To Buy or Not to Buy… and Then Regret It Forever (1 Viewer)

[boerboy]

Special thanks goes to Dietz, whose recent comment helped spark this topic.


Every collector has that one elusive set—or an entire Top 10—they dream of tracking down. But finding and acquiring those pieces takes more than just desire. It requires the right opportunity, enough money, and most importantly, real—not imaginary—knowledge of what’s truly rare and actually desirable.


Because let’s be honest:
Not everything rare is desirable… and not everything desirable is rare.

This thread is a place to:

• Share your Grail Trophy sets or figures
• Talk through what makes them worth chasing
• And help each other decide what would be a realistic price to pay—if and when that long-awaited opportunity finally appears

Even in auctions where deep pockets often win, the true collector aims to buy with insight and intention.

A perfect example?
Malcolm Forbes, billionaire publisher, decided to collect every single Britains figure ever made. Even with all his resources, it took years to complete the collection. And once he did? It appeared at Christie’s in New York just days later. Because for collectors like us, the real thrill isn’t in ownership—it’s in the chase.

What We’ll Discuss:​

• What are your Grail pieces?
• What makes a Trophy item truly desirable—not just scarce?
• How do you price something you might never see again?
• Have you ever passed on a piece… and regretted it forever?
• How do you walk the line between collecting and hoarding?
• What Trophy figures are underrated—or overhyped?

Post your lists. Share your stories. Debate the prices.
Let’s help each other buy smart—and maybe, regret a little less.

 

[boerboy]

I guess everyone’s a bit shy at the start of a new thread, so—as usual—I’ll go ahead and break the ice


After many years of collecting Trophys—sometimes with near-religious devotion—I’ve scoured every scrap of info I could find, chatted with collectors and former dealers, hunted shows like a bloodhound, and refreshed eBay listings every 20 minutes (yes, really) but not anymore . At this point, I think I’ve seen just about every production set ever made—though let’s not even get started on the specials.


And yet... I still occasionally discover something I've never seen before. So thank you, everyone, for posting photos of your collections—there’s always something new to learn or admire.


Over the years, I’ve had many opportunities to buy rare pieces. Sometimes I jumped, sometimes I passed, sometimes I overbid (who hasn’t?). But these days, I’m trying to keep it simple. I’m laser-focused on just three pieces—everything else is lower priority, and I’m confident I’ll track them down eventually... when the stars align.


So, here we go—my current “Top 3 Trophy Grails”:

1. HMS Lion –
   This beast is practically mythical. I fully agree with Martyn—he thought he’d never get one, and then miraculously managed to. In my case, it’s never even been offered to me—not to buy, not to trade, not even in a dream. Value-wise? I’d say close to $4K or maybe a bit less, but Martyn recently suggested $5K.
2. Alamo Façade (Second Version with the Wall) –
   I’ve actually been offered this one a few times. The last time it surfaced (about three months ago, as part of a larger Alamo collection), it hit $5K with juice. I had the funds but passed—thinking I might find a better deal later. I’d personally value it around $1,200 tops.
3. CSA Leopard –
   This one feels like the Confederate cousin of the Union Eagle. But every time I see an ACW boat, it’s always the Eagle. I was offered the Leopard twice: once with an incomplete crew, and once at a price so absurd, even the crew would have mutinied. I’d peg the value at about $1,500–$1,700, assuming it’s complete and in good condition.

So that’s my current hunting list. Do you agree on suggested prices? More? , less?.

What about you? Let’s hear your top targets, your regrets, your lucky wins—and your “almosts.”


Let the Grail Quest begin

 

[Louis Badolato]

For me, the Trophy Holy Grail is without question the WWI Motor Ambulance set (GWEQ81), which I have seen for sale once (I was outbid at the last second by a sniper) and never seen in person:



When I first started collecting Trophy WWI around 20 years ago, I was focusing on the Trophy of Wales motor vehicles, like the various lorries and buses, because they went well with the Heco Tinplate Models vehicles I was already collecting. The Trophy WWI vehicles were selling at laround half of original retail at the time and seemed like a real bargain. The only motor ambulance I ever saw for sale came up on an ebay auction, and I bid the original retail price, believing I would definitely win the auction. With literally one second left on the auction I was outbid by a sniper who got the ambulance for just over original retail. If I could go back in time I would have thrown up a crazy bid and paid whatever was necessary to get the motor ambulance set. It is the only WWI Western Front set I do not own. I want it more than the three other Trophy WWI sets I need to complete my collection (1 Russian and 2 Turkish sets) combined!

 

[boerboy]

For me, the Trophy Holy Grail is without question the WWI Motor Ambulance set (GWEQ81), which I have seen for sale once (I was outbid at the last second by a sniper) and never seen in person:
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When I first started collecting Trophy WWI around 20 years ago, I was focusing on the Trophy of Wales motor vehicles, like the various lorries and buses, because they went well with the Heco Tinplate Models vehicles I was already collecting. The Trophy WWI vehicles were selling at laround half of original retail at the time and seemed like a real bargain. The only motor ambulance I ever saw for sale came up on an ebay auction, and I bid the original retail price, believing I would definitely win the auction. With literally one second left on the auction I was outbid by a sniper who got the ambulance for just over original retail. If I could go back in time I would have thrown up a crazy bid and paid whatever was necessary to get the motor ambulance set. It is the only WWI Western Front set I do not own. I want it more than the three other Trophy WWI sets I need to complete my collection (1 Russian and 2 Turkish sets) combined!

Louis, I’m sure you’ll eventually find the ambulance—and when you do, you’ll look back on the time you spent hunting for it as a nostalgic but slightly painful experience... kind of like discovering your grail piece the day after you overspent on something else.

 

[Louis Badolato]

Louis, I’m sure you’ll eventually find the ambulance—and when you do, you’ll look back on the time you spent hunting for it as a nostalgic but slightly painful experience... kind of like discovering your grail piece the day after you overspent on something else.

I have found other "Holy Grail" pieces for my collection over the years, from the Heco Tinplate Models Junkers JU52 and Renault FT17 Tankette to the original K&C mahogany StuG III and British Sherman Tank. It often takes years, even decades, but there is something incredibly satisfying about finally finding something you have pursued for so long. On the other hand, there is something to be said for the thrill of the chase ...

 

[jazzeum]

I’ve never had a holy grail in any of the companies I’ve collected and still don’t. For example, I wanted the K & C Beatles set for a long time but wasn’t willing to pay any price and that I didn’t have it didn’t bother me as I knew someday I would probably be able to purchase it and I did. There are pieces I wanted to have that I missed out on but I knew there were other pieces that I could then collect instead. I also knew that things show up again, eventually. It may take years but they do show up.

 

[boerboy]

I’ve never had a holy grail in any of the companies I’ve collected and still don’t. For example, I wanted the K & C Beatles set for a long time but wasn’t willing to pay any price and that I didn’t have it didn’t bother me as I knew someday I would probably be able to purchase it and I did. There are pieces I wanted to have that I missed out on but I knew there were other pieces that I could then collect instead. I also knew that things show up again, eventually. It may take years but they do show up.

I totally agree with the philosophy—but in the end, we all have an unfinished bucket list…because collecting is 10% owning and 90% longing.

 

[boerboy]

I have found other "Holy Grail" pieces for my collection over the years, from the Heco Tinplate Models Junkers JU52 and Renault FT17 Tankette to the original K&C mahogany StuG III and British Sherman Tank. It often takes years, even decades, but there is something incredibly satisfying about finally finding something you have pursued for so long. On the other hand, there is something to be said for the thrill of the chase ...

The point of this thread is to discuss prices for the items we are looking for—so tell me, what is this ambulance worth to you in USD?


I know it’s a tricky question, and you’re under no obligation to answer—it might reveal your bidding intentions. But on the other hand, someone reading this post might think, "Well, for that kind of money, I’d offer it to him!"


A bit of a double-edged sword, I suppose—but that’s half the fun of collecting, isn’t it?

 

[Louis Badolato]

The point of this thread is to discuss prices for the items we are looking for—so tell me, what is this ambulance worth to you in USD?


I know it’s a tricky question, and you’re under no obligation to answer—it might reveal your bidding intentions. But on the other hand, someone reading this post might think, "Well, for that kind of money, I’d offer it to him!"


A bit of a double-edged sword, I suppose—but that’s half the fun of collecting, isn’t it?

I'd pay $1,500 to get it (about triple original retail).

 

[boerboy]

I'd pay $1,500 to get it (about triple original retail).

Thank you, Louis. I think that’s a great price offer—if I had an ambulance, I’d sell or trade it to you myself!

 

[boerboy]

This is one of the most underrated Trophy sets. With only 300 made, it sometimes surfaces without its box and certificate and typically sells for a relatively modest price. I buy it every chance I get and have quite a few in stock.


Finding it complete—in the original box with Len’s signed certificate—is the key. I believe it’s underrated because it was meant to be the starting point of Trophy’s Jacobite Rebellion range, which sadly was never realized.

John Jenkins later successfully implemented the idea that Len never did.

The Jacobites were supporters of the exiled Stuart dynasty, who attempted to restore the Stuarts to the British throne in a series of uprisings during the late 17th and early 18th centuries. The most famous of these was the 1745 rising, led by Bonnie Prince Charlie, which ended in defeat at the Battle of Culloden in 1746.


It’s a rich and dramatic period of history—and a missed opportunity that Len never expanded the line further.

 

[Wolfgang_UK]

I fully agree with that. This is a fantastic set of which I knew nothing so far. Thank you for posting it here.