The Ultimate Guide to High-Quality 3D Printed Resin Miniatures

Welcome to the world of 3D printed miniatures, where your tabletop dreams come to life with stunning detail and unmatched quality. If you're a miniature wargamer considering the leap from traditional materials like cast resin, metal, or plastic, or if you've had the misfortune of purchasing subpar 3D printed models, you're in the right place. In this blog post, we’ll explore the benefits of resin miniatures, what you should expect from high-quality prints, and safety considerations to keep in mind when working with resin.

Why 3D Printed Resin Miniatures Are the Future

Let's face it, we've all had that moment of frustration with poorly cast miniatures. Whether it's wrestling with sprues, painstakingly filing down mold lines, or trying to assemble a model with more parts than your last IKEA purchase, traditional materials can sometimes feel like more trouble than they're worth. Enter the world of 3D printed miniatures, where The Lion’s Tower is setting a new standard in quality and convenience.

The Lion’s Tower Difference

At The Lion's Tower, we’re proud to produce resin miniatures that are second to none. Our models are printed at a stunning 12K resolution, with low layer heights and antialiasing to ensure you get a smooth, flawless finish. Gone are the days of visible layer lines or voxel artifacts—our miniatures are as close to perfection as you can get straight out of the printer.

But the magic doesn’t stop there. When you receive a miniature from The Lion's Tower, it comes fully cleaned, with all support material removed and the model perfectly cured. This means it's ready to paint right out of the box. All you need to do is glue it to a base (a dab of superglue does the trick), add some texture to the base (a bit of sand or fine gravel, perhaps), and give it a quick prime. Voilà, you’re ready to start painting.

What You Should Expect from a 3D Printed Miniature

When you purchase a resin miniature from The Lion’s Tower, you’re investing in quality, but even if you choose to purchase miniatures elsewhere, you should still expect this same level of product (any professional vendor charging for prints should be expected to deliver a quality product). Here’s what you should expect:

1. No Visible Layer Lines: Our miniatures are printed at a resolution that makes layer lines virtually non-existent. The smooth surfaces and crisp details ensure that your models look amazing, whether on the battlefield or displayed on a shelf.

2. Ready to Paint: Our models come fully cleaned and cured, with all supports removed. You won’t have to spend hours filing down imperfections or fixing defects. Just glue, prime, and paint—simple as that.

3. Durability: Our 3D printed miniatures are solid, not hollowed out to save on resin. This makes them more durable and less prone to warping or breaking. Plus, there’s no risk of your miniature splitting open due to uncured resin trapped inside, which can happen with lower-quality prints from other sources.  Additionally, we use a resin with an amount of flexibility that affords the model a bit of "give", so breakages of fine parts like swords, spears and the like are less frequent.  That doesn't give you carte blanche to abuse the poor minis though so still handle them with at least a bit of care and they'll weather regular use!  Better yet, paint them and you'll go into preservation mode with them as they'll be precious to you!!  

Safety First: Working with Resin Miniatures

While resin miniatures are a fantastic medium for high-detail models, working with resin does require some safety considerations. However, with The Lion’s Tower, you won’t have to worry about most of these issues unless you’re modifying the model.

1. Handling Uncured Resin: Uncured resin is toxic, and touching it without protection can lead to skin irritation. That’s why our models are fully cured and safe to handle. If you’re ever working with uncured resin, make sure to wear disposable nitrile gloves to avoid direct contact.

2. Sanding, Filing, or Cutting Resin: If you decide to modify your miniature—perhaps to add a custom weapon or change a pose—safety becomes crucial. Resin dust is hazardous when inhaled, so always wear an appropriate dust mask when sanding or filing the model. Afterward, clean up any resin dust with a wet cloth to prevent it from becoming airborne.

3. Why Curing Matters: During the printing process, the resin is only partially cured enough to hold its shape. It needs a post-cure process to become fully hardened and safe to handle. All miniatures from The Lion’s Tower are post-cured to perfection, ensuring they’re both durable and safe.

Comparing Resin to Other Materials

Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: why switch from metal or plastic or even cast resin to 3D printed resin miniatures? Here’s why:

1. No Mould Lines or Flash: Traditional cast miniatures often come with mold lines, flash, or sprues that require tedious clean-up. Our 3D printed miniatures are free from these imperfections, saving you time and frustration.

2. No Sprues or Vents: Unlike plastic kits, our models don’t have sprues, feed lines, or vents, which can mar the surface and require additional work. What you get is a clean, detailed miniature ready for action.

3. Superior Detail: Resin allows for incredibly fine details that are often difficult to achieve with metal or plastic. This makes our 3D printed miniatures perfect for both gamers and collectors who want the best quality available.

4. Durability and Weight: While metal miniatures are often praised for their durability, they can be heavy and prone to chipping. Resin offers a lightweight yet durable alternative, with models that are less likely to break if dropped.

The Lion’s Tower: Your Source for Premium Resin Miniatures

If you’re still on the fence about 3D printed miniatures, we encourage you to give The Lion’s Tower a try. Our Legend of Drizzt selection is a perfect showcase of the quality we offer. These miniatures feature intricate details, smooth surfaces, and come fully prepped for painting. And for just £2, our Lucky Dip offer lets you experience the quality of our resin miniatures without a significant investment.

Safety Considerations for Miniatures Purchased Elsewhere

While we pride ourselves on delivering the best, we understand you might shop around. Here’s what you should look out for when purchasing resin miniatures from other sources:

1. Support Material: Always ensure that the models you buy come with the support material removed and are fully cured. Handling uncured resin is hazardous, and removing supports after curing can damage the miniature.  

2. Solid vs. Hollow Prints: Be wary of hollow miniatures. While hollowing can save on resin, it can also lead to print failures and durability issues. Models under 100mm don’t generally need to be hollowed, and doing so can result in internal suction forces that compromise the quality. Worse yet, if uncured resin remains inside, it can eventually cause the model to split apart like something out of a horror scene!

Final Thoughts: Why Choose The Lion’s Tower?

At The Lion’s Tower, we’re not just another resin miniature provider—we’re your partner in bringing your tabletop adventures to life. Our commitment to quality means you get miniatures that are ready to paint, durable, and exquisitely detailed. Say goodbye to the frustration of clean-up and assembly, and say hello to hours of enjoyable painting and gaming.

So, what are you waiting for? Whether you’re looking to commission a custom piece or add to your collection with some of our Hero minis, or some epic villains to antagonise your party, The Lion’s Tower has got you covered. 

Happy painting, and may your dice rolls be ever in your favour!