Is there a problem with people creating their own miniatures then selling them off as GW miniatures? I am planning to attend a wargaming/minatures auction in a few months and hope to find some good deals there. Is there a way to tell homemade miniatures from the real ones? If I understand the auction policy correctly, close inspections are allowed prior to the auction. Thank you in advance for suggestions.

Regards,
Callan

It is hard you can often see them on eBay but I think games workshop did a undercover job on them and they have been fined !
Were about will the auction be ?

I was told the auction is in Chicago(US) sometime in October. Someone is suppose to supply me with more information at a later date.

Bootleggers often use a different metal to GW so take an original mini with you to compare. It may be more matt finish, or slightly yellowy in color. Sometimes they try to disguise this by inking the metals or priming them all black or white to hide the metal finish. Details may also be softer too (not as crisp).

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You don't have to be great to start. But you do have to start to be great.

I have purchased some minis from a dealer on ebay. I am very sure his minis were recasts. The metal was definitely not as strong. My experience is that the GW minis are much more forgiving when bent, or bent back into position. The slottas on the minis I purchased were quite loose going into the bases. Though they look pratically the same, I would still pay for the GW metal mini. That is if it was available.

I wonder if the quality of a recast in metal would make some people desire it more than a Finecast mini.
I would buy the Finecast if I knew the mini was a recast.

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Thanks ukfreddybear and Rangefinder for your helpful tips. I will remember to pack a GW figure for my trip to the auction for comparisons. Interesting tip about priming to cover up. I though it was because the owner gave up on the figures and decided to sell. Thanks again everyone for your tips.

No problem . Not all primed minis are recasts of course. As you say, there are genuine people out there who basecoated their army with full intention of painting it, but lost interest before getting around to it.

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You don't have to be great to start. But you do have to start to be great.

Auction in october in Chicagoland. Sounds to me like you're going to probably be at the Games Plus auction. You're probably going to be fairly safe there. The G+ Auction is more a vector for locals to sell off excess stuff as opposed to something like ebay. All the items are locally added.

Thanks lordgoober. I will look up Games Plus.