] Warhammer Fantasy Battles
[GW] Blood Bowl
[GW] Warhammer Quest
[GW] Necromunda

mid-1998 to now
[GW] Blood Bowl
[GW] Warhammer Quest
(a couple of solo games of) Blitzkrieg Commander (1st edition) - [using 10mm Pendraken]
(one game of) Victory at Sea - [using 1/3000 Navwar]

How many other rules sets do I/have I possessed since 1993:

Probably about twenty more, not counting the above.

Title: Re: What have you bought that was a complete waste of money?
Post by: getagrip on 20 February 2015, 11:11:54 AM
Quote from: Just a few Orcs on 20 February 2015, 09:58:45 AM

My ex wife?  :-\  While I did not buy her she cost a fortune and was not particuarly useful  :d


;D

Off topic, a little harsh but...on balance...probably fair ;)
Title: Re: What have you bought that was a complete waste of money?
Post by: fsn on 20 February 2015, 11:42:10 AM
Last year I bought a set of Ultra-Modern OOBs.

Dated 1987.   :-[
Title: Re: What have you bought that was a complete waste of money?
Post by: getagrip on 20 February 2015, 11:48:00 AM
What's an OOB?
Title: Re: What have you bought that was a complete waste of money?
Post by: Westmarcher on 20 February 2015, 11:51:23 AM
Quote from: RoyWilliamson on 20 February 2015, 10:42:40 AM
The majority of the rules books I've possesed.

Wholeheartedly agree, Roy.  :-X

Quote from: Techno on 20 February 2015, 09:18:09 AM
gingevectomy

Isn't that hair removal for redheads?
Quote from: getagrip on 20 February 2015, 11:48:00 AM
What's an OOB?
Don't get him started.

(Order of Battle)
Title: Re: What have you bought that was a complete waste of money?
Post by: Subedai on 20 February 2015, 11:52:38 AM
@RoyWilliamson. Is that all? I have four under desk filing cabinets stuffed full with research and rules covering everything form Ancient to Scifi. I even have a set of WRG 3rd Edition Ancients (sad I know).

Number of sets of rules since I started wargaming in 1970: probably well over 200, used in the last ten years -about 4...and one of those was a playtest of my own Far East Medieval set!
Title: Re: What have you bought that was a complete waste of money?
Post by: FierceKitty on 20 February 2015, 11:53:24 AM
Source of the Nile board game. Good idea, but more rules than play. Anyone want to inherit it?
Title: Re: What have you bought that was a complete waste of money?
Post by: getagrip on 20 February 2015, 11:56:28 AM
Wasn't even thinking about rules / board games; dread to think how much have gone on them  :'(
Title: Re: What have you bought that was a complete waste of money?
Post by: Lord Kermit of Birkenhead on 20 February 2015, 11:58:33 AM
Aztecs - in any scale.
Title: Re: What have you bought that was a complete waste of money?
Post by: getagrip on 20 February 2015, 12:00:55 PM
Quote from: ianrs54 on 20 February 2015, 11:58:33 AM
Aztecs - in any scale.

;D ;D ;D

Don't be mean :P
Title: Re: What have you bought that was a complete waste of money?
Post by: Lord Kermit of Birkenhead on 20 February 2015, 12:02:01 PM
Quote from: getagrip on 20 February 2015, 12:00:55 PM
;D ;D ;D

Don't be mean :P

And why not ???  :d

IanS
Title: Re: What have you bought that was a complete waste of money?
Post by: Ithoriel on 20 February 2015, 12:05:23 PM
The 30%-45% of all the figures I've ever bought that have never been painted and which were only bought because they were in a GW sale or stupidly cheap on a Bring & Buy stall.
Title: Re: What have you bought that was a complete waste of money?
Post by: getagrip on 20 February 2015, 12:08:38 PM
Quote from: Ithoriel on 20 February 2015, 12:05:23 PM
The 30%-45% of all the figures I've ever bought that have never been painted and which were only bought because they were in a GW sale or stupidly cheap on a Bring & Buy stall.

Never done that...hmm... :-[

Actually, my Pendraken minis are the only ones I paint 95% of; everything else, well........
Title: Re: What have you bought that was a complete waste of money?
Post by: Steve J on 20 February 2015, 01:23:08 PM
Force on Force wargames rules spring to mind. Beautifully presented, everyone raved about them but so badly laid out it was untrue. DBA2.2 was a disappointment as well.
Title: Re: What have you bought that was a complete waste of money?
Post by: Roy on 20 February 2015, 02:18:06 PM
Quote from: Westmarcher on 20 February 2015, 11:51:23 AM
gingevectomy

Isn't that hair removal for redheads?

[-(

Quote from: Subedai on 20 February 2015, 11:52:38 AM
@RoyWilliamson. Is that all? Number of sets of rules since I started wargaming in 1970: probably well over 200, used in the last ten years -about 4...and one of those was a playtest of my own Far East Medieval set!

Yeah, I know it isn't a lot compared to most others [thankfully]  ;)
Title: Re: What have you bought that was a complete waste of money?
Post by: Aksu on 20 February 2015, 05:20:09 PM
Pax Limpopo 28 mm pig tickler set, a hoot of an idea if you are into steampunk and pith helmeted unicyclists, but the castings suffered from mold misalignment to such an extent I did not even bother to start removing the flash.
Cheers,
Aksu
Title: Re: What have you bought that was a complete waste of money?
Post by: Roy on 20 February 2015, 06:25:08 PM
Actually, when I think on it (and now of relevance to this forum), I bought Future War Commander when it first came out.
Bought one (or two, I can't remember) small armies from Baccus, looked at them all and then... Absolutely no idea what happened to them. I'm pretty sure I sold the book on, but I wouldn't stake money on it. 
Title: Re: What have you bought that was a complete waste of money?
Post by: petercooman on 20 February 2015, 08:14:04 PM
According to my wife, everything.

According to me, definately my heng long 1/16 RC jagdpanther. I like it, but at that price i could have bought two armies.
Title: Re: What have you bought that was a complete waste of money?
Post by: Vamboozle on 20 February 2015, 09:16:44 PM
Somewhere I have a copy of the Newbury Ancient Rules (early 80's if I remember correctly) that were never used.

To go with this is about a full cohort of 25mm republican Romans bought just prior to the decision that 15mm would be cheaper.

And the.......I could go on
Title: Re: What have you bought that was a complete waste of money?
Post by: Ithoriel on 20 February 2015, 09:25:24 PM
Quote from: Vamboozle on 20 February 2015, 09:16:44 PM
Somewhere I have a copy of the Newbury Ancient Rules (early 80's if I remember correctly) that were never used.

Ooh! Want a near mint and unread/ unused set of Newbury's "Warfare Through The Ages: Wargames Manual and Foundation Rules for the Period 3000 BC to 1700 AD" to go with those? :)
Title: Re: What have you bought that was a complete waste of money?
Post by: Vamboozle on 20 February 2015, 09:33:49 PM
Quote from: Ithoriel on 20 February 2015, 09:25:24 PM
Ooh! Want a near mint and unread/ unused set of Newbury's "Warfare Through The Ages: Wargames Manual and Foundation Rules for the Period 3000 BC to 1700 AD" to go with those? :)

Oh lord - now I feel an ill considered purchase coming on.   8-}
Title: Re: What have you bought that was a complete waste of money?
Post by: FierceKitty on 21 February 2015, 02:32:58 AM
Arrrgh! Those Newbury rules were the first set I purchased. They may be part of why I prefer to write my own.
Title: Re: What have you bought that was a complete waste of money?
Post by: Last Hussar on 21 February 2015, 03:48:43 AM
"The Just a Few Orcs guide to manners"
Title: Re: What have you bought that was a complete waste of money?
Post by: Shecky on 21 February 2015, 05:32:14 AM
The $250 in 1/144 scale WW1 airplanes I bought about 15 years ago. I had grand ideas - needed British, French and German planes to cover 1916 - 1918. Put together one, painted it somewhat, then totally lost interest. I'm not sure what happened to the models.

Then there's the $150 I spent on 15mm HYW French 10 years ago. A friend was at Historicon and phoned me up saying he was going to buy HWY English and would I be interested in getting the French. I never opened a pack and he never painted the English.

And I won't even mention the $200+ my same friend convenced me to go in with him on the By Fire and Sword "Deluge" kickstarter. I'm not sure I'll ever see anything from that and even if I do I've lost interest in the game. I did order some figures separate from the kickstarter, and though they look nice, the metal is so brittle they don't hold up very well.
Title: Re: What have you bought that was a complete waste of money?
Post by: Nosher on 21 February 2015, 07:49:00 AM
I never spent on anything I consider a waste of money on wargames, much in the same vein that women never consider their 358th pair of shoes or 975th handbag a waste of money. ;D
Title: Re: What have you bought that was a complete waste of money?
Post by: NTM on 21 February 2015, 07:53:49 AM
Combined Arms rules for WWII  ;)
Title: Re: What have you bought that was a complete waste of money?
Post by: cbr3d.com on 21 February 2015, 08:09:07 AM
Quote from: Shecky on 21 February 2015, 05:32:14 AM
And I won't even mention the $200+ my same friend convenced me to go in with him on the By Fire and Sword "Deluge" kickstarter. I'm not sure I'll ever see anything from that and even if I do I've lost interest in the game. I did order some figures separate from the kickstarter, and though they look nice, the metal is so brittle they don't hold up very well.

I too am in the Fire and Sword 'The Deluge' kickstarter, it seems this week they are starting to ship the main batch of those figures and the book.  Yes the metal is hard and a little brittle but I actually like the figures.  Anyway just wanted to let you know that at least you should get your figures in the next few weeks now.   ;)

My worst investment, and there have been a few, was actually a purchase of a Napoleonics uniform guide on CD, cost just under £30 was actually worth IMO £1.99, and that is being generous.  Anyway, I consider that the worst waste of money even though it by far is not the most expensive purchase I have made but never used.  

Title: Re: What have you bought that was a complete waste of money?
Post by: Leman on 21 February 2015, 08:34:42 AM
The Konig Krieg stable of rules. Never used them and sold off my 15mm SYW before I'd even completed one army.
Title: Re: What have you bought that was a complete waste of money?
Post by: Lord Kermit of Birkenhead on 21 February 2015, 08:47:43 AM
Quote from: NTM on 21 February 2015, 07:53:49 AM
Combined Arms rules for WWII  ;)

There are at least 3 with that title.....one is excellent, like my punctuation.

IanS
Title: Re: What have you bought that was a complete waste of money?
Post by: Leman on 21 February 2015, 08:49:17 AM
The one on siege warfare may get an outing one day as I have a Pendraken star fort begging to be used.
Title: Re: What have you bought that was a complete waste of money?
Post by: NTM on 21 February 2015, 10:11:55 AM
Quote from: ianrs54 on 21 February 2015, 08:47:43 AM
There are at least 3 with that title.....one is excellent, like my punctuation.

IanS

Just messing with you it's actually one of the few sets of the dozens purchased that I've actually played and enjoyed.
Title: Re: What have you bought that was a complete waste of money?
Post by: Lord Kermit of Birkenhead on 21 February 2015, 12:57:04 PM
You could explain it to me some time....

IanS  :D
Title: Re: What have you bought that was a complete waste of money?
Post by: Orcs on 21 February 2015, 05:24:03 PM
Quote from: Last Hussar on 21 February 2015, 03:48:43 AM
"The Just a Few Orcs guide to manners"

You just don't mix in the right circles to use them  :D
Title: Re: What have you bought that was a complete waste of money?
Post by: Last Hussar on 21 February 2015, 05:43:55 PM
No, because I have some!
Title: Re: What have you bought that was a complete waste of money?
Post by: jambo1 on 22 February 2015, 10:34:15 AM
Quote from: Just a few Orcs on 20 February 2015, 09:58:45 AM
Javis Foam Hedges and walls - Binned again.

Oh noes!! I have just purchased both hedges and wall!! If only I had read this first! :'(
Title: Re: What have you bought that was a complete waste of money?
Post by: Maenoferren on 22 February 2015, 04:33:30 PM
Black Powder - Sudan supplement...Not quite sure why I should pay good money to read about someone else's games. Explanation of the rules I don't have a problem with.
Title: Re: What have you bought that was a complete waste of money?
Post by: petercooman on 22 February 2015, 07:45:56 PM
Quote from: jambo1 on 22 February 2015, 10:34:15 AM
Oh noes!! I have just purchased both hedges and wall!! If only I had read this first! :'(

I have them too, and found them good  :-\

(http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff441/petercooman123/DSC02559_zpsb9a29cee.jpg) (http://s1236.photobucket.com/user/petercooman123/media/DSC02559_zpsb9a29cee.jpg.html)
(http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff441/petercooman123/DSC02560_zpsb1b135cf.jpg) (http://s1236.photobucket.com/user/petercooman123/media/DSC02560_zpsb1b135cf.jpg.html)
Title: Re: What have you bought that was a complete waste of money?
Post by: getagrip on 22 February 2015, 07:50:32 PM
Look okay to me ;)

If you're looking for reality, here's a pack of marbles and there's the M1 :D
Title: Re: What have you bought that was a complete waste of money?
Post by: Orcs on 22 February 2015, 08:21:13 PM
Quote from: petercooman on 22 February 2015, 07:45:56 PM
I have them too, and found them good  :-\

(http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff441/petercooman123/DSC02559_zpsb9a29cee.jpg) (http://s1236.photobucket.com/user/petercooman123/media/DSC02559_zpsb9a29cee.jpg.html)
(http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff441/petercooman123/DSC02560_zpsb1b135cf.jpg) (http://s1236.photobucket.com/user/petercooman123/media/DSC02560_zpsb1b135cf.jpg.html)

They are certianly an improvement on ones I bought admitedly afew years ago
Title: Re: What have you bought that was a complete waste of money?
Post by: fred. on 22 February 2015, 08:25:27 PM
Quote from: Maenoferren on 22 February 2015, 04:33:30 PM
Black Powder - Sudan supplement...Not quite sure why I should pay good money to read about someone else's games. Explanation of the rules I don't have a problem with.


I'd probably go with Black Powder rules.

Really nice book. Quite Expenisve. Rather rubbish rules.

We had played lots of Hail Caesar, and rather enjoyed it, but BP just seemed odd. In retrospect it was clear BP was the first book, and HC the second, and as such had evolved quite a lot.


Those new Javis hedges do look better than the ones I got a while* ago. But the walls still look like hedges with grey bits on them.


*Quite a few years
Title: Re: What have you bought that was a complete waste of money?
Post by: petercooman on 22 February 2015, 08:55:49 PM
I find they fit right in once you drop them on a table.

Anyway, they were very very easy to cut to size and glue down (using a hot glue gun) , so that was a plus for me!!
Title: Re: What have you bought that was a complete waste of money?
Post by: getagrip on 22 February 2015, 09:03:50 PM
Quote from: petercooman on 22 February 2015, 08:55:49 PM
I find they fit right in once you drop them on a table.

Anyway, they were very very easy to cut to size and glue down (using a hot glue gun) , so that was a plus for me!!

Cheap as chips; easy to cut to size; what's not to like  :)
Title: Re: What have you bought that was a complete waste of money?
Post by: petercooman on 22 February 2015, 09:31:22 PM
Quote from: getagrip on 22 February 2015, 09:03:50 PM
Cheap as chips; easy to cut to size; what's not to like  :)

Dunno, the fact you can never have enough hedges and walls whatever you try, you always seem to miss a couple  :d

see, always a gap around the field somewhere  ;D

(http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff441/petercooman123/bkc/DSC02782_zps006b66b5.jpg) (http://s1236.photobucket.com/user/petercooman123/media/bkc/DSC02782_zps006b66b5.jpg.html)
Title: Re: What have you bought that was a complete waste of money?
Post by: Hertsblue on 22 February 2015, 09:38:15 PM
Quote from: petercooman on 22 February 2015, 09:31:22 PM
Dunno, the fact you can never have enough hedges and walls whatever you try, you always seem to miss a couple  :d

see, always a gap around the field somewhere  ;D

(http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff441/petercooman123/bkc/DSC02782_zps006b66b5.jpg) (http://s1236.photobucket.com/user/petercooman123/media/bkc/DSC02782_zps006b66b5.jpg.html)

Well, you've got to get in and out of it somehow.  ;)
Title: Re: What have you bought that was a complete waste of money?
Post by: getagrip on 22 February 2015, 09:58:21 PM
Love those; what you based them on  ;)
Title: Re: What have you bought that was a complete waste of money?
Post by: petercooman on 22 February 2015, 10:03:40 PM
Quote from: Hertsblue on 22 February 2015, 09:38:15 PM
Well, you've got to get in and out of it somehow.  ;)

Well that's what the big gap a few inches further was for  ;D

(http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff441/petercooman123/bkc/DSC02763_zpsdc1a21c1.jpg) (http://s1236.photobucket.com/user/petercooman123/media/bkc/DSC02763_zpsdc1a21c1.jpg.html)

As you can see, never enough hedges on that board!

Quote from: getagrip on 22 February 2015, 09:58:21 PM
Love those; what you based them on  ;)

Just cardboard cut to shape and painted the same as my bases. I make the base such an irregular shape, because that way you can easily make corners. If you don't make te ends of the base much smaller, you get huge gaps between hedge pieces.
Title: Re: What have you bought that was a complete waste of money?
Post by: getagrip on 22 February 2015, 10:13:51 PM
Really works; nice job  ;)
Title: Re: What have you bought that was a complete waste of money?
Post by: FierceKitty on 22 February 2015, 11:12:12 PM
Quote from: Hertsblue on 22 February 2015, 09:38:15 PM
Well, you've got to get in and out of it somehow.  ;)

As the bishop said to the actress.
Title: Re: What have you bought that was a complete waste of money?
Post by: getagrip on 22 February 2015, 11:14:03 PM
Quote from: FierceKitty on 22 February 2015, 11:12:12 PM
As the bishop said to the actress.

Bloody hell; what time is it there?
Title: Re: What have you bought that was a complete waste of money?
Post by: FierceKitty on 22 February 2015, 11:19:25 PM
Twenty past six. Having my brekkies.
Title: Re: What have you bought that was a complete waste of money?
Post by: Hertsblue on 23 February 2015, 10:34:01 AM
Quote from: FierceKitty on 22 February 2015, 11:12:12 PM
As the bishop said to the actress.

:D :D :D
Title: Re: What have you bought that was a complete waste of money?
Post by: getagrip on 23 February 2015, 11:10:36 AM
Quote from: FierceKitty on 22 February 2015, 11:19:25 PM
Twenty past six. Having my brekkies.

Oh, thought it was earlier than that :o
Title: Re: What have you bought that was a complete waste of money?
Post by: Subedai on 23 February 2015, 03:43:13 PM
A real cynical ba**ard would have said:

'My first wife, she cost me a fortune and I got nothing out of it.'
Title: Re: What have you bought that was a complete waste of money?
Post by: Orcs on 23 February 2015, 04:14:03 PM
Quote from: Subedai on 23 February 2015, 03:43:13 PM
A real cynical ba**ard would have said:

'My first wife, she cost me a fortune and I got nothing out of it.'

I am, and I did,  on the first page of this thread
Title: Re: What have you bought that was a complete waste of money?
Post by: bigjackmac on 25 February 2015, 04:10:14 AM
15mm WWII stuff.

I spent about $350 on it, one of my first wargames purchases.  Spent months painting it all up, played a couple games, didn't like how it looked, rebased it, didn't like how it looked, gave it away.

A few years go by, PSC comes out with their plastic 15mm stuff, I bought about $300 worth.  Painted some up, primed some more, got sick of it and gave it away.

Now I just bought a boatload of 20mm...

V/R,
Jack
Title: Re: What have you bought that was a complete waste of money?
Post by: jambo1 on 25 February 2015, 05:47:51 AM
Yes indeed they look alright, I will use the hedges but may give the walls a miss, will base them up and see what they look like this weekend. :)
Title: Re: What have you bought that was a complete waste of money?
Post by: Last Hussar on 25 February 2015, 11:22:10 PM
I'm worried it may be Office 2013.  The appearance is horrible.