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Painted Tabletop Army: Plan, Print and Paint Your Minis

By Dynafabs

Plan a painted tabletop army: mix painting tiers for troops and heroes, print original or licensed minis with Dynafabs, or send official Warhammer kits straight to Some Miniatures for paint only.

Painting one miniature is a pleasure. Painting a whole army is a project, and it's the point where a lot of players either stall with a shelf of grey models or start looking for help. If you're planning a fully painted force for a tabletop wargame or skirmish system, this post walks through how to plan it, how to spend a painting budget sensibly across the army, and how Dynafabs printing and Some Miniatures painting can fit together without crossing any lines on official kits.

Two clear paths: print licensed minis, or paint official kits

It helps to separate printing from painting up front:

• Original or properly licensed designs. Dynafabs prints files you own or are licensed to print — for example purchased STLs from designers who allow commercial printing, or your own sculpts. Those prints can then go to Some Miniatures for paint. We do not print official Games Workshop / Warhammer models or other protected official ranges.
• Official Warhammer models you already own. If you have bought official Warhammer miniatures from Games Workshop (or an authorised retailer), you can send those kits directly to Some Miniatures to be painted. No Dynafabs printing is involved — it is a painting commission on the models you supply.

That split keeps the print side on files you are allowed to reproduce, and still gives Warhammer collectors a straightforward route to a painted army.

Some Miniatures paints full armies

Some Miniatures is a commission painting studio based in Cuffley, Hertfordshire, run by Jonathan Kahn. On their home page he describes having around a thousand miniatures under his belt from brands including Games Workshop, Wizkids and Reaper. The site also has galleries for many army collections people have sent in for paint, which is useful if you want to see how a colour scheme looks before you commit.

If you are sending official kits for painting only, start with their Get a Quote form and say you are supplying the models. Seeing how they have handled similar schemes before is far more useful than a description alone — their gallery is a good place to browse.

Don't paint every model to the same standard

The single most useful idea when planning a painted army is that not every model needs the same level of attention. Some Miniatures offers five tiers, and their painting page explains what each is for:

• Bronze, "tabletop quality", is described as perfect for normal regiments, monsters and troopers in mass, with shade, contrast and highlights.
• Silver, "tabletop plus", adds extra shade, contrast and shadows, and they note that every figure is painted individually rather than as part of a batch.
• Gold is aimed at heroes, captains and special units you want to stand out.
• Platinum is for display pieces and army centrepieces.
• Diamond is their top level, where they say to expect 30 to 40 hours on a normal 28 to 32 mm figure.

For an army, a common approach is to pick a tier for your line troops, a step up for characters, and save the top end for one centrepiece model. Your rank and file look consistent on the table, and the eye goes straight to the leader. It's worth asking about this mix when you get in touch, and their FAQ says they're happy to talk it through first if you're not sure which level suits you.

Plan the army before anything is printed

If some or all of your models will be 3D prints of original or licensed files, a little planning at the start saves time later:

• Write the list first. Know which units you need and how many models are in each, so the order is complete and consistent.
• Group by scale and base size. Mixing files from different designers can lead to slightly different proportions, so check scale before ordering a full unit.
• Only send files you're allowed to print. Dynafabs prints customer-owned or properly licensed designs. Do not upload official Games Workshop CAD/STL or other trademarked official model files — we will not print those.
• Think about assembly. Large models often print in parts. Tell us if they're going to a painter, so we can plan the split and supports with painting in mind. Our prep checklist for printed minis and painting tips for 3D-printed miniatures cover what helps the brushwork later.

Printing a whole unit in one batch also helps everything match in finish and detail. For the wider print-then-paint workflow, see our collaboration overview with Some Miniatures and the step-by-step commission process guide.

Official Warhammer kits: paint only with Some Miniatures

Already own official Warhammer plastic or resin from Games Workshop? Skip printing entirely. Package the models (built or still on the sprue — say which on the form), use Some Miniatures' Get a Quote, and commission the paint tier that fits each unit. Their FAQ notes they can also advise if you are unsure which level to pick, and that a detailed enquiry usually gets a quote likely within the hour.

Handing over to the painter

Some Miniatures' Get a Quote form asks whether you're supplying the models, whether you'd like them built and cleaned, whether you'd like bases made and what level of painting you want. Having those answers ready for every unit makes the enquiry much easier. Their FAQ says a detailed form usually gets you a quote likely within the hour, and that they'll photograph models on arrival, send an update halfway through and share a final picture at the end.

For an army, that halfway update is especially handy. It's your chance to check the scheme looks right on the first unit before the rest follows.

FAQ

Can Dynafabs print official Warhammer / Games Workshop models? No. Dynafabs only prints original or properly licensed designs you have the right to reproduce. Official Warhammer models should be bought from Games Workshop (or an authorised seller) and, if you want them painted, sent straight to Some Miniatures for a painting commission.

Can I send official Warhammer models to Some Miniatures without any printing? Yes. Supply the kits yourself via their quote form. Painting only — no Dynafabs print step.

Can I mix tiers within one army? That's exactly how many players approach it. Talk to Some Miniatures about which tier suits troops, characters and centrepieces, as they list each tier for those uses.

Do printed and boxed models look different once painted? A well-printed and properly cleaned resin model of a licensed design takes paint much like a retail plastic kit. The prep is what matters most. Official boxed kits and licensed prints are simply two different supply routes into the same painter.

Does Some Miniatures ship outside the UK? Their FAQ says they ship across the UK and internationally. See their shipping page for details.

Start your army

Got a list in mind? For original or licensed miniature files, get a Dynafabs quote for the printing, then hand the prints to Some Miniatures. For official Warhammer models you already own, skip straight to their Get a Quote form for paint only. Either way, browse the Some Miniatures gallery for inspiration — and that shelf of grey can become a painted army ready for the table.

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