Blog

Repainting Old Miniatures: Strip, Rescue and Refresh

By Dynafabs

Repainting old miniatures? Learn when figures can be stripped and rescued, what to send Some Miniatures first, and how to refresh bases.

Most of us have a box somewhere. Figures painted in a hurry years ago, thick coats that have buried the detail, a hero who lost an arm in a house move, or a second-hand lot that came with someone else's colour scheme. Before you write them off, it's worth knowing that old miniatures can often be rescued, and that Some Miniatures, the commission painter we work with, will look at stripping and repainting on a case-by-case basis.

This post covers what that means in practice, how to tell whether a figure is worth saving, and where Dynafabs fits in if your collection needs new bases or scenery to go with its fresh paint.

Can old miniatures be stripped and repainted?

Often, yes, but not always. The Some Miniatures FAQ is refreshingly honest about this. Their answer to "will you strip and repaint models that have already been painted?" is "sometimes". It depends on the figure, how much paint is on it and how much damage has been done. They reserve the right to decline models that are too damaged, or so heavily coated that fixing them would take too long or leave a poor model to work from.

That's a sensible line. A repaint is only as good as the surface underneath it, and a painter who tells you up front that a model isn't worth saving is saving you money.

Signs a figure is worth rescuing

There's no hard rule, and the painter makes the final call, but these are good signs:

• The detail is still there under the paint. Thick coats hide detail, but if you can still see faces, buckles and edges, there's something to work with.
• The damage is limited. A bent spear or a snapped-off piece is a different job from a figure that's been crushed.
• It matters to you. Your first-ever painted figure, a character from a long-running campaign or a gift from someone special is worth asking about even if it's rough.

And some warning signs: lots of missing parts, heavy glue blobs over detail, or years of layered paint, varnish and flock that have fused together.

Send photos before you send models

The single most useful step is to photograph the figures and ask first. Some Miniatures' FAQ specifically invites you to send pictures of figures you're unsure about, whether that's for stripping or repair. Their general guidance on sending models applies too: if you post them figures, take a picture first so they know the condition, and let them know whether anything needs assembly.

Good photos make the conversation quicker:

• Front, back and both sides, in good light.
• Close-ups of any damage or missing parts.
• A shot of the whole batch, so they can see the scale of the job.

Email them to Someminiatures@gmail.com or use the quote form. The form asks whether you're supplying the model, whether you'd like it built and cleaned, whether you'd like a base made, and what level of painting you want, so think about those answers before you start.

Don't strip them yourself first (unless asked)

It's tempting to "help" by stripping the paint at home. We'd suggest holding off. Metal, plastic and resin figures don't all react the same way to strippers, and a figure that's been half-stripped badly can be harder to rescue than one that was left alone. Ask the painter how they'd like to receive the models.

Pick a painting level for the repaint

A rescued figure gets the same choice of tiers as a fresh one, from Bronze ("tabletop quality") up to the display-focused Platinum and Diamond levels. If you're refreshing a whole unit, a tabletop tier keeps things consistent and sensible. If it's a single sentimental figure, a higher tier may be worth it. Our guide to Bronze, Silver and Gold tiers explains the differences.

Official Warhammer models you already own can go straight to Some Miniatures for painting or a repaint. There's no printing involved, they're simply painted.

Where Dynafabs helps: bases, plinths and scenery

A repaint is a good moment to upgrade what the figure stands on. Dynafabs can print display plinths, custom bases and scenery pieces from original designs or files you have the rights to, and we can print tabletop minis from original or properly licensed designs if you want to add new figures to a rescued collection. Have a read of our file prep checklist before you send files, then ask us for a quote.

FAQ

Will Some Miniatures repaint any old model? Not always. They decide case by case and may decline figures that are too damaged or too heavily painted. Send photos first.

Can they repair broken figures? Their FAQ invites photos of figures you're unsure about "for stripping them of paint or repair", so ask about your specific model.

How much does a repaint cost? We don't list prices. Ask Some Miniatures directly through their quote form.

Will I see progress? Their FAQ says they photograph your models when they arrive, send an update halfway through and a final picture at the end.

Ready to rescue that box?

Dig out the figures, take some clear photos and get in touch with Some Miniatures. If you'd like new bases, plinths or scenery printed to go with the repaint, get a quote from Dynafabs.

---

#Dynafabs #3DPrinting #MiniaturePainting #RepaintingMiniatures #TabletopGaming #SomeMiniatures