"appraising my lead mountain" Topic

I will be making out my will and I'd like to know how to appraise my lead mountain. I don't have any record of what I bought so I will have to sort it all out. Any suggestions from anyone who has done this?

The big question is whether or not it is to be sold to benefit your hiers or passed on. If the former you need to inventory it and price it. The price can be inflation proofed at your sad demise.

Approximately 33% of what you paid for it, unpainted, I suspect.

Maybe 50% if you find the right buyer

If you are willing figures to someone, what difference does it make what they cost or what the second hand value is?

Generally, personal property falls under the category of personal property. Separate valuation or appraisal is unnecessary. Generally your executor or personal representative will sell or dispose of personal property at his or her discretion unless it is specifically bequeathed to someone by your will.

Your will should provide for a handwritten codicil or memorandum for disposal of specific personal property that can be prepared by you at a later time. Generally, as long as the memorandum is signed and dated on or after the date of the will and is found with the will after you die, it is enforceable (I am relying on Colorado law – New York law may vary in the details of this). There is no need to specifically value the personal property.

The valuations for unpainted figures above are remarkably optimistic. Expect unpainted metal to fetch closer to 10% – or less – of retail value. Sometimes you might get a better price. And don't, seriously don't, expect people to put a higher value for sentimental reasons, few will. And even the painted figures are likely to go for less than expected, even the best painted figures. I speak from the experience of selling a late friends entire collection of gaming paraphernalia on behalf of his family – the equivalent of 100 banker's file boxes.

While I was glad to do it, I was somewhat taken aback at what people were willing to pay. I suspect this is part of why I've so scaled back my hobby purchases – I have too much already (though I sometimes do still buy stuff). At the very beginning of the selling, there were some "sympathy" buys and some sentimental valuations but that evaporated very quickly and it was just the long slog to sell it all.

And forget about selling plastics; they are more bother than they are worth – donate them to some place or someone if you can, otherwise they will most likely be in a landfill.

I can't speak very well to board games, not my area of interest but, again, unless you get lucky, you are not going to get much value. "Collectability" is a fickle pursuit, up and more likely down.

I hope that insight helps to some degree. By lead mountain, if you mean the unpainted stuff, I wouldn't even bother appraising it, even for yourself. Best bet is to have an idea of where you want the stuff to go and give directions. Donations, friends, young folks, whatever moves you.

Ironically, it seems these days the items of best value are quality terrain pieces, buildings and the actual terrain. But that, too, can fluctuate.

Good luck to you and have one of your heirs let us know how it goes – if we're still around on that far distant day (well, hopefully so).

My unpainted lead is very, very little so it could be donated or recycled.

My painted stuff is very well organized and labeled, both as to period and scale. There is a letter in our papers describing the collection and how to liquidate it, and where to sell (Ebay, flea markets, TMP etc.).

I have a friend who has agreed to do so if I get hit by a bus. My plan is to start selling it off when I turn 75, saving the stuff I play with most for last….

If you are willing figures to someone, what difference does it make what they cost or what the second hand value is?

Beware … the Tax Man cometh!

Or if getting buried at sea, well they would help keep you down.
Actually I've pondering this as I've a decent collection, don't have any unpainted but there not going to any museum. I've thought of passing them on to a group or have someone parcel them out to any takers.

I have 1100 painted Crimean war figures from minifigs, have 150 to go, should I expand to an even 1600? To cover a full ping pong table for epic Victorian state arrogance against Russia's righteous grievance against the Turk and the French Cock? What would the worth be, woth scenics and reference, 3000$ ?

"Yes, ma'am. I'm sorry for your loss. If you pay me fifty bucks, I'll haul it all away for ya …"

Clays R. – depends on if they are 2 mm figures or 54 mm figures and the quality of the paint job and the timing of when they hit the market and finding someone who actually wants them. You see the drift there?

True enough mine are going to the Society of Ancients gratis to be shared among the members if they want 'em. Or they can be sold for the benefit of SOA.

If you expect to die from old age or illness, you can manage this yourself. Make a realistic schedule of how many games you will likely still play with what figures (1 game a month is only 12 games a year, not that much if you have more periods than that), and start selling your collection. Ideally, you could sell your last figure on your deathbed ;-)

As for sudden deaths, and counting on someone else to sell your collection, I share the sentiment mentioned above. Wargaming collections are not worth that much. Sure, there might be a few collectibles – and even then you'll have to find the right collector, but chances are most figures or armies will not be of particular interest to anyone. It takes a very dedicated wargamer to shell out let's say 1000 euro for a nicely painted army that he has not put together himself – unless he happens to look exactly for an army like yours at that point in time. Beginning wargamers might not yet have that kind of disposable income, veteran wargamers might have amassed enough junk themselves.

As for monetary value regarding taxes when part of inheritance etc., I fear that wargaming toys are just that – toys.

As for monetary value regarding taxes when part of inheritance etc., I fear that wargaming toys are just that – toys.

If you leave it to someone else to value – say someone with a vested interest in the estimate, like the state – I would fear something else. Manufactured items are generally cost of materials plus value added. Lessee, 1000 toys at $3 USD each, plus $4 USD for improvements (painting), that $7 USDK value. I'm not saying they're actually worth that or that you could sell them for even half that. I'm saying it is a bad idea to let the state value your assets on their own.

Fortunately, most of us haven't based or painted the majority of or minis …

"I have come to bury flooglestreet, not to appraise him……"

but the plastics men paint lives on while the lead is oft interred with their bones.

<<applause emoticon>>