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Painted Miniature Gifts: Plan Yours for Christmas

By Dynafabs

Painted miniature gifts for Christmas: pick a painting tier, figure and base with Some Miniatures, plus printed minis from Dynafabs. Plan early.

A painted miniature makes a brilliant gift. It's personal, it's handmade, and for anyone who games, collects or runs a Dungeons & Dragons table, it's the sort of present that ends up on a shelf for years rather than in a drawer by January. With Christmas a few weeks away, this post walks through how to plan a painted miniature gift with Some Miniatures, the Hertfordshire painting studio we work with, and where a Dynafabs print can fit in.

Why a painted miniature works as a gift

Most hobbyists have a "pile of shame": figures bought with good intentions that never got painted. Getting one of those finished by a professional is a present they'll genuinely notice. It also works for people who don't paint at all, such as a D&D player who'd love their character on the table, or a board gamer whose box of grey plastic would look far better in colour.

Some Miniatures was started by Jonathan Kahn, who describes on the Some Miniatures home page how wanting to play D&D and paint his own figures turned into commission painting, with roughly a thousand miniatures under his belt from all sorts of ranges and brands.

Pick the right painting level

Some Miniatures offers five tiers, and the right one depends on who the gift is for:

For a single standout gift, Gold or Platinum is often the sweet spot. For a whole board game's worth of figures, Bronze or Silver keeps things sensible. You can browse examples in the Some Miniatures gallery before choosing.

Choose your figure

There are a few ways to get the miniature itself:

1. Send your own. If you've already bought the figure, you can post it to Some Miniatures. Their FAQ asks you to take a photo first so they know its condition and whether it needs assembly and cleaning. 2. Let them order it. Some Miniatures can buy the figure for you, with the cost added to your deposit. This is handy for official Warhammer models from Games Workshop, which can go straight to Some Miniatures for painting with no printing involved. 3. Have it printed by Dynafabs. For original tabletop minis, D&D characters or terrain from designs you own or have a proper licence for, we can print it for you and you can then send it on for painting. Our prep checklist for 3D-printed minis covers what to get right first.

Add a base or plinth

A good base turns a figure into a finished gift. The Some Miniatures quote form asks whether you'd like them to make a base for your model, so mention it when you enquire. If you'd like something bigger, such as a display plinth or a small scenic piece, we can print that too. Just tell us the size and style on your Dynafabs quote request.

Plan the timing

This is the bit that catches people out. Painting takes real hours, especially at the top tiers, so get in touch early and ask about timing before you commit. The Some Miniatures FAQ says a detailed quote request will usually get a reply within the hour, and that you'll get a photo when your models arrive, an update halfway through and a final picture at the end. That's useful for a gift, because you'll know how it's going without having to chase.

Getting it delivered safely

According to their shipping and delivery page, Some Miniatures uses Royal Mail within the UK, recommends at least a tracked service, and uses a tracked and signed option for international orders. The FAQ adds that every model is individually wrapped in bubble wrap and packed in a sturdy box. Payment is by PayPal or bank transfer.

FAQ

Can I order a painted miniature as a surprise? Yes. Use the Get a Quote form and give as much detail as you can, including the delivery postcode, so the quote includes shipping.

Does Dynafabs print official Warhammer models? No. We print original or properly licensed designs. If the gift is an official Games Workshop model, buy it from them and send it to Some Miniatures to paint.

What if I'm not sure which tier to pick? Some Miniatures says it's happy to talk it through before you decide, so email them at someminiatures@gmail.com.

Ready to plan yours?

If your gift needs a printed mini, base or plinth, request a quote from Dynafabs and mention it's heading to Some Miniatures for painting. For the painting itself, head over to Some Miniatures.

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