So I figured it was time to start thinking about moving them into armies of their own.
The three of them each have fairly large collections of models. These are mostly cast-offs from various failed projects, odds and ends I had laying around. Their piles each have several Space Marines, some Guard models, random fantasy pieces, and a Skaven Mordheim warband (how did that get in there?).
Piles of reclaimed army guys
So, because they are smart, and some pint-sized wheeler dealers, they negotiated a "buy back" program. I agreed to replace their models for shiny new troops choices for their selected armies: tyranids, demons, and eldar. It amounts to a four-to-one exchange ratio, and hopefully, we'll get to start playing "grown up" 40K soon.
Those boxes are on order from my FLGS, and now I get to stock up on Simple Green.