Getting started with Warhammer: 40,000 or Age of Sigmar?
The two big settings compared, how starter sets work and the short list of tools you need before you open the box.
Uncommon shelf5 min read
Independent UK collector's guide
Everything on the shelf, explained properly.
Gambleton is a guide for people who collect: miniatures waiting to be painted, binders of cards, rows of boxed figures and the statues on top. Plain-English guides on getting started, keeping things in good condition and buying safely.
We sell nothing. No shop, no cart, no pre-orders. Not connected to the shop that previously used this domain.
On the shelves
All guides
Every guide carries the rarity colour of its shelf: tabletop cards vinyl figures display
Painting miniatures for beginners: from primer to finished model
Priming, basecoats, shades, layers and drybrushing, plus how to thin paint and look after your brushes.
Uncommon shelf6 min read
Pokémon TCG products explained: boosters, ETBs, tins and boxes
What is inside each type of sealed product, whether you are collecting or playing, and how set rotation works.
Ultra shelf5 min read
Grading trading cards: how it works and when it is worth it
What grading services do, the 1 to 10 scale, centring, edges, corners and surface, and how to decide whether to submit.
Ultra shelf5 min read
Protecting trading cards: sleeves, toploaders, binders and humidity
The right sleeve for the job, why ring binders damage cards, and how to keep a collection away from damp.
Ultra shelf5 min read
Spotting fake trading cards and fake Funko Pops
Weight, print quality, the light test, box details and the best defence of all: buying from reputable sellers.
Rare shelf5 min read
Funko Pop collecting: boxes, vaulted figures, exclusives and display
Why box condition matters, what vaulted and chase mean, how exclusive stickers work and how to stop fading.
Rare shelf5 min read
Displaying and caring for figurines and statues
Cold-cast resin, porcelain and vinyl compared, safe dusting, UV, glass cabinets and LED lighting heat.
Common shelf5 min read
Buying collectibles safely in the UK: your rights and avoiding scams
Consumer rights, pre-orders, PayPal Goods and Services versus Friends and Family, and the common marketplace scams.
Common shelf6 min read
Free tool
Card storage planner
Tell it how many cards you have and how many deserve a toploader. It works out the penny sleeves, toploaders, 9-pocket pages and binders you need.
From the glossary
Collector speak
- Elite Trainer Box (ETB)
- A Pokémon TCG storage box with booster packs and player accessories such as sleeves, Energy cards, dice and dividers.
- Slab
- The sealed, tamper-evident plastic case a graded card is returned in, with a label and certification number.
- Sprue
- The plastic frame that miniature kit parts are attached to. Cut parts free with sprue clippers.
- Vaulted
- A vinyl figure that has been retired from production and is now only available second-hand.
Quick answers
Asked often
Does Gambleton sell collectibles?
No. Gambleton is an independent editorial guide. We have no shop, cart, pre-orders, lay-buy, click and collect or loyalty points, and we are not connected to the shop that previously used this domain.
Should I start with Warhammer 40,000 or Age of Sigmar?
Pick the setting whose models you like most, or the one your friends or local club already play. Both use the same building and painting skills, so nothing you learn is wasted.
What do I need to start painting miniatures?
Sprue clippers, a hobby knife, plastic glue, a primer, a few paints, a shade and two brushes. Add a wet palette and a drybrush once you have the basics.
How should I store valuable trading cards?
Put each card in a penny sleeve, then in a toploader or a side-loading pocket of a binder without O-rings. Keep everything away from sunlight, damp lofts and garages.