Miniature Painting Tiers: Bronze, Silver or Gold?
By Dynafabs
Miniature painting tiers explained: Bronze, Silver and Gold from Some Miniatures, what each looks like, and how to pick the right one for your figures.
If you've ever looked into getting miniatures painted, you'll have noticed that painters rarely quote a single "standard". Instead they offer tiers, and the tier you pick shapes how your figures look, how long they take and how much of your budget they use. Some Miniatures, the Cuffley-based commission painter we work with, runs five: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum and Diamond.
We've already looked at the top end in our post on display painting with Platinum and Diamond. This time we're focusing on the three tiers most tabletop players actually use: Bronze, Silver and Gold. Here's what each one means, based on how Some Miniatures describes them on its painting page, and how to choose.
Bronze: tabletop quality
Bronze is what the industry calls "tabletop quality". Some Miniatures describes it as the tier for "normal regiments, monsters and troopers in mass". Typically your figure gets some shade, contrast and highlights, and everything on the model is painted.
The point of Bronze is volume. If you've got a squad of rank-and-file troops, a box of board game pieces or a pile of goblins for Friday's D&D session, Bronze gets them looking crisp on the table without spending display-piece time on figures that will mostly be seen from arm's length. You can see examples in the Bronze gallery.
Good for: basic infantry, mass units, board game components, background NPCs and monsters for RPG tables.
Silver: tabletop plus
Silver, or "tabletop plus", is for people who want their army to stand out a little more. Expect extra shade, contrast and shadow, with more detail to draw the eye. Some Miniatures also notes that every Silver figure is painted individually until it's finished, rather than as part of a batch.
This is the tier for a force you're proud of: one that looks better than your opponent's across the table, or a unit with a distinctive colour scheme you want to come through clearly. The Silver gallery shows the step up from Bronze.
Good for: elite units, regiments you'll field often, tournament armies and a party's player characters.
Gold: premium
Gold is the "premium" tier: further highlights and more advanced techniques, aimed at heroes, captains, larger units and centre-stage pieces. Some Miniatures says it's the level for models that need "an extra oomph", and that it holds up as a display piece on a desk or in a cabinet too. Have a look at the Gold gallery.
Good for: commanders and heroes, a D&D character you've played for years, a big monster or vehicle, and gifts.
Mixing tiers across one project
You don't have to choose a single tier for everything. A common and sensible approach is to paint the bulk of a force at Bronze or Silver and put the leaders at Gold, or Platinum if they're the real centrepiece. The same works for an RPG group: party members at Silver or Gold, and the dozens of monsters they'll fight at Bronze.
When you fill in Some Miniatures' quote form, you choose the painting level, and you can also say whether you're supplying the models, whether you'd like them built and cleaned, and whether you'd like a base made. If you're mixing tiers, use the notes box to say which figures should get which level.
Where Dynafabs fits in
If your figures don't exist yet, that's where we come in. We print tabletop minis, terrain and bases from original or properly licensed designs, with resin for fine detail and FDM for larger scenery. Our guide to resin vs FDM printing explains which suits what, and our prep checklist covers getting printed minis ready for a painter.
A good rule of thumb: the higher the tier you're planning, the more it's worth choosing a finer print. Display-level painting shows off sharp detail, while a Bronze unit only needs clean, well-supported prints with no obvious layer lines or support marks on faces.
FAQ
Is Bronze "low quality"? No. Some Miniatures says Bronze minis "will still look crisp" on any table. It's simply the most efficient level for figures in large numbers.
Which tier should I pick for a gift? Usually Gold for a single special figure, or Platinum if it's going in a cabinet. Our Christmas gift post has more on planning one.
How do I find out the price? Ask Some Miniatures directly through their quote form. Pricing depends on the figures, tier and extras, so we don't list it here.
Ready to plan your project?
Decide which figures need to stand out, pick a tier for each group, then get in touch. If you need the minis, bases or scenery printed first, get a quote from Dynafabs and we'll help you choose the right material and finish.
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