Merry Christmas
Hey all! Thanks so much for your support this last year. My family and I, and the artists and their families, all appreciate it. Your kind words are much appreciated.
So, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all!
–Shawn Gately
Trade-in Rates for Winter 2010
Here are the trade-in rates for early Winter 2010 (December 2009, January to March 2010). I’m offering service credit in trade for models.
Below is a list with details. Generally it’s 40% for Service Credit and 20% for cash.
Read this completely as I have recently improved several aspects of this program. Notably: I am now trading in army books. Also, you do not need to figure out the retail prices of your trade-in items.
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NEW: we are also accepting as trade armies that BTP painted. The trade value will be much higher since it will account for the value of assembly/painting.
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We will also pay cash. After the models arrive we’ll paypal you the agreed amount. The rate is generally $0.20 on the dollar (twenty percent of retail).
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You can usually get a much better deal going to the secondary market (local shop, ebay) on your own. However, the advantage of trading in with us is that you are likely to be able to unload disparate items without a lot of hassle (e.g. finding various buyers, setting up payment, lots of minor questions).
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If you want to trade in, we need a list of what you have. You do NOT need to calculate the retail value, but it helps. Please tell me the condition (e.g. new in box, new on sprue, assembled, primed). The rates below are a multiplier. You would get $40 credit for $100 worth of retail items. Just take the retail total and multiply it by the number. You do not need to figure this out; you can just send in your list of stuff to bluetablepainting@gmail.com .
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I just know there’s someone who goes out to their garage, surveys the mass of unpainted models, sighs then turns out the light. This program will hopefully allow someone with the “white primer horde” to finally show up with a painted army. As an added bonus, your models will get a good home where they will be painted and loved.
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We don’t need painted figures. Exception: if they only have a little bit done with them; not too thick, not too many layers. Primed models are OK, again not too thick. NEW: If you send painted models and they are un-useable because the paint/primer is on too thick, the trade value reverts to 0.10 (it’s actually almost zero). If this is the case I will inform you and you’ll have the option to get your models back.
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You can also get a credit of at least $10 to help with your shipping costs. NEW: I will add this automatically as part of the quote.
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If you want to trade-in figures, but don’t have a project ready, that’s OK, I will confirm your total and then you will have it on tap for when you want to use it.
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This trade-in is recorded as a payment on your project. It is non-refundable except at our discretion (eg you can’t refuse the project and then get your trade-in amount refunded as cash). Trade-in can be applied to cost of models, assembly or painting as you wish. This means you can also just get models sent to you (this is limited to models that are commonly available, eg not Forge World).
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Generally, we only need in-print models that are currently in production. . These rates and conditions may change so it is recommended to check in every once in a while. I am likely to update the numbers about once a month. The plan right now is to update every first of the month. Fairness is the guiding principle.
Here are rates for credit:
. Forge World 0.70
. Army books $10 credit (must be current edition, no OOP)
. Assault on Black Reach Models:
Complete set of orks $9 credit
Complete set of space marines $9 credit
Space Marine Dreadnought $5 credit
Small rulebook $4 credit
Template sprue (complete) $2 credit
. 40K 0.40
. Warhammer Fantasy 0.40
. Hordes 0.30
. War Machine 0.30
. Battlefleet Gothic 0.20
. Lord of the Rings 0.15
Please note that some armies might net more or less. Send me the list and I’ll tell you what’s up.
Vendettas
Remember those Valkyries I have at the studio? The ones I’ve been trying to find a home for (along with a Guard army)?
I ordered six Vendetta conversion kits for them. Those are in now.
Each one has a sensor array, a side-array of lascannons and the two twin-linked wing lascannons. Of course, everything can be magnetized so that they convert back into Valkyries.
You can order a la carte if you want or just leave all the details up to us (that’s called a Turbo Army):
Imperial Gaurd 1500 pts for $1350
Imperial Guard 2000 pts for $1600
The other thing that’s possible is to make all the guardsmen into vets made out of Space Marine Scouts. We’ve done this before with great results.
Working Late
Hey all. I’m at the studio right now. I’ll be here until 10pm Mountain time. If you need anything.
I’m processing the Orcs vs Tzeentch Daemons battle report.
Making up for a six hour break/date with my wonderful wife.
Avatar
Go
See
Avatar
This is now my number one favorite movie by a long shot. I plan on seeing it at least two more times in the theatre.
It’s great sci-fi. The aliens speak in an alien language (subtitled), there’s zero-g in space, and unbreathable atmosphere for the humans (they have to wear oxygen mask things). The CGI is utterly convincing.
The story is completely moving, engaging, and if you don’t sympathize with the heroes and hate the villains, then you have a rock for a heart. But it’s not contrived or forced. It all makes sense.
There are some political environmental type statements in there. And I usually don’t like to be browbeat about it. But I found it to be subtle enough that it didn’t get in the way of a great story.
Be sure to take a leak just before, though, because it’s 2:40 mins.
And bring a cushion because otherwise your butt is going to have a crease in it from sitting on the edge of your seat.
Holiday Hours
Pic: Korsarro Khan on snowmobile!
Tuesday December 22: Open regular hours
Wednesday December 23: Open regular hours
Thursday December 24 (Christmas Eve): Open until 2pm
Friday December 25: Closed
Saturday December 26: Open regular hours
I am very preoccupied with getting projects booked for January. I’m ready to go with any project, any size, any time.
Glazed Doughnut
Waaaazzzzup!?!?
I have a few articles I need to write, but I haven’t had the inspiration. I completely slacked out today, just eating holiday leftovers (sliced ham, potatoes, jell-o, mac/cheese, pecan pie), though we did make it to church on time with the whole family today. Every time it gets a little easier.
My mom is in town for the week (not over Christmas, though). She’s had her usual run of insights on how the household could be managed better. I am older now and able to take it at face value. Your parents really do get smarter as time goes on. She’s really good with the baby and that has been a great help, especially since poor Willow has been under the weather.
For my part, I am recharged. Thank goodness for Sunday. Otherwise I would work myself to death. Church was nothing short of inspiring. We’ve got a well-practiced choir and they put on quite a Christmas program. I was full of my usual cheer, glad-handing and back-slapping.
I need to be a better father. I need to spend more time with my kids. Not just be present, but actually interact with them more, and more meaningfully. Not to say that I think I’m doing a bad job, or don’t interact, just that I could be doing better.
When I come home from work, if I’m late and arrive around bedtime, I tend to charge in and get the kids all revved up. They don’t need that. I need to get home on time, earlier, more consistently. That way by the time they are ready for bed, I’m all settled down as well. I’m a pretty high octane parent and my kids have definitely picked up my energy.
Tyranid Rumour Roundup
Check here for a great summary of Tyranid rumblings.
Now is a great time to set up your Tyranid army with BTP. Remember, you can’t lose. If you change your mind about what you want later, that’s all right, we don’t mind tweaking the list. Reserve your spot in the January line-up.
Square Pegs
It’s important to appreciate people for who they are, and not nag them for their faults.
Accentuate the positive. Eliminate the negative.
Reflecting Pool
Last night and this morning there was a ton of projects to get out in time for Christmas. It was the most monumental ship-out in the history of the company. But we’re past that.
BTP is woefully underbooked for January. This is not due to lack of projects necessarily. It’s because the studio is pumping like an eight-piston engine. It’s outstanding. So we’re standing by to get it done.
The quality of work has never been better. In the heart of every artist is a desire to please the client, to make something that will be loved. The crew is dedicated, without ego, and with a good will.
In other news, my mom is in town for the week. That’s a blast from the past. She hasn’t been out for four years. We’ve gone to Oregon almost every year, but not vice versa. The whole family headed up north to Salt Lake. We dropped mom off at the genealogical library. The family then headed to the zoo. Ah, the zoo in winter. And what could make that better? Trying to take a family photo in front of the zebras. The fun of ice cold weather combined with the fun of trying to get all the kids to look in the same direction.
I was a complete bear the entire trip. I don’t travel well. The farther away from home I get, the more antsy I become. It’s a great bit of consternation to poor Tamie, who hopes to travel in our old age. My idea of a good time is to order a pizza. Oh, sure, I love short range trips, perhaps to a neighboring city, but there’s no place like home. You might call me “indoorsy”.
The cavemen didn’t come down out of the mountains and build all these houses so I could go camping. I respect their memory by eating in front of the TV.
Willow travels well, and will watch the trees slide by on the window for hours. She has started making this really cute baby dinosaur noise and will smile broadly when I call back to her in the same tone. Tamie bought me this lumberjack type jacket and Willow just loves to ride inside of it, facing me, but with head turned so just her eyes are peeping out above the flannel. Today I noticed that she has two upper front teeth budding. No wonder she’s been tearing through her food so rapidly. She’s voracious. She downed half a spinach omelet and a fist-sized pod of hash-browns left over from breakfast while we were on the road.
Anyway, the whole trip was a fiasco. Downtown Salt Lake was crowded to the gills. Even after finding a parking spot (the lots were full) we couldn’t find a restaurant without at least an hour wait, this with four young kids in tow, all hungry, needing to take a whiz. There was this gal selling candy canes for “donations” which I thought was a pretty sweet racket; all nice and legal, cash only. I like that about a zillion times more than panhandling which seems so dubious and parasitic.
At temple square two sister missionaries (mongolian?) happened by and I said (rather loudly) “you guys are RADIANT!” but from the curious looks on their faces I think they thought I had shouted an insult. Temple Square was an absolute paradise. I highly recommend, especially during Christmas-time, but go on a week day when it’s not so crowded.
We ended up driving ten miles south, packed like sardines in the car, to Draper and eating at Chuck-a-rama all you can eat buffet. Comfort food as far as the eye could see. Yum. Though I think the bus-guy misunderstood me when he asked if there was something he could get us and I responded “yes, a vomit spoon and a bucket.” I meant that the food was so good I could go for another round.
At last we reached home and I was able to have a glass of milk and put on my pajamas.
At this moment it’s 3am and I’m up, feeling rested. My 10-year-old daughter is up with me watching Fraggle Rock.