The Lead Market Report - May/June 2011

July already? Time for another two-for-one LMR. This one is a biggie, so put on a pot of coffee or crack a couple of Red Bulls. Think I could get my own column or show on CNBC? Come on, I could be the Jim Cramer for miniatures! Hmm, Mad Lead?

Archive: Here's a nice-looking lot of Archive old-school lead that sold for $260. Seems to be mostly from their Star Wars...I mean, Star Rovers series.

Citadel: I always dig on seeing something new (at least new to me), so this Encounter at Khazad-Dum box set was a real treat. And for just under $50, it seems like a good price for something that probably doesn't come up that often. And from the Old Lead is Good Lead files, I thought this C28 giant that went for just under $24 was a good buy. Even better buys were this C28 giant for $18.50 and this C28 giant for under $15. C28 giants for under $20 is good for the buyer, in my opinion. Then again, I have been known to be partial to all things giant. The Citadel AD&D line is not as well-known as say the Ral Partha 11-series, but it's just as good, although not nearly extensive as RP's. In any event, you can't go wrong when you can move the Magic User set (3 minis) for $53. Ah, the allure of mint-on-card goodness.

Dragontooth: The DT plastic baggies contain gold! Well, cold, hard, PayPal funds, whatever. This Saurian Behemoth & Crew brought in $72, while this Dungeon Feast at $62 was not too far behind. Ghouls eating a dead knight - a feast, indeed.

Games Workshop: As a Dark Angels kind of guy, I couldn't help but to notice that this slightly older DA Command Squad topped out at $53. Keep sets like this in mind next time you hit the swap meets or see some gaming store going out of business. And old school space marines, like these troopers in Mk. III armor for $24, continue to be very popular on the 40K scene.

Grenadier: Individually, the minis in this blister are usually $1 minis on a good day. But sell them as a complete set on a Wizzards & Warriors card, and you get nearly $30. Works for me! My Steal of the Month goes to this $1 sale of The Fiend. A giant demon/balrog for a buck? Nice score. Almost as good as the $1 Fiend was this massive Battle Giant for a mere $12.39. Seriously? I mean, someone shelled out $46 for a new copy of the Mirliton version, while a sealed copy of the original release went for $37. I still find myself drawn to the Fantastic Females of the Ancient World series, like this Princess Shaaranon for $25.

Does shrinkwrap make any difference? What about artwork? Well, how about these two Western Gunfighter sets priced at $55 versus $16?

Heritage: This seller must have acquired a shitload of inventory from an old gaming store, because he seems to sell a lot of still-sealed OOP stuff, like this Crypt of the Sorcerer for $77. Ka-ching!

Leading Edge Games: It wouldn't be a proper LMR without some Alien love, as this nice lot that went for just shy of $100 demonstrates.

Ral Partha: As a seller, you gotta love the prices that OGRE minis go for, especially the larger tanks, such as this Mk. V that sold for $44 and this one for $34. One day, I will own one of these armored behemoths. Speaking of behemoths, the Great Red Dragon always does well, as demonsrated by this $70 sale. The iconic Warhammer 6R always seems to pull down decent $$$, especially the ones still mint on card like this $40 sale. Or if you prefer, you could have dropped a cool $510 to acquire 60 mechs, including seven (yes, 7) Rifleman IICs.

Back to AD&D boxed sets, Dragonstrike is usually one of those sets that people ask $100+ for, but I think something like this one for $45 is much more reasonable, as well as this Dragon Mountain for $47. The Dragonlance Draconians set seems to fluctuate a bit - sometimes I see in the $30 range, and sometimes it goes for $54. The Red Dragon of Krynn typically commands prices around the $50 range, so this one for $21 is a bit of a head-scratcher. All that's missing is the original foam inserts in the box, but surely the foam isn't worth $30...is it??? This Huma's Silver Dragon for $53 is about par for the course. Lord Soth is a popular badass, and his Dragonlance Villains set for $57 proves that point. I really don't care for his pose & sword in this set, but that's just me. I'd rather have this arms-folded "I am evil and you are SO dead!" pose for just under $21.

The always-popular Remorhaz still commands premium prices, especially when they are complete in blister, like this one for $56, or this one for a hefty $78. I'd settle for for that is out of the blister, assembled, and crappily painted - as long as it is complete ;) And my favorite big RP dragon, the Golden Dragon of Chaos, is a sure thing too, like this one for $71. I'll never complete my Birthright collection at prices like $81 for a NIB Abominations set, but at least the 6 minis I own from this set only cost me a tiny fraction of $81.

This standing version of the Owlbear cleared $39.

The bargain hunter in me just loves this lot: 72 Crimson Skies aircraft for $233.50. That's just a tad under $3.25 per plane! I can appreciate a pickup like that.

Everyone's favorite Dark Elf ranger is an enigma, both in print and in mini form. Some days his various poses go for $20 or $30 (or more!), and some days you can get him NIB for $12, or you can pick him up for $2.36. Less than $3? Again, the cheap bastard in me isn't complaining, if I had been the buyer. As the seller, I would have been a tad puzzled. Such is the crazy world of lead speculation.

Reaper Miniatures: To hell with you! At least, to hell with your pocketbook if you covet the DOOM minis from Reaper. Baron of Hell? $37. And again for $23. This Cyber Demon raked in amost $58. Must be the gun arm thingy on him. Still haven't spent enough? Try $81 for Arachnotron if you dare.

Printed Matter: Oh, I was sorely tempted to jump in on the bidding for this copy of The Armory's Buyers Guide to Fantasy Miniatures, circa 1983. But I didn't, so it only went for $37.56.