The Problem with Dark Alliance/Redbox

[Mr. White]

Their boxes are fantastic values with good sculpts. All around great  deals when you can get like ~48 models for $10.

However…I have _so_ many spares! Like I have both boxes of stalkers but only want a single 12 model sprue from each as i use them for skirmish games and don’t need repeat models. So, I end up with 72 minis left over. Or the cyclops set. I only need 4 of the 12. 24 of my 48 goblins. Etc.

What do I do with all the spares? Even if I tossed them, the boxes were so cheap I’m satisfied with a sprue or two. I got my money worth. I guess I could try trades but don’t know too many people doing 1:72 plus I’d have to trade bulk to make the cost of shipping worth it as they’re cheap enough it might be cost effect to just buy more boxes for what I need instead of trading…

[robh]

......What do I do with all the spares? .......

Make up a second army and then sell/trade that?
As you say 1/72s are so cheap they have virtually no 2nd hand value, until specific sets get retired.
You could keep just the heads and weapon hands for future conversions.

[Hobgoblin]

Make element-based armies for HotT, DBA and the whole host of games that use the same base sizes! There are loads of brilliant wargames in that category, and your spares will give you a number of playable armies in short order.

There's an added benefit in doing this, in that you can use the element-based troops alongside your individually based ones when you want to play bigger games of Dragon Rampant or whatever. And of course there are some great basing-agnostic games (Of Armies and Hordes, etc.) where you can use the whole lot - or use the individually based ones to count casualties.

[swiftnick]

Set up a swap thread.

[Gibby]

Chop up the excess to make "Dead Marshes" style scenery

[Peithetairos]

Gift them to a local charity. There are some that give toys to kids in need. I am sure they would appreciate it. If the are soft plastic, then they are basically indestructible, so perfect for kids.

[Major_Gilbear]

Yeah, as Peithetairos says, giving them to charity, or I was going to suggest to a local school club, where the kids can build and paint some models and get into the hobby.

[Mr. White]

Great suggestions, all.

I think I'll start with a trade thread, then go to donations.

EDIT: Trade thread - https://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=135031.0

[Daeothar]

You mention the Stalkers sprues; most minis on there are very specific and easily recognisable.

I used several of them on my BSC entry last year, and I found that they can be easily converted using 1/72 militairy miniatures. For instance I had some Airfix NATO groundcrew and some Tamiya US groundcrew, as well as a multitude of others to play around with.

Most of those had been lying in the bits box for decades, but I finally have a use for them now.

Check around if anyone has any 20mm / 1/72 soldier types lying around, nab 'em and go to town. Not all Stalkers are suitable (the exo-skeleton ones for instance), but with a bit of faffing around, you can easily get another batch of 12 uniques out of the existing set...