"Starter Figures" Topic

Do you start an army or force by acquiring standard quality figures, planning to upgrade later by adding or replacing with higher quality figures?

Yes. Its the only way I get anything done.

Nope. Start out as you mean to go on.

no.

Highest quality always in all cases. My painting production (low) is such that why shouldn't I?

I've found over the years that having something I know is second class undermines my willingness to put in the effort to paint it. I probably still have the Ral Partha griffin I bought 30 some years ago that was superseded by a later model Ral Partha griffin.

Grelber

I usually start a new period because some range of figures catches my eye and imagination. I will then use any figure that compliments what I start with.

Narratio has it right. With that said, I am a gamer on a budget, so what I start with is what I keep with.

I start with the basics: some infantry and a few command, then some artillery, cavalry or armor. Start at the center and work outward: Line then Guards, Shermans first, King Tigers last. What's available makes the difference. A lot of Shermans to choose from, not so many Polish Hussars.

Replace?
What kind of nonsense talk is that?
Seriously, why start with stuff you know are going to be discarded? Isn't that a waste of valuable time and money?

No – I am with Winston – 'better quality'?… hmm

I agree with Narratio, Grelber, and Winston Smith. I'm not replacing anything.

nope

Add more units of there are new figures I see that I want

No.

No--I paint much too slowly to throw anything out, and as others have noted, the fun for me is in fleshing out a great sculpt--not rushing to get something on the table.

Buying poor quality is a false economy. I buy the best I can because they are usually better to paint and therefore keep my interest up.

No. I did buy figures I didn't particularly like because that was what was available and changed ranges when better figures came along. I won't sell off the others as it seems most scenarios are always n+1 when it comes to units needed.

I love them all! Each has a certain quality to them.

Should I purchase Perry or Old Glory? Perry are of the highest quality but very expensive. And we know Old Glory is affordable.

I like the Perry's very much BUT, I'm an Old Glory guy.

What do you call best?

AB makes incredible 18mm Napoleonic figures but bayonets and swords are fragile. I am not the only one to use them so Blue Moon and Old Glory get the nod.

In 28mm plastics can be quite good but I drool over Aventine, Artizan and Empress miniatures. So for smaller conflicts metal wins. For AWI it's a mix of Perry, Front Rank and Fife & Drum.

As to how I start out, I have been buying used painted figures with the hope of replacing with better personally painted figures. But my kids are active and I am active with them, so little time to paint.

This assumes there is ever such a thing as a "plan."

But otherwise, no. I buy what I intend to play with, though that may be based on a desired level in the final (I almost said "finished—" Hah!) product. So, cheap figures for low-level projects, better figures for high-level ones.

Figures take so long to paint so the biggest investment is our time and I think that's best spent painting what anybody considers to be the best for them and you may as well start as you mean to go on.

The only time I've switched figures is when I got back into the hobby after a one year break. I didn't know about AB figures until I had painted 400 Minifigs.

Trying to paint "bad figures" is a surefire way of loosing interest in a project.

Who said the figs were 'bad'? Just not the best available. I doubt that many folks who use large armies ALWAYS use the absolute best figs available.

Thanks.

I will dabble with a period or force in 1/72nd before looking into collecting in a larger scale.

Trying to paint "bad figures" is a surefire way of loosing interest in a project.