"When do you stop collecting??" Topic

Following up on my query about Ral Partha colonials, I've been pondering something. I will be 67 in December, while my son in law games with me, I don't think he would any longer when I am gone. So what would become of my figures? At what point do you say to yourself, time to sit back and play with what I've got and leave it at that? Note, I am in pretty good health, and do not have any immedaite plans to shed this mortal coil.
Do I really want to start a new collection of colonials?

I think it depends on what part of the hobby is enjoyable for you. I donīt think any of us are building armies to leave to our kids, so what happens after we are gone I think is not relevant.

But if collecting is enjoyable to you, and who doesnīt like the research of a new project, then continue on and have fun with the colonials.

Personally, at the age of 55 I am not too interested in painting up new figures, so my goal is to gradually reduce the buying and concentrate on the playing. The key word here is gradually.

To me our hobby is to enjoy now, and so I say if you like it, do it, who cares if you actually "need" more colonials.

Stop collecting when you stop breathing.

I'm trying to stop now, I'm 65 in good health but have way too much to paint. Sadly I still get that "Oh shiney" moment too frequently. sigh

I have stopped collecting "for now." I decided to only buy for projects that I have some plan of actually completing and using. At this point, I already have everything I need for Saga, Lion Rampant, Pikeman's Lament, Bolt Action, 3mm WW2 aircraft, and Frostgrave.

*If* I finish up all the Frostgrave stuff, I have some plans for more warbands.

Ghost Archipelago *might* require some new purchases. And I *might* try WH40K 8th edition.

At 76, I still snag a figure or six if the look of it/them
grabs me.

Last major effort was Calpe Prussians, pretty much done
with those.

Some Sash/Saber ACW 28's to base, a few skirmish-level
Medievals (single figures), but that's about it these days

But I keep reading Winston/OFM's AWI comments and I'm
like 'Hmmmm….'

This year. This is my last year of buying new models….
😜

When you're dead, it's going to be for a long time. Do what brings you joy until you're called away.

For me, age 64, I have been slowly selling off dead end projects and the like (it's amazing how much stuff we collect). I use the proceeds as guilt free hobby spending.

I am no longer collecting, I am actively downsizing my collections.

I just started a new collection and may start one more. Still finishing up several other periods but for the most part have set limits on what I'm going to paint. A few years back I sold off projects that I felt I didn't have time for or ones that involved others who had since dropped out. I kept what was painted.

I don't think I'll ever stop collecting but I'll go into new projects with an end game.

Right after the last order… But that only lasts until the next order…

I guess when you feel like it. At a certain time I intend to sell off most of my books and miniatures so my children are not burdened with them.

When I get there I'll tell you.

65 and still a lot more figure to cast or buy.

I can stop any time I want to.

I'm 64. The last of the core armies are in the painting queue, and the last of the emergency armies--"what if I'm dumped in a small room? What if my vision gets worse?"--should be ready to march next year.
I still mean to paint as long as I'm able. But I mean to paint for the pleasure of it--to give the army away, or because I want to build the unit--not because I need three more regiments for the July game.

And if I'd been at all clever about things, I'd have reached that point years ago.

I am 67 and agree with VCarter above. Sell off old dead projects and enjoy some guilt free spending. And when I start something new I feel a rejuvenation. You are only as young as you feel; and when I look at my miniatures, or am playing a game, or finish working on something; there is no 67 years old in my world.

I'm 61, and promised myself not to start anything new this year. I'm in good health, have a job that keeps me really busy.

That said I have a half dozen projects I've started and would really like to finish. I'm one of those build both sides guys, and I have no regrets about any of them.

I've promised myself one last project--the Egypt and the Sudan in 28mm from Tel El Kebir to Omdurman. I'm thinking that will keep out of trouble for a while.

Only 45 and am already telling myself to slow down a bit. Been buying far more board wargames and miniature based board games the last year than actual miniatures. Have thousands of unpainted minis that may never get done, so jumping on new projects is not high on my list. If anything may look at consolidating in the coming year or two.

One perfect example is all of my 20th century and SF 15mm, along with 1/600 1980's moderns. May sell all of that off and just go to 6mm for WWI, WWII, Moderns and SF. If GHQ were not so expensive may have done so already.

Would save considerable space, and would likely get painted and on the table far quicker.

Would stay with 28mm for fantasy, ancients, medieval and modern skirmish.

I have stopped collecting and am downsizing primarily because the lead pile and boardgame shelves are so full that I find them embarrassing to contemplate. I came to this revelation about 5 years ago but only stopped last year. I do still get that "Oh shiney" moment occasionally but my embarrassment helps me resist. I am 71 and in good health but know I will never get all my stuff painted or on the table.

When they pry the brush from my cold dead hands!

Good question, Nick. I will be 71 in September and have been haunted by the volume of "stuff" I have. There was a time when I could justify purchasing new periods as the thought of my eventual demise was a "long way off in the future." That has no longer been the case for the last five years or so.
I don't game although I have always planned on doing some solo wargaming but haven't. I have eliminated a number of periods (15mm AWI, 20mm WWII, 54mm WWII, 20mm Sikh War, 20mm FPW, 20mm ACW, 28mm ECW) in the recent past and sold a lot of terrain and buildings.
However, this hasn't stopped me from purchasing new periods such as Knuckleduster War of 1812 (four years ago), Russian Civil War (four years ago), 28mm 'old school' Sudan (two years ago), and 'old school' 25mm English Civil War (one year). I have also been downsizing specific periods such as my plans to decrease the size of my painted 28mm SYW collection. I also drastically down-sized my book collection sometime back.
I do worry about my wife being saddled with my hobby collections when I am gone. All the adults in my family are terrified of lead so passing them on to a grandchild is unlikely. This is another reason why I have started giving away periods.
However, given all of the above, I still love toy soldiers and they have a hold on me.

Stop! I don't think that will happen, though I have narrowed down the time periods quite a bit.

Hal,
When did you stop gaming?

Should note I've sold off or given away 10 period/scale combinations since I retired, and only started two. It hasn't made a dent.

this is a very interesting question. I am 57 and moved a couple of years ago…I had 19 large tubs of unpainted lead/terrain. So, my beautiful bride gently asked…do you need 19 tubs? She was right and I started down sizing. The goal, keep what I REALLY want and will finish…got it down to a little over 4 large tubs!

What will I finish…mmmmm

28mm Rorkes Drift, the wonderful Warlord battle set
Command and colors Naps with 3mm ancients
a 300 Spartan set in 15mm
The Blenheim column for WSS (English)
Add to my bolt action DAK army

I for got to mention I have 4 large display Cabinets filled to the brim with painted goodness. 8 large shelves each.

Wow. I guess I'm a young'en at only 41. My husband is 49, and wants to start, for the 4th time, 18mm acw, using only Blue Moon figures.But he thinks he's too old to start.

I'm a figure painter, and I'd be painting most of the acw. I don't know why he feels he should'nt start acw again, but he's a pain in the ass like that.

' My husband is 49, and wants to start, for the 4th time, 18mm acw, using only Blue Moon figures.But he thinks he's too old to start. '

Sorry, don't understand the comment. It just… doesn't make sense.

Nick – I stopped gaming over twenty years ago. I think it started with MWAN taking up so much of my time at home. I was working two jobs at that time as well. Wanting to spend more time with my family also played a large role.

Nick – I envy you going into the 'old school' 25mm Ral Partha colonials. They were my favorite figures and I wish I still had my 25mm collections of Colonials and French Foreign Legion. They are the only collections I have been sorry I got rid of and I do miss them.

When I'm planted six feet under…unless Heaven has a hobby shop.

Ditto to dBerczerk. I think only Ed out ranks me.* I am 73 and I've just taken up bolt action and will be collecting some new figures for operation Sea lion. The Germans, as I have already 2000 figures for the very British Civil War which will manage quite well to defend the island.

*I think Duke out ranks us all, and I believe he is still collecting. Oh yes Dick Bryant has me by 10 years and he was recently telling me of the new figures he was getting.

At 62 the simple answer is never and they will have to pry the paintbrush out of my cold dead hand, thats the way I'd like to go.

What Phil said.

As has been said, collectors don't stop. Gamers and painters may be forced to through circumstance but collectors will always see something they must have. Even when bedridden internet access is possible.

Given the overlap of when minis I purchased are delivered and times I purchase the next batch, I may continue to collect minis for a few weeks after I am dead.

I collect to play. As soon as I have what I need/want to play, it stops there. I haven't painted a unit of anything in many years. And hardly any individual figures either in the same time span.

I turned 67 last month and although I have resolved to start no new armies, periods or collections I am still buying and painting figures for existing projects. Adding to my FRW and F&IW collections at the moment in fact.

How quickly I buy depends on how quickly it feels like my storage space is running out. Like a previous commentator stuff will probably arrive that I'd ordered on my deathbed …