"A question about 28mm figs painted..." Topic

Do you prefer to pay a higher price for the best paint job you can get, or just a basic paint job to keep the costs down.

Also, do you prefer plastic or metal figs, and do you like to base them yourself or have them done for you.

Add any other "likes or dislikes" if want, I'm just thinking of doing some figs for sale possibly in the near future.

Cheers,
The Tyn Man

I paint my own.

Have a look at what groups in your area are playing.

Look at the 'core' troops to see what is popular and concentrate on them.

Sell them at local 'flea markets' or FLGS.

Most players will need 'core' troops but some will prefer some rarer 'specialist' troops.

Go with the bulk choices.

Base them and make them table-ready.

Only go for a 'best paint' job for a commission since you can agree a price in advance.

Ditto what MajorB said

Painting is one of the joys for me. I'd only pay for painting out of desperation, and then probably in the scales under 15mm.

I would prefer middle of the road. Fair price decent paint job. Two color on major areas, coats and pants. Single color everywhere else.
Unbased.
Don't bother with eyes.

As per wrgmr1 but adding metal figures.

Yes missed that, metal figures preferred.
Thanks IronDuke!

Metal figures, average paint jobs cheap.
Painting figures for money is not a reliable income.
I would also suggest painting cavalry or am I the only one that doesn't like painting horses.

I'm fine painting 15mm horses, 28s is something else. (I do it all myself.)

Depends on the game.

Because honestly, I don't like assembly-line painting. So I usually play skirmish games.

If we're talking games with command stands, I'd spend the money on fancy paint for characters and/or other centerpiece models.

I paint my own every evening it seems. Scrolling about the international auctions there are thousands of auctions for "professional painted" miniatures… in scales for 6mm to 54mm. The pricing is all over the place.

But when you see actual live bids on miniatures then the reality of pricing is clear. Selling painted miniatures …. or auctions that actually close with bids tend to be under $5 USD for mounted and $3 USD for foot, metal miniatures… even lower. Plastic figures I discount another 20% as I am not a fan for plastic. These prices for 25/28mm miniatures. Unless based for a major rules set….. think WAB/HC like with 20mm squares or BP 40mm square for H/M period miniatures… then left as rough based is the preferred option for buyers. Nothing worse then paying for then remove basing when miniatures arrive. Auctions when the pricing is above the stated amounts I just scroll past….. not even look at the pictured miniatures. They price themselves out of the main stream market and over and over again remain on the auction sites racking up listing charges, unless they drop the pricing. Some "unnamed" sellers of second hand miniatures think their miniatures are gold…… really $100 USD or more plus shipping for a unit of 24x 25mm infantry painted twenty or more years ago? I would bid and win auctions at $25 USD or less every day just by waiting for the price to drop to reality levels for the exact same unit and paint level.

As for painting skill level…. professional top notch is great but in general I prefer a solid basic job with some facial features. The rest I can add personal unit touches upon arrival after basing. Miniatures with extra highlights and shading maybe extra 50 cent to auction bid price level…. but its normally still below the above pricing for 25/28mm miniatures. Generally I game in 25/28mm so the pricing for other scales I cannot speak for.

Remember…. most auctions are for second hand miniatures…. would you pay full retail price for second hand stuff….. I exclude the "professionally painted miniatures" commissioned by a gamer.

Don't plan to make money painting miniatures….. unless you are Leonardo di V.

What a fascinating and insightful response!

It does strike me as a very hard way to earn a crust. I tend to spend day after day getting any given unit done and then take a long break. I have not picked up a paintbrush in a month, but, day after day, I glance at my Gardes d'Honneur and think just how pleased I am with them.

The thought of all that work….hours and hours, day after day…….then nothing to show for it but a small fee, which the taxman will then raid……

The message is definitely to look at a business plan, to see just how "rewarding" this is likely to prove.

I agree with TMPWargamrabbit completely. Great post!

I also watch the auctions, probably not as closely but there is such disparity in pricing it is amazing. In addition some people's idea of pro painted is somewhat off. I've seen simple single color figures rated as pro painted.

I watch and wait for deals, however I have found the best are on unpainted figures usually on Bartertown, TMP Marketplace and LAF. On the odd occasion E-Bay.

I don't get to paint daily, because of game nights, classes I teach, and family time, but weekends are usually pretty productive.

I know a couple local pro-painters, one guy does pull down about $36 USDk a year painting minis. 3 colors, shade/highlighted, based.

He's painted enough minis that he can work fast enough to make $10 USD or more an hour as he sits there with the TV or stereo on for noise as he paints while the kids are at school.

I paint my own and also for others. Guess that painting depends on whether you want to game or spend time painting. But I am retired so I am not out to make oodles of money just a few coin to buy more minis or fishing gear.

After all my blaa blaa blaa about 28mm, I think I will stick to painting just 15s for now. I've posted some figs for sale, and will be posting more in the future. The Aust Inf that are up right now, are painted at a basic level for me, and all the others that are to come will be at what I would call a high gaming standard.

Just for sheets and giggles here's some of my other art work I do in my spare time….

link

I found out that link doesn't work so here that pic I was trying to show. I do military drawings as well.

https://imgur.com/nTzzzrI