Would you paint your expensive Rares?

Short answer, yes. Obviously painting them is going to put the rares into a new category: either something only you can love or a new work of art that someone in that right niche market wants to pay a premium on top of the value of the mini to own. The newly resurrected Dan from Down Under can rub a brush over one and make it double or triple in value, and then there are others who just don't have that touch. So, as long as you acknowledge that you are changing the mini (for better or for worse) there's nothing wrong with painting them up.

If you're collecting as an investment then obviously don't paint them unless you are sure you are adding value to them. Even then, you have to question the wisdom of putting $5 worth of materials and eight hours into a project to net $20.

That's an interesting one guys, the way I see it there is certainly still a market out there that want painted minis, not as many as 5-6 years ago it must be said but there is still that market. Its interesting because I have literally dropped my mouth at some of the prices I've seen on ebay for some of the rares. Unbelievable!

Here is the thing though guys, there is only so much someone is willing to pay, anything over $60.00AUD pro-painted and guys start thinking to themselves....is it worth it? For example if I were to paint a HMS Warspite a rare that's worth $40.00 + on ebay and mark up $40.00 for the paintjob and that's to say nothing of the $12.00 - $16.00 it costs me to post it. Is that miniature worth $80.00+? Most would say no way. But most also don't understand how long it takes to paint a miniature either, most don't have any idea of the process involved....we do, because we do it. I don't know about you blokes, but it takes me 2-3 days to paint a BB or CV, granted not all that time is dedicated to painting, but well over 10 hours regardless. So what's that $8.00 an hour, and I'm being fairly generous here because most models I've painted for clients are more like $4.00 an hour or less, which is peanuts...they pay more in sweatshops and that's the truth.

Does rarity come into the equation when it comes to the selling of my minis, yes but they are still getting a bargain because I cant afford to replace the model that I paint as the prices keep going up or the miniature is simply not available anymore, but I also understand what most guys are willing to pay and for a Battleship or Carrier and that price will never exceed around $80.00 no matter what its rarity, and that includes postage. In the end I may have made between $20-$40 at the most for three days work. This was the same point mnnorthstars was making.

There are many artists on here that can put these prices on painted miniatures because they are worth every penny of that, and I would expect to pay no less, anything less is an insult to the time it takes and the quality of the work. Keep in mind also guys that I have seen other miniatures on sale at 1:1250th with a lick of paint on them, no where near as good as some of the miniatures I've seen displayed here and charging well over $100.00 per miniature, and those miniatures are not even from a CMG.

Its an interesting topic, good post Fighting6

Dan

The thing that saves it for me is that I never paid a ton of money for any of mine. Got in early enough that I never paid more than $20 for any ship. That said some of them do make me nervous now. If they make me too nervous and I really want to paint an example of a certain ship or plane, I go get one on Shapeways. Thanks for the input everyone. I was curious what people thought.