Holy Grails - You're most sought miniature(s)?

The best of luck to you both!
Good news is that pretty much all of the minis in these pics are bog-standard releases from the C-series. Nothing particularly special about 'em except for the fact that they're all pushing 40 years of age (the pre-slotta orcs and goblins might even have exceeded that already).

Back on topic: It's hard to pinpoint one particular grail mini because
a) It's not really a lifetime task to try and purchase a single mini at a reasonable price. (Sure, the borders of 'reasonable' might be open for debate and shift over the years but they'll never shift that far that 25,- quid for a single mini would ever be considered reasonable.) And once it has happened, it either was the last mini you'll ever buy or it wasn't the right grail mini to begin with.
It might have taken me a couple of years but eventually I've managed to find a 'Slambo' Chaos Warrior at a still reasonable price and now he's in shipment. Longest-standing grail mini not a grail mini anymore. If I have to pick a new one, wouldn't that mean I've picked the wrong one at first and should have picked the recent pick right from the start?

b) Enthusiasm for single minis shifts over time as 'projects' fall in and out of favor.
When I was sorting Skaven and planning a skaven warband in my mind, it quickly tuned out thath the Skaven 'Skewer' from '78 would be crucial. I can't build/paint the warband that I want without 'Skewer'. I do want that warband, is he now the new grail mini?
Of course, currently, it's all Orks, Orks, Orks. The one real nice Ork mini I am missing is the 'Super Cyboar'. I really like it and would love to paint it but the same holds true for an 'Eldar Tinboy'. If I could have just one of them everrr, which one would it be? Dunno
 
I'll be honest, back in the day, my most wanted figure was the C21, spear carrying lizardman, coldone rider, I just thought they were so cool and when I see them on Ebay, B&B's and sale sites now, I'm still tempted. But I now have more than enough of these gems (in my eyes), not to go overboard.

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However, following the first BOYL event, back in 2013, it became apparent that if you wanted to be considered a collector the ultimate collection piece was The Great Spined Dragon.

Paul / Golgfag1
 
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Golgfag1 said:
However, following the first BOYL event, back in 2013, it became apparent that if you wanted to be considered a collector the ultimate collection piece was The Great Spined Dragon.
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I'd say that was one of my "would rather like" models, but not at the ebay prices - I have enough unpainted dragons! There are always a few classic models I rather wished I had (Squat tech priest, etc), but I guess since I'm not willing to pay their current premiums I can't "need" them that badly!
 
Original GSD? I personally wouldn't touch it for the prices it goes for. high price for a model which is gonna be in kinda poor state. there are good enough homage sculpts around ^_^
 
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I have been after the mounted Battle Lord for years. Its not even a particularly nice miniature, but my aversion to plastic horses (due to size), my love of the C33 adventure packs and my use of the Perry Men at Arms knights has left me needing a suitably sized general for my Empire Army.

I have never seen this miniature come up for sale in the usual places, and judging by the price of the standard bearer in this set im afraid I could never afford it anyway.

When I think about it, this is the very reason my Empire army was never finished, even though most of the hard work is done. On a happier note, this means I'm painting more Halflings and gobbos
 
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Brother Meredith said:
Wow dude, when you deep dive, you go real deep!
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Cause I'm an idiot and since people don't really care (and I'm not greatly bothered by that), this week I posted WAY more background information. Something more of a deep dive ^_^ over on my blog Random Idiot Probebly more then anyone wants to know and well, there is an option for a bit more if I try to contact some people but I don't think I want to bother them.
 
There's a bunch of miniatures I'd like to own but don't consider any of them "holy grail". To call something that would IMO require at least some effort of trying to track down one. For me closest to holy grail would probably be oriental mage to complete my copy of Curse of the mummy's tomb.
There was one on ebay years ago with asking price (or maybe sold for, can't remember which) of £50+ which I simply can't justify spending on one single miniature under any circumstances.

Ti Pouchon said:
It's not really a lifetime task to try and purchase a single mini at a reasonable price. (Sure, the borders of 'reasonable' might be open for debate and shift over the years but they'll never shift that far that 25,- quid for a single mini would ever be considered reasonable.) And once it has happened, it either was the last mini you'll ever buy or it wasn't the right grail mini to begin with.
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I believe that in our heart's heart we all are some sort of collectors and collectors never truly finish their collection.
That dream of finding something we really want to add into our collection at reasonable price, that "one in a thousand chance" of finding our "grail" is integral part of collecting, but after obtaining what we thought was our #1 thing we'll likely move on to the next thing.
There will always be something that grabs our attention and the cycle keeps on going. :roll:
 
Think my copy of Curse got water damaged and chucked out… Still have the minis from the set. Didn’t realise there were additional characters introduced! :oops:
 
I supped from the grail last Wednesday... Or was it the ladies furry cup? I forget :)
Anyway, ten days prior I was doing my usual eBay search... Nothing. A few hours later I tried again, AND THERE IT WAS!! A GENUINE PIECE OF ROCKING HORSE SH&#!!
I couldn't believe my eyes! I tried to buy it there and then but the seller wouldn't have it, it was to be auctioned.
Ten days later and we get to the final minute of bidding, multiple alarms were set and ringing, it was going to be mine, final ten seconds and I bid £111.11.
Seemed a fitting number for body #11 and over four years of searching!
I won it for £41 you absolute beauty! Now have all 24 5th edition mounted Questing Knights.
I guess that makes me a grail knight now... So henceforth I would like to be known here as Sir Clio the cup supper 🤣
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Wow. Do those really go for £40 a piece? Crazy world. You'd think GW might rerelease then for Old World as seem to match the style they're going for with Brets.
 
Fimm McCool said:
Wow. Do those really go for £40 a piece? Crazy world. You'd think GW might rerelease then for Old World as seem to match the style they're going for with Brets.
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There's a couple I paid closer to £100 for! They really are very rare indeed. 1-4 are common because they came in the box set. 5-20 good luck even finding them for sale. There's a sealed one and a loose one on eBay right now, and no more. I got lucky with a job lot from France that contained 8 I was after, I say got lucky but I paid about 500 for that little lot. I bought a couple on here too (the reason I joined).
Just Tristan & Jules, Repanse and two or three more mounted Yeomen sculpts and I'll have the whole 5th edition line.
I thought it was going to be impossible at times, months and months would pass before one I needed popped up.
If GW do re-release them I'll not be pleased! What you're looking at there is well over a grands worth of metal, and more precious than gold!
In my mind they are the best models GW ever put out.
I was just getting back into the swing of things painting them when I was renting a room in a shared house, a fight with the landlord and I've found myself homeless, the council don't care and neither does anyone else. So I bought myself a van and am converting it into a camper to live in. Because why not? Tired of lining greedy landlords pockets. Just bad timing really because it's turning very cold and it's totally drained all the money I had saved. I'll get through it, I've survived worse 😎
 
Clio said:
There's a couple I paid closer to £100 for! They really are very rare indeed. 1-4 are common because they came in the box set. 5-20 good luck even finding them for sale. There's a sealed one and a loose one on eBay right now, and no more. I got lucky with a job lot from France that contained 8 I was after, I say got lucky but I paid about 500 for that little lot. I bought a couple on here too (the reason I joined).
Just Tristan & Jules, Repanse and two or three more mounted Yeomen sculpts and I'll have the whole 5th edition line.
I thought it was going to be impossible at times, months and months would pass before one I needed popped up.
If GW do re-release them I'll not be pleased! What you're looking at there is well over a grands worth of metal, and more precious than gold!
In my mind they are the best models GW ever put out.
I was just getting back into the swing of things painting them when I was renting a room in a shared house, a fight with the landlord and I've found myself homeless, the council don't care and neither does anyone else. So I bought myself a van and am converting it into a camper to live in. Because why not? Tired of lining greedy landlords pockets. Just bad timing really because it's turning very cold and it's totally drained all the money I had saved. I'll get through it, I've survived worse 😎
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If you need any advice on how to get by let me know, I was once sleeping rough over winter, freezing my ass off is like second nature to me now.
It's an obvious one but cardboard is good for sleeping on, insulates ones bottom from the cold nicely.
 
Brother Meredith said:
They have the plastic set, so no need to go to the expense of metal I guess?

Anyhoo, well done for completing your collection!
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Cheers!
I really don't like what they did with 6th edition Bret's. It's 5th and earlier for my tastes. I mean come on! One of the 6th QK's has a chest of drawers strapped to his horse! It's retarded. The one and only model I have from 6th / old world is the trebuchet, I'll get Elisse Duchard because that's a beautiful model.
 
Clio said:
Cheers!
I really don't like what they did with 6th edition Bret's. It's 5th and earlier for my tastes. I mean come on! One of the 6th QK's has a chest of drawers strapped to his horse! It's retarded. The one and only model I have from 6th / old world is the trebuchet, I'll get Elisse Duchard because that's a beautiful model.
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Not just me that dislikes the later/current Bretonnian range I see. I like the use of 2 handed weapons to differentiate the unit from the other knights but that's about it.

Even the foot knights are stupidly huge compared to a bowmen and doesn't look right to me.

Guess we have to be cursed with bad sculpts when we play the best human faction in the game. 👍
Being a fellow camembert munching and red wine swilling Bretonnian I'm looking forward to seeing stuff getting painted. You going for a unified colour scheme of one particular Lord or more of a colourful cacophony of different heraldry?
 
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