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Other Stuff => General Wargames and Hobby Discussion => Topic started by: ragbones on July 26, 2020, 03:58:00 PM

Title: Downsizing Due to Age
Post by: ragbones on July 26, 2020, 03:58:00 PM
Anyone else downsizing their wargame collections due to the inexorable creep of age? I’ve gradually been selling off collections and plan on trying to sell more.  A big part of the motivation is that I don’t want to stick my family with the chore.  I helped liquidate a collection after the death of a friend and it made me realize I didn’t want my family to be saddled with something like that.  I’m not selling everything; I intend to still be active but there are collections I have that haven’t seen the light of day for years.  Anyone else doing this?
Title: Re: Downsizing Due to Age
Post by: Codsticker on July 26, 2020, 04:29:11 PM
Not yet... but I have thought about when I should start . I'm in my early 50's so still  way to go yet... I hope...
Title: Re: Downsizing Due to Age
Post by: Harry Faversham on July 26, 2020, 04:35:47 PM
I've started doing it with my Arnhem books and memorabilia As Ragbones says, stuff that hasn't been looked at in years. I've not started on my wargames armies yet, there's a large collection of 'old skool' ACW Spencer Smiths, that'll most likely never fight again.

:'(
Title: Re: Downsizing Due to Age
Post by: Cubs on July 26, 2020, 05:21:43 PM
Yeah, I'm realising that priorities shift and the toys are just fun distractions. I'm much less acquisitive than I used to be, and now clear out the collection periodically. It's quite a load off sometimes, to rehome something you feel guilty for not ever painting.
Title: Re: Downsizing Due to Age
Post by: Brummie on July 26, 2020, 05:46:41 PM
My dad is in his late 50s and has started this process. Interestingly he too feels much better clearing away all that space and he has actually started painting more and enjoying it as a result of having less to do.

I'd say there is still a need for those fun distractions though. I like painting more than gaming (same as the Da) and recently introduced a friend nearly in his 40s to painting some minis and he admitted its helped him with his anxiety a lot. Just having something that is calming and gives focus is a worthy endeavor.
Title: Re: Downsizing Due to Age
Post by: manic _miner on July 26, 2020, 06:56:40 PM
 I am starting to thin my collection down too.Turned 50 this Year and a few things have happened that make you wonder what will happen to it all.So many years of collecting all sorts of ranges of miniatures and different scales.
Title: Re: Downsizing Due to Age
Post by: Citizen Sade on July 26, 2020, 08:11:24 PM
Having just dealt with my father-in-law’s sizeable stamp and football memorabilia collections, I know that it's important to get your stuff organised and, ideally, have someone knowledgeable in place who’s able and willing to take in on. I’ve nominated a collection heir who's ten years younger than me to take his pick and then sell the rest on behalf of the missus.
Title: Re: Downsizing Due to Age
Post by: Cubs on July 26, 2020, 11:53:45 PM
Quote from: Brummie on July 26, 2020, 05:46:41 PM
Interestingly he too feels much better clearing away all that space and he has actually started painting more and enjoying it as a result of having less to do.

This. Yup, it's that weight of options from having too many projects floating in limbo that just seems to seize up my brain. I like to have a few realistic choices of projects on the go, stuff I could, in theory, actually finish. But the piles and piles of things ... they lose their sparkle after a while and become a burden, more likely to put me off trying to start them.
Title: Re: Downsizing Due to Age
Post by: syrinx0 on July 27, 2020, 05:56:33 AM
Quote from: Cubs on July 26, 2020, 11:53:45 PM
But the piles and piles of things ... they lose their sparkle after a while and become a burden, more likely to put me off trying to start them.

I had the same thoughts recently.  I'm only 56 but I have started selling off unused miniature collections and rare books. Partially to buy different hobby items, partially as a part of our tentative plan to downsizing our home and partially to ease the mental weight of the piles. Ebay selling can be a pain but I do appreciate the end results.  Most of my painted armies and terrain is at our gaming club (a friends basement).  I have never my hobby activity but when inventoried for the first time in years due to a possible move, it caused quite a lively discussion at home. I expect to sell more painted armies in the next few years.

Some of my gaming group are younger with a new families (so no money)  and have taken advantage and gotten a few deals on unpainted miniatures.  Makes me feel better as the models are actually getting painted by some one who is enjoying them. Always a plus when I get to game with them too.  lol
Title: Re: Downsizing Due to Age
Post by: Harry Faversham on July 27, 2020, 08:21:07 AM
It's really gone full circle for me now. In the late sixties and early seventies several of us built up large Airfix Napoleonic Armies. When we all grew up these were put in shoe boxes in our loft. Off we all went weaving our little lines into life's rich tapestry, childhood toys forgotten.
Last couple of years I've dug out the little Airfix men, all of whom were looking very sorry for themselves. When I needed a rest from painting 'proper' wargame figures, an Airfix Regiment got resurrected and based. This kind of went mental during the plague and now the little bastards have overrun the new emporium by the seaside.
Best is I still love them and I'm really looking forward to 'em marching the fields of glory again.
So that's downsizing turned into upsizing really, innit!!!???

::)  :-*  ::)
Title: Re: Downsizing Due to Age
Post by: Belisarius on July 27, 2020, 10:19:42 AM
Having moved home last year , leaving my basement gaming room behind, I was forced to downsize as I simply didn’t have the room in the new house. I sold about a quarter of my figure collection for £1,500 . When I told my wife and Son they looked at me in amazement and said they would have thrown everything in the bin as they had no idea that the figures were worth anything !!!
Title: Re: Downsizing Due to Age
Post by: swiftnick on July 27, 2020, 11:54:25 AM
We have just had a huge downsize as moved house. I went from a reasonable wargames room to sharing a small hobby space with the wife.
That and a realisation that I had less painting years ahead than behind. So huge armies are never going to get finished now.
Have sworn not to buy anything new unless I can balance it with flogging something off.
Title: Re: Downsizing Due to Age
Post by: Harry Faversham on July 27, 2020, 03:28:00 PM
Quote from: swiftnick on July 27, 2020, 11:54:25 AM
Have sworn not to buy anything new unless I can balance it with flogging something off.

As a plan that's ambitious...

But crap!

 lol
Title: Re: Downsizing Due to Age
Post by: swiftnick on July 27, 2020, 03:58:12 PM
That might be your opinion but have kept to it.
Am massively in credit with the stuff I have sold this year.
Title: Re: Downsizing Due to Age
Post by: Inkpaduta on July 27, 2020, 06:23:09 PM
I started a couple of years ago when I turned sixty.
I have gotten rid of a bunch of lines and eras. Still
have plenty and hasn't stopped me from buying more.
But now I don't large army type games but smaller skirmish
with much fewer figures. I realize that at some point we will
be moving to a smaller place and my gaming basement will
not be going with us.
Title: Re: Downsizing Due to Age
Post by: AndrewBeasley on July 27, 2020, 09:41:31 PM
Yes with the main driver being that to get rid I would need to be able to reach just under 200 years old even if I was to paint a figure a day and a couple extra at the weekend!


Add to that, the minor fact that I no longer want to play the original games I bought the figures for (even if I remember) then time to go was the only way.
Title: Re: Downsizing Due to Age
Post by: Harry Faversham on July 27, 2020, 11:08:55 PM
Quote from: swiftnick on July 27, 2020, 03:58:12 PM
That might be your opinion but have kept to it.
Am massively in credit with the stuff I have sold this year.

Good man SN, wish I knew the secret of how to do it!

 :'(
Title: Re: Downsizing Due to Age
Post by: mweaver on July 28, 2020, 12:20:31 AM
I haven't, yet, at 63.  But I console myself that I have a younger wife and a younger brother both in the hobby so, you know, it is more their worry than mine.  Woo hoo! (Especially as aardtacha is usually the one who catalogs stuff).

-Michael
Title: Re: Downsizing Due to Age
Post by: syrinx0 on July 28, 2020, 05:21:30 AM
Quote from: Belisarius on July 27, 2020, 10:19:42 AM
I sold about a quarter of my figure collection for £1,500 . When I told my wife and Son they looked at me in amazement and said they would have thrown everything in the bin as they had no idea that the figures were worth anything !!!

That is definitely something I think about.  My figures have value but some of my books and games are worth quite a bit.  The last three book/games sold for over $1000 which caught my wife's attention so at least she will pay attention.  Most of the rest is worth a lot less per book but certainly not something one should bin.
Title: Re: Downsizing Due to Age
Post by: Harry Faversham on July 28, 2020, 09:14:23 AM
No worries on my part, the pitiless mercenaries calling themselves my kids, know the value of Daddio's books and toys to the penny.
I rest easy in the knowledge that when I do shake a seven, you lads will be haggling for 'em all on fleabay, before mi' corpse is cold.

:'(  :?  :'(
Title: Re: Downsizing Due to Age
Post by: FramFramson on July 28, 2020, 08:24:42 PM
They're not minis, but don't even ask how much the wifey and I have socked away between our two MTG card collections... at least people (including close family) know those are worth money.
Title: Re: Downsizing Due to Age
Post by: emosbur on July 28, 2020, 09:23:27 PM
I turned 54 in March, and I am buying more than ever...
Title: Re: Downsizing Due to Age
Post by: dadlamassu on July 29, 2020, 11:05:27 AM
I thought about doing this and even started organising what to sell and what to keep.  Then the grandchildren took up "The Hobbit" then "Lord of the Rings" then "Zombies" now "Bolt Action" and "Greek myths" and "Romans and Celts".  So I am now building and painting more than ever with them. My son suddenly decided to return to wargaming with "Bolt Action".   I'm nearly 70 so I think most of my stuff will go to good homes.
Title: Re: Downsizing Due to Age
Post by: Spinal Tap on July 29, 2020, 01:05:34 PM
I'm 54 and only started 2 years ago.
Way too early for me to be downsizing.
Title: Re: Downsizing Due to Age
Post by: Mindenbrush on July 29, 2020, 01:54:04 PM
I am 68 and still have a lot of lead to paint - ACW in 15 & 28mm, SYW 28mm, Nap Skirmish 28mm, Cavemen/dino's 28mm and have just started to invest in Chain of Command 28mm.
Title: Re: Downsizing Due to Age
Post by: Leunstoelgeneraal on July 29, 2020, 02:39:10 PM
Since growing older only means a growing distance between one's fysical age (in my case 74) and one's mental age (I estimate somewhere below thirty ;-)) I have chosen to seduce possible heirs - my grandchildren. So I have painted approximately eighty WW II US soldiers, including a tank, and am now finishing about as many Germans as opponents (with a large cannon). All 1/72 plastic. He already took the Americans to school to proudly show them. He is eight years old, his brother is ten. I am sure I can get them to the dark side !
Title: Re: Downsizing Due to Age
Post by: armchairgeneral on July 30, 2020, 09:55:33 AM
I suppose a main factor in this is retirement. At the age of 54, I feel I have downsized as much as I can to accord with the painting time and gaming opportunities I have, which aren't great with work and other commitments at the moment. However I presume when I retire, if my enthusiasm and painting ability is maintained, I imagine my output will considerably increase with more stuff being acquired.
Title: Re: Downsizing Due to Age
Post by: Mindenbrush on July 30, 2020, 01:12:42 PM
I retired December 2018 and in 2019 painted 486 25/28mm figures despite taking September off for a trip to Cyprus and all of December when I got offered a lucrative contract in Mobile, Al.
I would still be in Mobile if not for Covid but my output is up to 385 figures so far this year.
Only thing to watch out for is tennis elbow from the repeated motions when painting.
Title: Re: Downsizing Due to Age
Post by: SJWi on July 30, 2020, 05:22:22 PM
Painting the figure backlog isn't my problem; its the dusty boxes of painted but unused miniatures from many years ago. I have decided on a limited sell-off of several forces believing it better to send them to someone who will actually use them. The "Bazaar of Obscurities" has proved very useful. 
Title: Re: Downsizing Due to Age
Post by: Antonio J Carrasco on July 31, 2020, 05:47:53 AM
I've been thinking about it for years...
Title: Re: Downsizing Due to Age
Post by: Unlucky General on July 31, 2020, 09:59:58 AM
Lords above ... NO. Maintain your rage comrades! I'm near 54 and am waiting for my retirement to launch at it like never before. The only thing holding me back is pesky career and family guff.

I'm planing to upscale residences next year and as far as I'm concerned I'm buying a wargames hall with a residence wrapped around it.

On a slightly more sober note, fellow gamers may value parts of my collection but my family will have no idea or use for it and the 'value' will be zero on the moment of my demize. I did shed my extensive magazine collection three years ago - into the skip. I realised it represented an emotional and historical investment over time but had held no genuine residual value.

I paint and build constantly and I create volumes of stuff. It does create space issues. My own father (82) has a particular issue with his own peculiar collections - including a 12' tall pipe organ and a pianola with a library of scrolls. He threatens me that if I'm not nice to him he'll leave me the lot in his will.

I plan on being buried - entombed and surrounded with my armies like an emperor with my own terracotta army.

Rage against the night!
Title: Re: Downsizing Due to Age
Post by: vodkafan on July 31, 2020, 02:43:29 PM
Quote from: Leunstoelgeneraal on July 29, 2020, 02:39:10 PM
Since growing older only means a growing distance between one's fysical age (in my case 74) and one's mental age (I estimate somewhere below thirty ;-)) I have chosen to seduce possible heirs - my grandchildren. So I have painted approximately eighty WW II US soldiers, including a tank, and am now finishing about as many Germans as opponents (with a large cannon). All 1/72 plastic. He already took the Americans to school to proudly show them. He is eight years old, his brother is ten. I am sure I can get them to the dark side !

It's going to break your heart when they hit their teens and drift away from wargames! But on the other hand they are probably going to remember those priceless times they had with grandad. So it's time well spent.
My own grown up children constantly surprise me with memories of odd times I spent with them doing things which I don't remember as being really memorable or important at the time but they say are really profound recollections for them. 
Title: Re: Downsizing Due to Age
Post by: FierceKitty on August 01, 2020, 02:47:41 AM
61 next month; wouldn't dream of parting with my lead entourage. In fact, just starting a Dacian/Sarmatian alliance army. Positively the last new force, however, unless I can't resist WOTR, Lepanto fleets, 17th century imperial Germans, Tibettans, Hittites, or T'ang (if anybody ever makes those last in 10mm), and maybe Normans. Oh, and Hussites look sooo good....
Title: Re: Downsizing Due to Age
Post by: Jacksarge on August 01, 2020, 04:11:48 AM
Downsizing is definitely going to depend on your circumstances, family & friends. I have an adult son who has built his own collection of miniatures & may have some use for my stuff when I'm gone - but at the very least he knows it's worth something. If my wife & I had to move into a smaller house then I would probably have to part with more stuff, either that or replicate it all in micro scales  :)
From time to time I sell stuff on or give it away as I lose interest in something, and often haven't used the miniatures or books for years. It can be a relief to lighten the load, and if I make back a few $ I could choose to invest in something new that does interest me.
Title: Re: Downsizing Due to Age
Post by: Muzfish4 on August 02, 2020, 02:36:06 AM
I can't see me downsizing in the next decade or more as I'm looking to retire from full time work (probably keep a part time gig of one sort or another going just to interact with the rest of the world) in six or seven years time. At that stage I'll hope to be gaming regularly and making a small indentation on the lead (and plastic and resin) mountain.

My two young lads are both enjoying their painting and gaming so hopefully they'll be able to divide them when I go to Lead Valhalla. As noted above, they'll probably drop out of this in teens and twenties (as I did) but it'll all be there when they're a bit settled and are ready to get back into it. Even if they don't, well, they'll still have memories of gaming and painting together which is great.

I still drop some cash on new shiny things and make a half-baked start to projects that peter out but always with the possibility of being restarted down the line.
Title: Re: Downsizing Due to Age
Post by: syrinx0 on August 03, 2020, 04:14:59 AM
Quote from: Unlucky General on July 31, 2020, 09:59:58 AM
I plan on being buried - entombed and surrounded with my armies like an emperor with my own terracotta army.

My wife would probably be fine with that.  Not sure it would all fit though.  lol
Title: Re: Downsizing Due to Age
Post by: FramFramson on August 03, 2020, 07:14:36 PM
"We're gonna need a bigger coffin!"
Title: Re: Downsizing Due to Age
Post by: FifteensAway on August 05, 2020, 06:33:22 AM
Knocking on 63 (less than a month to go) with retirement in less than 16 months if all goes as planned.  Trying to be rid of stuff but it is a hard barrier to cross. 

I have been more successful with focusing on 3 primary collections: American War for Independence, Old West/Pony Wars, and my Slightly Cracked Colonials (a bit of African Exploration, a bit of German East Africa - hopefully - a bit of Boxer Rebellion and more with a touch of Edgar Rice Burroughs kept to Earth). 

Challenge is those three collections probably near 14,000 total pieces which is a bit less than half of what I own - and I have been buying more stuff lately (to finish things off mostly, plus German East Africa to wrap up my last collection).  Person, animal, or 'vehicle' (like guns) all count as one.  Maybe all told 34,000 pieces in the collection! 

Like others, I hope to be vastly more productive in retirement.  But I also recognize that with everything painted plus terrain I'd need at least twice the space I'm currently utilizing for storage.  The space is there but the wife would be very put out if I tried to use it as in put out on the street (not a desirable option  lol)!

And the often undiscussed element.  If I had all of my collections fully painted, all the buildings and scenery finished, and I was fully retired, how would I find time to play all the periods, at least fourteen, as well as maintain an interest group of like-minded gamers?   

The collecting was fun and worthwhile for me personally, expense notwithstanding, but reality does need to rear its head to retain a semblance of sanity.  Though some say that boat has long ago sailed!  :D
Title: Re: Downsizing Due to Age
Post by: mcfonz on August 05, 2020, 05:35:05 PM
Perhaps it is age, but I think it is more down to circumstances.

My was recently found unwell with leukaemia and is not expected to live longer than 2yrs. Now, whilst we are now thankful for every minute we have with him, I am also reflecting upon some of his circumstances and similarities with my own.

He has a lot of stuff, and I mean, a lot. And most of it isn't hugely useful to me or my sister. 20+ fishing rods and reels, fly tying gear etc. Amongst other things. Now he lives 400 miles away and sadly has neglected to look after his home so much of the stuff there will have to be binned. And it's going to be difficult for us to sort out easily really so no doubt, some items of note will probably be lost in the maelstrom.

I had already started a cull on my gaming room, but the discovery of rising damp has ushered in a much more ruthless approach.

At 38, I need to redress my approach and focus more. A lot of projects that I never started on or never finished are going to go. I have passed on my old white dwarf collection to my sisters fiance. Any odds and ends that fit with gaming friends armies have been passed onto them.

I have a new resolve to not hoard such huge piles of unpainted stuff that I will have lost interest in by the time I get round to painting them. I still don't have a good enough range of terrain and space is taken up by armies I haven't used or won't be using.

Sometimes life has a way of asking you what you are waiting for? What do you plan to do? What do you want?
Title: Re: Downsizing Due to Age
Post by: Blackwolf on August 05, 2020, 10:49:26 PM
Sad to hear Mcfonz. If I was in England I'd help you out,long standing fly fisherman,tier,guide and teacher. 
Title: Re: Downsizing Due to Age
Post by: Cypher226 on August 06, 2020, 04:53:07 PM
I'm probably the younger end of the age range here along with Mcfonz, but my attitude to parting with stuff is hardening.  I've finally managed to get the missus to acknowledge the scale of the rpg book collection is vast while we play either homebrew or one of a very small number of settings, so for example the d&d 3-3.5 stuff is to be cleared and replaced with a much smaller number of d&d5 books - which will occupy much less shelf space. Still vacillating on Vampire though, lots of memories tied up in those books.

In turn I'm downsizing my 40k stuff to Custodes, Mechanicus and one more to be determined (probably bad guys), and going to clear out a ton of other stuff that will likely never see paint or the table.  Other than that it'll be skirmish games/up to company size only in the future I think.

Watch the Bazaar in the next few weeks....
Title: Re: Downsizing Due to Age
Post by: _Si_ on August 06, 2020, 05:52:52 PM
I'm only 41 (feel 71 if that counts?) but hell no, accruing new stuff with fury! He who dies with the most toys wins, right?

Feels like we need a Widows Support Group. Everyone gets a little card to carry on their person (next to the donor card). "If I pop my clogs, please visit LAF and they'll tell you the truth about how much everything really cost. Sorry".

My missus is under strict instructions not to dispose of anything without talking to my gaming buddy. At least he'll be able to figure out where to ask the right questions. 
Title: Re: Downsizing Due to Age
Post by: thebinmann on August 06, 2020, 06:34:22 PM
Quote from: Cubs on July 26, 2020, 05:21:43 PM
It's quite a load off sometimes, to rehome something you feel guilty for not ever painting.

This, but for me it's that I don't use them/look at them. I guess I'm inspired by American Pickers and Fight Club... and of course the Hoarder Next Door and my wife....

Title: Re: Downsizing Due to Age
Post by: Tactalvanic on August 06, 2020, 10:47:17 PM
To be fair, I have been reading away here, and with recent events, and helping clear my parents home, and 51 tomorrow and....

Nope, still not parting with anything. Unless I suddenly have to part with Everything...

That aside, and having to clear parents house being sobering, seeing all their life and our memories of them in the things and furniture was sobering and saddening to, can't just save it all, or keep it or give it to other members of family. Key things yes, but so much stuff just had to go.

Sigh. yeah. but my horded mountain, not yet. even the unpainted, sometimes, like today, been a long 40 hours of work stress (issues, so had to work on it). finished, brain buzzing,tired but no sleep yet, picked a box from the shelf, opened it, almost like a book going through the lead in it, even that helps the stress away.


Maybe one day, reduce, I certainly have bought far less this year, and I have several family members who would take some of it. Yeah one day, but not yet.

Meantime need a little shelf-space just there for some stuff from my Mum. And then to bed and better things tomorrow.
Title: Re: Downsizing Due to Age
Post by: tim at frontline on August 08, 2020, 11:19:54 PM
Don't intend to down size for any reason. I've already thought out who in my club will be bequeathed what armies. The rest the wife can sell off, she has a good idea of the value and we have friends that will make sure she's not ripped off. That's the plan anyway, then again perhaps she'll be glad to see the back of it all. Of course there's Frontline to sell as well as I have no intention of retiring (for now ). 
Title: Re: Downsizing Due to Age
Post by: pixelgeek on August 08, 2020, 11:25:38 PM
I have had a general rule that with a few exceptions, anything that I don't use for a year or two gets sold or traded away. I recently did this with most of my AoS and 40K stuff.

I am trying to make sure that I don't end up with a huge lead pile for anyone to have to dispose of
Title: Re: Downsizing Due to Age
Post by: SteveBurt on August 13, 2020, 10:27:15 AM
Quote from: FifteensAway on August 05, 2020, 06:33:22 AM
And the often undiscussed element.  If I had all of my collections fully painted, all the buildings and scenery finished, and I was fully retired, how would I find time to play all the periods, at least fourteen, as well as maintain an interest group of like-minded gamers?   

The collecting was fun and worthwhile for me personally, expense notwithstanding, but reality does need to rear its head to retain a semblance of sanity.  Though some say that boat has long ago sailed!  :D

I’m in the position of having most of my collections of figures all painted up and complete. I may add the odd unit, or replace older figures with newer ones, but it is basically all done. But how do I play with about 12 different ancients armies, Dark Age, ECW, French & Indian War, Pirates, Napoleonics, ACW, Old West, Zulu War, WW2 (all theatres) Galleys, Age of Sail, WW1 ships, WW2 ships, WW1 planes, WW2 planes? It can be several years before I get back to some periods!
Title: Re: Downsizing Due to Age
Post by: warrenpeace on October 06, 2020, 03:33:03 AM
My collection reduction started with cardboard wargames. Sold a mass of them in the early 1990's. Then sold another mass of them almost a decade ago. Silly me, I bought a half dozen more of them last year, but at least my collection of cardboard wargames is still small.

Got into miniatures almost 20 years ago, and it was a major shopping addiction. Too many books. Too many miniatures. Far too many of the miniatures remain unpainted. I moved around for years, and often this excessive lead mountain was in storage. Finally have a house, a big game room, plenty of storage racks, a great painting buddy who built my game table and got me painting again a few weeks ago, and plenty of people who are happy to play.

But I realize that I've got too much stuff. I sold off my Wings of War to another gamer who had lost his collection in a house fire. I sold my 1:72 scale Russian tanks at the regional historical miniatures wargame convention. I gave a box of painted 1:300 scale airplanes to a friend who I know will use them. But I've got more stuff that I need to pass on. My own brother and nephews are unlikely to use any of it.

At the same time, though, I need to focus more on painting and making terrain and setting up scenarios, especially for Pulp Alley, rather than focusing on getting rid of books and unpainted figures. Selling things takes time too. And time is the thing most in short supply.
Title: Re: Downsizing Due to Age
Post by: GrahamC on October 06, 2020, 06:21:29 PM
I've spent the last few years reducing the collection. Like others on here I spent two years getting rid of a colleagues collection of books and figures after his untimely death. He was the nominated person to get rid of mine!

Anyway my son challenged me to go through everything painted or not and be realistic - some painted armies I hadn't played with for 8-10 years some unpainted stuff longer. So I've gradually gone through everything and rather than be sentimental I've been realistic. I've kept quite a lot of 15mm - can paint quick and don't always need a large table. I own Crann Tara Miniatures so my main 28mm collection is those most the rest has gone including books and buildings - I shocked myself at how much I've earned from the sales. ( In excess of £15k) some has been sold through shows and ebay but a lot has gone to individuals who buy collections yes you get less per item but everything goes in one go. Bottom line is I feel a lot better and I'm a lot happier focussing on fewer things.
Title: Re: Downsizing Due to Age
Post by: Jemima Fawr on October 06, 2020, 07:24:42 PM
I think we need a list of downsizing wargamers broken down by age and sex... ;)
Title: Re: Downsizing Due to Age
Post by: manic _miner on October 07, 2020, 07:39:22 AM
 GrahamC I am one of the people who have bought from you at show's in the past and hope to in the not too distant future.

 I have started to thin out my collection.

 In answer to Jemima Fawr I an 50 years old and male.Been collecting miniatures and other things most of my life.Like most on here i have loads of old projects that i will never get around to.So time to move them on.
Title: Re: Downsizing Due to Age
Post by: Harry Faversham on October 07, 2020, 08:36:07 AM
I'm 63, never throw anything away, and have just finished a project I started in 1969!!!

::)
Title: Re: Downsizing Due to Age
Post by: Belisarius on October 07, 2020, 09:53:45 AM
Harry , spot the well known phrase or saying . “ retentive anally “ . 😁 This applies doubly to moi , btw .
Title: Re: Downsizing Due to Age
Post by: dadlamassu on October 07, 2020, 10:57:41 AM
Quote from: Harry Faversham on October 07, 2020, 08:36:07 AM
I'm 63, never throw anything away, and have just finished a project I started in 1969!!!
::)

Finished?  FINISHED?  Good grief, I don't think I have any projects actually finished.  The longest running is my 20mm WW2 started in the early 1960s which still uses Airfix Infantry Combat Group (as British) and the first series Airfix German Infantry.  I added a tank a few weeks ago. 
Title: Re: Downsizing Due to Age
Post by: syrinx0 on October 08, 2020, 06:30:56 AM
Quote from: manic _miner on October 07, 2020, 07:39:22 AM
I have started to thin out my collection.

 In answer to Jemima Fawr I an 50 years old and male.Been collecting miniatures and other things most of my life.Like most on here i have loads of old projects that i will never get around to.So time to move them on.

Not as old as Harry but I have started downsizing.  If only to keep my kids from dealing with it and I from whining about how they under priced that figure..   lol
Title: Re: Downsizing Due to Age
Post by: tallyho on October 10, 2020, 12:37:15 PM
I'm 47 and have just started my last wargames project I intend to do.

After that it will be a couple of units a year to round off existing collections.

Alongside boardgames, even with weekly gaming, my club down the road, friends close by, and a gaming girlfriend, I'm just not getting through half of my stuff to use every 2 years.
Title: Re: Downsizing Due to Age
Post by: Mr. White on October 12, 2020, 02:30:28 PM
^ This is about where I am. I turn 46 in December and have been in and out of this hobby, mainly in, for about 35years.

Several years ago, I sold off _all_ my models thinking I was finally out of the hobby. I came back..., but I've cut way back on projects, and unloaded many unpainted models and games that just weren't going to happen. I've got a few 'bucket list' projects I want to tackle over the next 2-3 years. Then after that I'm hoping to put the brushes into semi-retirement. I'll do a few models a year casually, but no more deep dives into a new title or setting. If any new game comes up its gonna have to be mini agnostic and use what I've got painted.

For the record, I've laid out these next few 'push' years as:
* Paint all the Blitz Bowl teams and all the Blood Bowl teams I'll likely play in tourneys. BB has been the main constant game throughout my life so it deserves top treatment. I doubt I ever run a true face-to-face BB league again, but that's where BzB comes in. BB will be reserved for tournaments, but I'd like to have about 5 complete teams. That's enough variety to keep me going
* 20mm Post apoc table centered around the Perry Bros' Dark Future minis. this was the first line of models I really fell in love with. I want to have a healthy collection of them painted and adventuring in the wasteland. I intend to use them and other 20mm minis for game such as Zona Alfa, Last Days, Gaslands, etc.
* 3-4 Dracula's America posses
* the big one...a full fantasy table. I've long admired Warhammer 3rd edition era, but never put in the time to make a fleshed out fantasy table or gone into rank and flank games, my life has been filled with skirmish. Well, I think I'm going to capstone my minis career with a very nice fantasy table to play Oathmark and Rangers of Shadow Deep on.

When I hit this point in the next few years 100% of my models will be painted. The main reason to throttle back is, for me, there are some other artistic pursuits I've just never got around to developing in this short life such as playing guitar. Also, i've been good about my health, but maybe even focus more on it as I hit 50. But from time to time I might want to paint a new cryptid for Dracula's America, or a creature Oathmark/RoSD. Just light, casual, little time demand.
Title: Re: Downsizing Due to Age
Post by: Compas on October 28, 2020, 02:31:46 PM
I still drop some cash on new shiny things and make a half-baked start to projects that peter out but always with the possibility of being restarted down the line.
Title: Re: Downsizing Due to Age
Post by: Cubs on November 02, 2020, 12:53:34 PM
Quote from: Jemima Fawr on October 06, 2020, 07:24:42 PM
I think we need a list of downsizing wargamers broken down by age and sex... ;)

Quote from: Belisarius on October 07, 2020, 09:53:45 AM
Harry , spot the well known phrase or saying . “ retentive anally “ . 😁 This applies doubly to moi , btw .

Ah ... I might be misinterpreting ...
Title: Re: Downsizing Due to Age
Post by: RSDean on November 03, 2020, 11:28:57 AM
This is definitely a tough question.  Points:

1) I’ll be 60 in the spring, which is one of those “consider your life” milestone birthdays.  Happily my hands are still steady and a combination of optics allows me to see what I’m painting.  Retirement is on the horizon, which might allow some additional time for hobbies, including this one, and I expect that my ability to push toy soldiers around might reasonably outlast my ability to keep ice dancing.

2) My sons are both gamers, with my elder being a regular miniatures gamer, which is good, but they both now live at a distance.

3) I’ve been keeping track of how much I have managed to get painted for the past 25 years, and the most recent few years have been pretty steady at about 180 figures per year.

4) I’m still interested in all of “this”, and it’s been almost 50 years.  (I found rules for the first time at 10 in 1971.) So I don’t really expect that to change. 

5). This has been a bad year for games, so I’m currently only at 23 played for the year; the pandemic has suppressed the numbers by eliminating conventions, and I’m suffering from a bit of “Zoom fatigue” when it comes to getting remote games set up and played.  This year aside, even with work and all, I’ve been getting in ~40 games a year for a long time. 

Conclusions: 

A) I need to be more cautious about starting new projects.  A typical “battle” level project might involve two armies of about twelve units of about twelve figures each, or ~288 figures.  At current rates, that’s about a year and a half to see a new start on the table...IF I just painted that one project.  I currently have at least four new start projects on my docket.  It seems unlikely that they will all reach the table as envisioned.  Skirmish projects of less than 100 figures are less of an issue, but each one is a third of a battle project, so they add up.

B) I have enough figures in the hoard already to last the rest of my actuarially expected life, unless I paint faster and/or send some out for others to paint.  On top of that, my home casting mold library is vast.  Some of these probably need to be released back into the world...but which ones?

C) I have ~15 projects already at a playable level.  If I could keep up 40 games a year, everything out to be out at least once every other year, so perhaps that isn’t too bad.  But, you could easily make a case for less being more—five or six projects might be enough to provide variety and would each have their turn that much faster.

D) I need to find a way to get more solo games in; I enjoy them when I play them, but getting them planned and set up takes a fair amount of activation energy. 

E) Organization of my “stuff” needs to be a lot better.  Each hour spent searching for a particular misplaced figure, unit, piece of scenery, or mold is an hour not spent painting or playing.  The total amount of stuff is less critical if it is readily available on demand.

So, am I actually downsizing?  I did sell off a 500 figure painted project this past year, which hadn’t been out for the better part of five years.  There’s probably more of that coming.