And that was it. Before I knew what was happening, the madness was upon me and I purchased a miniature paining started set from 'The Army Painter'. I hadn't painted anything since I was about seventeen (and there was no internet tutorials at the time so my painting had sucked). But with the help of a few video's and the joy of slapchop (don't ask), I started churning out some actually decent looking results.
Unfortunately, Games Workshop still hold sway as the 'de facto' ruler in all things miniature gaming. And let me tell you, their prices are not in any way pocket friendly. Sometimes, just for a laugh, I go and look at the prices of Games Workshop miniatures. Forty quid for a single leader model! And you still have to assemble it, glue it, paint it and base it. Games workshop are total geniuses. They have come up with a business model where they get paid but you do all the work. Without selling a lung or entering into a second mortgage agreement without my wife's knowledge, there was no way that I would be able to afford any miniatures to paint.
And so began my foray into 'non GW miniatures'. Feeling like a lifelong Catholic who finds himself in a modern 'happy clappy' church, I started nosing around forums, looking for information on other model manufacturers. And you know what I found? Outside of the 'true faith' of GW, there are dozens, hundreds of companies that produce miniatures at a fraction of the price that GW demands. And often they are as good quality. I started buying broken up sprues on Ebay for £5 a pop. Feeling like 'smack addict'. 'Come on man...just a five pound bag. Just hook me up with some dwarves or a few orks. I got the shakes real bad. You gotta help me man...you know Im good for it'.
And so behold, my happy little elves, nestling in their polystyrene world. I have to say that they bring me a lot of pleasure. Now I just need to bribe someone to play with me!
