QuoteNot at all. You are quite correct and it's time we moved on to something more interesting.

Perhaps you can help me with a dilemma?

I'm trying to track how much I spend on this great wargaming hobby. Anything spent with, for example, Pendraken for figures, paints, terrain are obvious costs.

A related question:

Does anybody with practical experience have advice on disposing of wargaming stuff? (Asking for a friend).

I'd imagine there are lots of hobbyists with mountains of stuff that appears to be junk to 95% of the population.
Also, in my experience, tidying stuff up, and recognising when you have too much aren't strengths in our hobby.

I've seen these "we buy your unwanted stuff" ads in the hobby press.
I get a similar revulsion to those old "sell us your gold", or payday loan advertisements on the television.

When one of our club members died we bought his stuff via The Wargames Store in Brimstage. Bit far for you, but try local shops. Also you could try taking a table at a local show. Penkridge in Staffs is one, again a tad impractical for you. Otherwise Evil Bay is an option.

I am in the process of downsizing the figure and kits mountain, books and rules; to the local hospice charity shops.

Quote from: Ben Waterhouse on 25 March 2023, 10:50:41 AMI am in the process of downsizing the figure and kits mountain, books and rules; to the local hospice charity shops.

I gave away my 15mm collection a couple of years ago to a school for 'disadvantaged' children where they used wargaming as a vehicle for teaching history.  Mainly first generation Minfigs.

When a friend died, Jim (of this parish) organised people to sell off what we could to people we knew in the hobby. He then took the remainder to Bring & Buy stalls and Table Sales tables at various shows. All proceeds to charities like Help for Heroes. Raised a fair bit of cash for them.

Lot of work on Jim's part though.

Years ago we did a sale at our old club for a member who had sadly passed away. One member priced everything up, which took a bit of time, but most went as it was 28mm. I know some stuff you can't seem to give away (books, old rules) so a lot seems to go to charity shops or give away at a table top sale. Evilbay seems to be the preferred option for many, if you have the time and energy to list stuff etc. Then of course there are the dedicated FB groups that are another option.

FSN Lovely pic of lovely boat. Have never been a sailor... but 'sometimes' you can 'SMELL' the water! Small ship actions in Channel / North Sea or Med were good reading, long ago.
And 'Killer Kennedy' in the 'Victor'! lol.

What mess is left in my head has Definitely gone A over T! Woke up. Thinking Eggs for Breakfast! (But, I don't DO breakfast! Well, this IS new...WTH!). Whattimeisit? 8.). OK. Go for it! Couple of Eggs in Fryer... take Dog into Garden for early wee. Birds twittering... BUT... thinks... "Should it not be lighter by now"? JEEZ! 8PM! NOT AM! Must still be Sunday! Somebody get me a Webley!     

You HAVE to laugh,sometimes! This Current  Gwyneth Paltrow Sk-ing thing. Whatever! I used to ski in teens, 20s. Most DANGEROUS Ba*****s were the little 8-10 yr olds... would run over your skis without a thought! Have known blokes, go off the side...straight into tree... or others embedded in a bank! Girls didn't scream... just got back on even if had a shock!
"Blood Curdling Scream"... LAUGH OUT LOUD! If someone suddenly pulled up in front... wording WOULD have been different! No TIME for scream.... just swear!... and not apparently!

I use photos of my hobby as a screensaver on my computer. This is a mix of highs and lows for me. Some of the pictures make me quite happy and some make me cringe.

Thus, I decided to try and redo some of my worst efforts, but do them better.

So here from Feb 2015 is a SF armoured vehicle inspired by a Chinese colour scheme.

Lawks! That is awful. I was still using flock and not static grass and the horrible weathering can't cover up the painful brushwork. Let's try again.

Regrettably I don't think that same vehicle is still available on Pendraken, but I got a few of the next best thing. I didn't do a "special" job on these, just my usual routine, but the geometric layout of the hull definitely helped in assigning colours to areas. 

OK, better but I always see things that could be done better when I look at photographs of my work.

I think those early efforts my be due a Dettol bath.

Does the Dettol bath relax you prior to the painting session? confused!

Think of it as Nitromors Lite.
Ideal for those lamenting the removal of methylene chloride from their favourite stripper (!)
Works wonders on removing paint from figures - bad for cats.

Quote from: Gwydion on 16 April 2023, 05:27:27 PMThink of it as Nitromors Lite.
Ideal for those lamenting the removal of methylene chloride from their favourite stripper (!)
Works wonders on removing paint from figures - bad for cats.

Wot he said.

Nitromors certainly does the job...but Nasty stuff.
Dettol will do the job Fine...just takes a bit longer in a coffee  jar... but enamel paint will 'lift' enough for a light scrub with a bit of Toothpick for crevices. Much less dangerous.
About 10yrs back, I thought I might get back into Microarmour, so Dettolled a LOAD of 1970s GHQ...thick coats of enamel... some in rather incorrect schemes. Intent was to replace lost guns, carve track, detail, pin turrets and base. Never got  round to anything much...apart from taking poor, but usable paint off!
1/285 is now a bit small for eyes and fingers. I have got a load of 1/200 for Microarmour to returret and not bother with pins or bases... based Adler foot do ok alongside, although 6mm.
BUT... 5yrs later... not a lick of paint! 

QuoteDettol will do the job Fine...just takes a bit longer in a coffee  jar... but enamel paint will 'lift' enough for a light scrub with a bit of Toothpick for crevices. Much less dangerous.
About 10yrs back, I thought I might get back into Microarmour, so Dettolled a LOAD of 1970s GHQ...thick coats of enamel... some in rather incorrect schemes. Intent was to replace lost guns, carve track, detail, pin turrets and base. Never got  round to anything much...apart from taking poor, but usable paint off!

Very useful to know.  I got a 100 plus old 6mm at WARFARE last year and have just overpainted but would have preferred to strip them first had I known this.  What about acrylic paint?  Is that just plenty of hot water?!!