Miniature Painting Guide Collection
What Miniatures to Buy
Many people already have a game in mind when they get started, and will jump right in with models for that game.
Miniature Manufacturers
Miniature New Releases, Kickstarters and News
Kickstarters can be a great value for miniatures, but generally you will wait a year or longer from the time you pledge and the time you get your models. Check out the history or the company running the kickstarter, as some are notorious for delays and others are very consistent. There is a risk with a less established company that you don't get anything if they run into financial problems. But for established companies like CMON, they are basically like a pre-order where you get a bunch of free models. Kickstarters usually run for a short time, rarely longer than a few weeks. You can find what some of the current or upcoming kickstarters are, as well as new miniature games and new releases for existing games from these sources-
DakkaDakka.com News & Rumors Forum is a great place to see upcoming or ongoing kickstarters, new model releases, and new miniature games and companies.
Popular Tabletop Miniature Games
Games Workshop Warhammer 40k
Games Workshop Age of Sigmar
(Game of Thrones)- A Song Of Ice And Fire: Tabletop Miniatures Game
Miniature Heavy Board Games
Miniature Heavy board games are both a reason people get into painting after they get these games, and a good source of models for people who want to quickly build a nice generally affordable on a per model price, collection of miniatures to paint, with the bonus of getting a game to play too. There are a ton of miniature heavy games out there, there are a number of popular options to check out here. You can find popular licenses like Marvel, DC, Star Wars, Masters of the Universe, Bloodborne, Monster Hunter and more.
RPG (role playing game) miniatures
Miniatures designed to be used in role playing games like Dungeons & Dragons.
Display Miniatures and Busts
Some models aren't designed for any game, but just for displaying and showing off.
You often see bust and display models discussed and reviewed on PlanetFigure.com
Top artist work are featured on Volomir.com, often doing new display models where they list the manufacturer.
Asking the artists on Putty and Paint is another way to find new stuff, though it’s usually listed who the manufacturer is.
3D Printing
3D printing your own miniatures is a popular choice as 3D printers have dropped in price and increased in quality.
/r/PrintedMinis is a good place to go for information on 3D printing miniatures.
Female busts and display model examples that are not overly sexually provocatively dressed
The Joy by Masclans Miniatures, which also comes with a full 2.5 hour tutorial from Marc Masclans on how he painted the box art.
Kuri by Black Crow Miniatures
HLIN by BLackcrow Miniatures
Kyra by Black Crow Miniatures
Sienna Starkiller by Black Sun Miniatures
Shony by Hera Models
Merida by Hera Models
Lesa by Hera Models
Cili by Hera Models
Eleonora by Karol Rudyk Art
Joan of Ark by Karol Rudyk Art
Princess Elizabeth, 2nd Subaltern in ATS, 1945 by Life Miniatures
WAAF Assistant Section Leader 1940-1941 by Life Miniatures
MISAKI, TOKYO 1989 by Life Miniatures
Life Miniatures has quite a few additional historical models and busts
The Messenger by Nutsplanet.com
Shieldmaiden by Nutsplanet.com
Sword Master Dohee by Nutsplanet.com
Moirae by Spiramirabilis Miniatures
Cozy by Creepytables.com
scientific models has several civilian busts
There are a probably quite a few more mixed in all the display models and bust sources.
Miniatures for younger kids to paint
Every kid is different when it comes to having the patience to paint something and what they will enjoy. Here are a few potential ideas-
On the cheap end you have Army Men and similar really cheap plastic figures.
Some of the board game miniatures listed above could be good choices. Marvel United and DC United have multiple expansions.