Miniature figurines, or minis, are often used in wargames like Mage Knight, Heroclix, Hordes, Spinespur, Warhammer and Warmachine.danish bronze antique collectibles Players benefit from these miniatures by gaining an accurate visual representation of the battlefield and the characters on it. Some miniatures are superbly sculpted and are collectible in their own right.
The toy soldier hobby may develop into the hobby of collecting, painting, and gaming with miniatures. Traditionally, “toy soldiers” are sold pre-painted, and miniatures are sold “bare” and require painting. The recent introduction of pre-painted figures, such as those used in Clix games, has blurred this distinction.
Miniatures have most commonly been cast in white metal, which is an alloy of lead and tin, with a small amount of antimony, which improves the alloy’s ability to take fine detail. Because of the high lead content, minis were sometimes called lead figures.
New York almost passed a bill making lead in miniatures illegal because of public health way back in 1933. Many miniatures manufacturers, anticipating that other states would follow with more bans, immediately began making miniatures with lead-free alloys, which often resulted in price increases.
Following almost a year of public discussion, including complaints from miniature makers and devotees, Governor Mario Cuomo signed the bill which declared that miniatures were not subject to the state’s Public Health Law. However, the majority of manufactures on the US still use alloys that are non-lead based.
Manufacturers produce miniatures in a variety of materials such as polyethylene, plastic or hard polystyrene, however there are some that will use polyurethane based resin.
A simple cube folded out of card stock, otherwise known as box miniatures, is a common component of many war games. Art work representing a view of each side of the subject is printed on the outside.
Painting: The process that allows wargamers to customize their own miniatures that help them differentiate those pieces from others.
Although many gamers are indifferent to the quality of the paint job, for some the skillful painting of minis is a hobby in itself, on a par with the “more serious” modeling of historical and military figures. The results of skilled mini-painting are quite amazing, but the process can be difficult, precise, and time-consuming.
Miniatures and wargaming conventions will sometimes feature miniature painting competitions, such as Games Workshop’s Golden Demon contest, and there are many painting competitions on the internet.
There are professional painting services available for hobbyists and corporations.
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