Collecting 40K
I’ve been collecting 40K armies as a gamer for well over 20 years, but it has only been over the last 5 or 6 that I have started collecting old and limited edition models purely for the enjoyment of having unusual figures in my collection.
A lot of collectors of old Games Workshop models tend to be gamers who have been into the hobby for a long time, and are looking to recapture some of the naivety and quirky design that those early models had. A few collectors will be looking to resell their rare figures at a later date for profit (especially when it comes to more recent limited editions).
I don’t claim to be an expert on older or limited edition 40K models, although I do have a good knowledge of the model catalogs, and what to look for when it comes to more unusual figures. This guide is intended to be a brief overview of what a collector might want to look for when obtaining out of production models, either through specialist stockists of old gaming materials, or through auction sites such as eBay.
Drawing Boundaries
It is inevitable that a single collector cannot ever collect the entire back catalog of the 40K range – there are simply thousands of miniatures, some exceedingly rare, and some that just do not appeal to all tastes. When I first started collecting, I actually set a mental note of the various categories of 40K models I wanted to collect, and within those categories, a few priorities. As a long time Space Marine player, one of my major focuses was the Rogue Trader era. In addition to that, I had always had a particular affinity with the minor alien races (Zoats, Slann etc.), and the incidental range of pirates and mercenaries.
Within those broad categories, my priorities, or items I would ‘definitely’ attempt to purchase if I stumbled across them, were:
- Space Marines – First-release Space Marines and Dreadnoughts
- Aliens – 40K Slann, Zoats
- Mercenaries – Ironclaw Jump pack troopers, Inquisitors
By prioritizing like this, it allows you to focus time and resources on searching for such figures.
Of course, every collector has different ranges they prefer. Imperial Guard players perhaps will focus on RT Guard, Chaos players will be searching for the Chaos Renegade marines.
Buying Models
At the end of the day, any model is priced according to what someone is willing to pay for it, but there are a range of factors that affect the pricing and how high bidding can go when purchasing a figure either at a fixed price or in an auction.
Rarity: the most important factor in pricing is how rare it is. Most sellers of old models will be very aware of what the model is worth, and may often set a price (in a fixed-price sale) or reserve price (in an auction) at its ‘value’. More common figures such as Marines, Imperial Guard can be expected to be purchased at between £2 ($3) and £4 ($6), but can be bought both for much more, and for much less. Personally I rarely pay more than £4 ($6) for a ‘standard’ OOP figure. Extremely rare models such as the alien race of Dominators can be bought for up to £100 ($145).
Painted / Condition: Many OOP models will have been painted, in some cases fairly well, but in most quite badly due to the range of paints and (subjective I know) lower standards of painting in the early stages of the hobby. Unless exceptionally well-painted, most collectors of OOP models prefer them to be unpainted. There is no real difference between models that have never been painted and those that have been stripped, except for minor paint residues in any deep detail of the model. Generally this doesn’t affect things too much, especially when the model is particularly rare.
Well-painted models as opposed to unpainted or poorly painted models can fetch immense prices that seem well over the odds for the figure, especially when painted by well-known artists or Golden Demon winners. It is a personal choice when it comes to buying pre-painted models that are sold as ‘pro-painted’. Often the picture cannot show what the true level of skill the painter has, and buying such models is somewhat of an unknown. I personally prefer unpainted models, to allow me to paint them myself to fit in with my existing collection, or those painted to a tabletop standard that can easily be repainted without feeling like I am covering the work of a master.
Mint In Blister: It is very rare that a Rogue Trader model will be on sale still in its original blister. Most likely these turn up when independent retailers decide to get rid of old stock, or from the type of collector who buys more that they can feasibly ever paint or use. For some collectors, the very fact that they are 100% sure that they will be the first to paint or use the figure is a motivating factor in high prices. Generally figures still in their blister will command higher prices than their loose equivalents, due to this, and the certainty that damage is unlikely. For more recent figures such as Games Day limited editions, this is not so much of an issue as generally they have been bought purely for re-sale and therefore are in better condition.
Age: Rogue Trader models were first released in 1985, although the general ranges did not go on sale until 1987. Rogue Trader ran from 1987 to 1993, when with the introduction of Warhammer 40K second edition, the ranges were revisited. It is generally held that with the exception of the Eldar who had already received a revision of the range with the invention of the Craftworlds and Aspects during Rogue Trader, the ranges for second edition were fairly bland compared to those from the Rogue Trader days. This results in a level of undesirability, also in part due to the greater availability. Generally earlier models from the range (1985-88) are more collectible.
Availability: Something that is really important to check – that the model is no longer available from GW Mail Order. Some things do actually still exist on their site.
Manufactured by Games Workshop: In many ways, this is the most obvious point of all for pure 40K collectors – check that the model you are buying is actually a Games Workshop model. Bear in mind that early Games Workshop models were produced by Citadel, as opposed to the more familiar GW tag. The easiest way to do this is to familiarize yourself with the 40k range – especially with more obscure models that might not be easily recognizable as 40k. The Stuff of Legends model archive site has the most complete set of images from Games Workshop catalogs on the net, and is highly recommended for collectors of OOP models. Due to the dominance of GW in the fantasy wargaming genre, it is very common to see Ral Partha, VOID or other ranges being advertised as 40K, especially on eBay where sellers often lack knowledge or want to improve awareness of their sale. If you are uncertain about a model, it is often a good idea to ask the seller what the model description is on the slottabase tag for further information. If at the end of the day, you don’t recognize the model, and stylistically it doesn’t match any period of GW design, think very carefully before buying. Note that models were produced under license for 40k by Ironclaw, and in fact were often incorporated into the main catalogs and publications alongside Citadel miniatures.
Rarities
Seeking out 40K rarities is a difficult job – not least because it is relatively subjective. I’ve listed my top ten of 40K rarities below, although there are bound to be omissions I have forgotten about or am as yet not aware of. Note that I am limiting this to older rarities (the more collectible aspect of the market) as opposed to more recent limited editions which I’ll cover below.
1. Jokero: Never intended to be anything other than background aliens as part of the role-playing aspect to 40k, the Jokero model is very elusive – in fact I’m not convinced it was ever placed on general sale.
2. Dominators: Only released for a limited time, these massive 40k models are ungainly, but at the same time rather appealing, especially given their uniqueness in terms of scale and proportion at the time. Dominators fetch huge prices – in some sales you could buy an entire army for one of these guys, so make sure you can afford them!
3. Saharduin / Piscean Warrior: What can you say? This guy is up there as not only one of the rarest, but also one of the most desirable of 40k models. He was produced only for a short period in anticipation of the Rogue Trader rulebook release in the original flyer range. The model never made it to the main range and numbers in the low thousands. Add to that he looks pretty cool – ‘fish in space’ are cool, right? Expect to pay anything up to £80 ($120) for this figure.
4. 40k Minotaurs: These odd creatures were presumably produced to keep in line with abhumans (specifically beastmen) being incorporated into the Imperial Guard range, as an alternative to Ogryns. A rare mail order promotional set, these guys never made it to full production.
In the early days of Warhammer 40K the GW studio staff wanted some “heavy hitters” for the Imperial Guard in form of “abhumans”. The miniature sculptors made prototype Ogryns (based on Warhammer Fantasy Ogres) as well as these two 40K minotaur concept models. The minotaurs were armed with heavy bolters (which they could move and fire with) and their horns were replaced by lasguns. However, the decision was made to go only with Ogryns as IG support. These minotaurs are simply amazing models and while they were briefly pictured in a UK 1987 Mail Order Flyer, sadly they were never released.
5. Space Elf: Along with the Saharduin, the Space Elf had a similar release window and production run, but also spawned the full range of Space Elfs/Elves (subsequently Eldar). You should expect to pay around the £20 ($30) mark for this figure.
6. Space Dwarf: Again released in the original flyer, this figure was the precursor to the short-lived Squats who have an ever-present and vocal minority lobbying for their reintroduction into the main range. He was incorporated into the 1988 catalog, but was subsequently dropped.
7. Space Slann: The Space Slann were an attempt to build on the popularity of their fantasy counterparts in Warhammer Fantasy 3rd edition, and received a great deal of coverage in the Rogue Trader rulebook, and as such became entrenched into 40k history. The range consisted of 12 different Slann models and are highly sought after. Slann can fetch as little as £4 each, but are more often between £6 ($9) and £8 ($12).
8. Eldar Trader: I have picked this model out from the other Mercenaries/Pirates range as he was dropped after the 1988 catalog whereas the majority of the rest of that range, in spite lacking a formal gaming role, were continued into subsequent catalogs. In fact the rest of the range only ceased production relatively recently in the last few years. This model is unique in the sense that it is entirely non-combatant. You can expect to pay about £11 ($16) for this figure.
9. First Power Armored Marine: GW have claimed themselves during the UK Skullz promotion that the very first Power Armored Space Marine actually was one of the RT Marine range. This is not so, the true honor belongs to this early figure, replete with external cabling.
10. Zoats: A bit of an anomaly in the range – almost as if the games designers were uncertain whether they were part of the Eldar range, Tyranid range, or freedom fighters. Zoats are perhaps the most notorious of RT models, and the most unique, although they were comparatively widely available during the very late 1980s. Due to the size and almost iconic nature of Zoats, expect to pay between £8 ($12) and £15 ($22).
Of course I’ve missed out a whole bunch of figures here – including Ambulls, the entire GW Pirates and Mercenaries range and Eldar Ghost Warrior war drones. Most likely any other collector’s top ten will include different models, but as I said, it’s all subjective! Once again I urge you to check out The Stuff of Legends for more detailed information.
Limited Editions
Very few limited edition models were produced in the first two incarnations of 40k, the Christmas Marines being a notable and humorous exception, although they appear to be fairly common and to be fair, not particularly desirable as they have no real gaming value. Most limited edition models can be seen on the aforementioned The Stuff of Legends website.
Most limited editions are produced for Games Day and other special events. 40K Games Day models are produced on a bi-annual basis (every other year is a Fantasy model), and in the past have been exclusively Space Marine characters (along with the majority of GW limited editions). 2001 saw the first non-Marine character in the form of Kroot Shaper Angkhor Prok, replete with special rules for using him in the games:
I would imagine we will be seeing much more of this approach, treating the models as characters to add to the 40K background, rather than generic figures. Games Day figures are generally sculpted by one of the stars of the studio, and as a result are fantastic models, improving each year. 40K models have been produced for other GW events apart from Games Day. The Legion of the Damned character Sergeant Centurius was produced to coincide with the opening of the 100th GW store, whilst the Emperor’s Champion figure was released alongside the 25th Anniversary celebrations of the company. Typically the newer figures are easier to buy and as such have a value of around £10 ($15), with the older event figures increasing in price as fewer are put up for sale. Sergeant Centurius is among the most expensive of all limited edition figures when bought second-hand due to the very limited release at the opening of the 100th store, and is likely to fetch a price of £30 ($45) to £50 ($73).
Boxed Set limited editions have now become a regular addition to the army boxes that are released for each new race. Usually the HQ choice contained within the box is a limited edition sculpt, only available to those with enough cash to buy the boxed set. Black Templars High Marshallis one such model. Due to the very limited availability of the models, these can fetch high prices for their individuality, but often the models themselves are sub-standard sculpts – perhaps test pieces that are not considered good enough quality for full-range release.
The Skullz promotion which ran during 1999-2001 provided reward points for purchasing GW models, which could be redeemed against a selection of gifts and figures. It is generally agreed that the US 100 Skullz gift was the best on offer in any country – a set of nine unique Adeptus Mechanicus figures, including Tech Priests and servitors. This is by far and away the most desirable set of figures GW have ever produced, being both fantastic quality and limited in availability, and many collectors from countries outside of the US felt very aggrieved that it was not available to them. Sets have exchanged hands in the UK for over £200 ($292). Other models available were the Space Marine Iwo Jima diorama and Space Marine standard bearer.
While not limited editions as such, test pieces are among the rarest of 40K models. Produced by sculptors learning their trade as part of the job application process, or as mock-ups for possible ranges, very few of these ever leave GW HQ, and in fact their existence is limited to a handful of the miniature design team. Pure speculation surrounds what figures might have been produced, although occasionally they see the light of day through internal GW channels. Bear in mind when looking at test pieces, they will not be shown in any flyers or catalogs, so it is important to be convinced on their provenance – look at sculpting styles for example. I am only aware of about 4 test pieces that have been publicly shown.
The Black Library had also gone through a stage of releasing characters and mini-dioramas from their graphic novels and comic series. These are generally limited to casting runs of only a couple of thousand, and had only been available to subscribers to the comic book series. Unfortunately they were also expensive (both when bought originally) and also when buying second-hand as a collector. The Kal Jericho model has been upstaged by the recent Specialist Games version which vastly surpasses the original in sculpting terms, and decreases its value dramatically. The Redeemer and Ephrael Stern dioramas however, remain great show pieces and are really nice sculpts, but command high prices.
Future Collectors’ Pieces
Limited editions I’ve already described above, and clearly they are certainties for current collectors’ pieces, and will only increase in value. The current full range is of course produced on a far wider scale than the Rogue Trader range, and as such models are both less rare and desirable. That said, after the introduction of Forge World years ago there came about a number of additional models that are on a more limited availability both due to cost and physical distribution.
Sources of OOP models
As I mentioned before, the first place to check with models that are no longer part of the main lines is Games Workshop itself. Most OOP models are sold second-hand, either from gamers who are clearing out their collections, or specialist second-hand dealers. It is also worth bearing in mind that due to lack of complete early distribution and pick-up in the US during the late 1980s, the UK remains the biggest market for rarer RT-era models.
I personally buy most of my second-hand models our version of eBay (known as QXL), the internet auction site. Invariably, apart from the very rarest of models, there will be something off my checklist every couple of weeks or so. Auctions are tricky as they do not guarantee a purchase, and can often rapidly increase in price if more than one bidder is desperate to own the item.
If not online, then I just talk to people in the area – from local collectors that I know to folks that take their old models to my FLGS to sell loose. It has paid off very well for me doing this, as I can physically examine what I’m going to potentially buy.
Bartertown is another option for buying OOP models, without the hassle of bidding in an auction, and comes highly recommended from a lot of people.
I hope you’ve found this article at least interesting, if not useful.
