Wargamers are regularly surprised at the value of their collections once they have put the details on Collection Calculator.

The vast majority of wargamers using our database record collections worth many hundreds of pounds, with one or two wargamers actually cataloging armies totaling more than £20,000 in value.

This has thrown into stark relief the problem of making sure your collection is properly insured against getting damaged or destroyed in a freak accident.

The simple truth is your normal household insurance almost certainly does not cover you.

And it would be almost impossible to make a claim if any part of your collection was lost or smashed when you transport it to your club or a show.

Household insurance policies are designed for the mass market. The cover they provide is for the general contents that most people keep in their homes, and sometimes take out of it, such as jewellery. They are not designed for the specific needs of collectors.

So, what can you do to make sure your collection is protected?

First, enter all the details of your collection in our Collection Calculator so that you have a proper record of all your units along with an independent and expert estimate of the true value of each of the elements.

Next, when it comes time to renew your insurance, provide your insurer with the list and ask them to add your collection to the items covered by the insurance.

But do not sign until you get answers that satisfy you from the insurer to the following questions:

1. How do you value my collection? As individual pieces, per unit, or as a single whole collection?
2. If I need to claim how will you calculate the replacement value? If new for old, what happens if my damaged or lost items have been discontinued?
3. If I lose or damage a critical piece of my collection that can no longer be replaced will you pay the value of the entire collection or just the lost or damaged elements?
4. How much is my excess?
5. Do you cover my collection when I take it to wargaming clubs and shows?
6. Do you cover my public liability when displaying in a public place?
7. Do you cover items associated with my collections such as rule books or other materials?
8. If I make a claim on my household insurance for loss or damage to my collection will it cost me more to insure next year?

Please let us know how you get on. We would like to start keeping a record of the experiences that wargamers have with insurers so we can share tips with the whole community.