FAQ
Current information about ordering from Dungeon Master Minis, plus the hobby knowledge we picked up along the way. We started with miniatures and resin printing before moving into larger figures, garage kits, and professionally painted collectibles — so the old nerd knowledge still lives here even if we no longer sell raw kits.
Dungeon Master Minis Today
Dungeon Master Minis is a one-person studio focused on professionally hand-painted resin figures and collectibles. The shop originally grew out of tabletop miniatures and resin printing, then gradually wandered into larger figures and garage kits until painting took over the bench.
Today, the products offered through the shop are finished painted collectibles rather than raw or unpainted kits. Most pieces are made to order and painted individually, so this is closer to commissioning a finished display piece than ordering something off a warehouse shelf.
No. Dungeon Master Minis no longer sells raw or unpainted miniatures, garage kits, or print-only models. Our current shop is focused on professionally painted figures and collectibles.
You will still find information about resin printing, miniatures, garage kits, scales, preparation, and painting throughout this FAQ. That information is here as a hobby resource because those are the roots of the business — not because those products are currently for sale.
Current made-to-order products are professionally prepared and hand-painted display collectibles. Pieces are finished as completely as practical before shipment, but some assembly may still be required for safe transit, especially with large, delicate, removable, or magnetized parts.
Always check the individual product listing for the exact scale, style, options, dimensions, and anything specific to that sculpt.
Because that is where Dungeon Master Minis came from. We spent years printing miniatures, experimenting with resins, preparing larger kits, troubleshooting failures, assembling models, and learning what actually survives shipping and hobby use.
The business changed, but the information is still useful. Rather than pretending the miniature-and-printing era never happened, we keep the useful parts around for collectors and hobbyists who want to learn.
Garage Kits & Hobby Basics
A garage kit, usually shortened to GK, is an unassembled collectible model kit traditionally produced in resin. The term grew out of small-run hobby production in Japan, where artists and small workshops created kits outside traditional mass manufacturing.
A raw garage kit commonly arrives as separate parts that may require support removal, sanding, cleanup, test fitting, pinning or magnets, assembly, priming, and painting. Think model-kit hobby work, just with more anime characters, monsters, enormous swords, and pieces that somehow hide under the workbench the second you need them.
DMM no longer sells raw garage kits, but many of the painted collectibles in the shop begin with the same basic kind of resin model before preparation and painting.
In the hobby generally, an unpainted garage kit normally includes the resin model parts needed to build the sculpt. Paint, brushes, glue, putty, sandpaper, primer, magnets, pinning materials, and other hobby supplies are usually separate unless the seller specifically says otherwise.
Instructions vary wildly. Some designers provide assembly diagrams or keyed parts; others apparently believe figuring out where 47 nearly identical pieces go builds character.
Miniatures are generally smaller models, often intended for tabletop gaming or compact display. Common gaming sizes include 28mm and 32mm, while 75mm is popular for larger display miniatures and painting projects.
Figures and statues are usually larger display pieces described with ratios such as 1:8, 1:7, 1:6, or 1:4. The words “figure” and “statue” overlap heavily in the collector hobby, especially with resin kits.
Busts focus on the head and upper torso rather than the full body. Because only part of the character is represented, a bust should not be compared directly with the total height of a full-body figure at the same scale.
For tabletop RPGs such as D&D and Pathfinder, 28mm and 32mm are common gaming scales, although exact proportions vary by manufacturer. Larger display miniatures are often around 75mm.
Collectible figures are commonly described with ratios such as 1:12, 1:10, 1:8, 1:7, 1:6, and 1:4. A smaller denominator means a larger figure: a 1:4 figure is much larger than a 1:8 figure of the same character.
Pose, base, weapons, hair, wings, effects, and the character’s actual height can dramatically change the finished dimensions, so use the measurements on the individual product whenever available instead of relying on scale alone.
Scale & Size GuideResin printing can reproduce extremely fine surface detail, which is why it became so popular for miniatures, figures, statues, and garage kits. Different resins behave differently: some prioritize crisp detail, some toughness, some flexibility, and some a balance of all three.
Traditional hobby resin can be brittle, especially around thin weapons, fingers, hair, and decorative effects. Tougher and ABS-like formulations can improve durability, but resin collectibles should still be handled like display pieces rather than action figures.
FDM or filament printers build objects from melted filament and are excellent for larger functional parts, terrain, prototypes, and plenty of general-purpose printing. Resin printers cure liquid photopolymer layer by layer and are usually preferred when tiny surface details and smooth miniature-scale features matter most.
Neither process is universally “better.” They solve different problems. For highly detailed character models, resin is usually the more common choice; for large structural or functional prints, filament often makes more sense.
Building, Painting & Collecting
Preparation can include removing supports, cleaning support marks, sanding seams, filling gaps, checking fit, correcting small print imperfections, washing parts when appropriate, pinning or magnetizing connections, assembly, and priming before paint ever touches the model.
Large display pieces can require a surprising amount of invisible work. A clean finished paint job starts long before the first highlight.
Absolutely. Building and painting your own kits is a huge part of the hobby. You do not need to begin with a professional setup, but expect a learning curve involving surface preparation, adhesives, primers, paints, brushes or an airbrush, and the occasional part that refuses to cooperate out of principle.
DMM no longer sells raw kits, so this is general hobby information rather than a description of a product we currently offer.
Potentially — especially if you make it a long-term hobby. The initial setup can add up quickly once you include a printer, resin, washing and curing equipment, ventilation and PPE, tools, primer, paints, brushes, an airbrush setup, replacement parts, failed prints, and enough paper towels to concern your local warehouse club.
The advantage is control: once you have the equipment and skills, you can print, build, modify, and paint projects on your own schedule.
Support a collectible from sturdy areas when moving it and avoid lifting it by weapons, fingers, hair, wings, effects, or other thin details. Keep it away from excessive heat, prolonged direct sunlight, and places where pets, children, sleeves, backpacks, or gravity can conduct unscheduled durability testing.
For larger pieces, verify shelf dimensions and weight capacity before ordering. The base and effects can make a figure considerably wider or deeper than the character itself.
Painting & Commissions
The best answer is to look at the work. Finished commissions and works in progress are shown through the DMM gallery and social channels, including Instagram @dmminisus and TikTok @dmminis. Paint style matters, and reference photos are far more useful than pretending every painter approaches a piece the same way.
DMM is a one-person studio and intentionally limits the number of active painted commissions. Each project moves through the paint queue and generally requires roughly 2–3 weeks of active studio time once it reaches the front, although large or complex projects can take longer.
Queue estimates are estimates, not guaranteed completion dates. If you need a handmade commission by an immovable deadline, contact us before ordering rather than making both of us stare nervously at a calendar.
Paint Commission TermsAbsolutely. Miniature and figure painting ranges from quick tabletop work to competition pieces that can consume hundreds of hours. DMM aims for high-quality display pieces at a price and timeline that make sense for collectors, not to pretend every commission is a Golden Demon entry with three weeks spent contemplating one kneecap.
Different painters specialize in different styles, finishes, techniques, and levels of detail. Look at the portfolio and choose the artist whose work matches what you want on your shelf.
Yes. Current made-to-order listings allow paint instructions and reference images where applicable. These are useful for alternate costumes, color preferences, specific references, or details you want emphasized.
Reference material guides the paint job; it does not automatically include physical sculpt modifications or kit-bashing unless that work is specifically offered and agreed to.
Orders & Shipping
Made-to-order painted collectibles enter the current production queue. Timing depends on queue position, project complexity, material availability, and the amount of work required for the individual piece. Each painted piece generally requires about 2–3 weeks of active studio time once it reaches the front of the queue, with more complex projects potentially requiring longer.
Ready-to-ship items are different because the piece has already been completed. Always review the product listing and current queue information before ordering.
Paint Commission TermsHandmade work is not a conveyor belt. Preparation can uncover fit problems, parts can require rework, paint can need additional curing or correction, and complicated pieces simply take longer. DMM is a one-person studio, so the queue moves according to the actual work required rather than an automated delivery-date guess.
Quality takes priority over rushing a collectible out the door just to satisfy a date generated by software.
Current domestic U.S. shipping is $7 flat rate on orders under $100, with free domestic shipping on orders of $100 or more. Available shipping services and any additional options are shown during checkout.
Because shipping policies and carrier costs can change, the current checkout rate and published Shipping Policy take precedence over older screenshots, posts, or cached search results.
Contact Dungeon Master Minis within 30 days of delivery. Keep the item, shipping box, internal packing materials, and shipping label while the issue is being reviewed, and be prepared to provide clear photos of the item, damaged components, packaging, box, and label.
Do not discard the packaging or send anything back without written authorization. Depending on the verified issue, the resolution may include repair, replacement parts, replacement, store credit, or a refund.
Returns & Support PolicyPricing
A finished collectible includes far more than the resin model itself. Preparation, cleanup, test fitting, assembly, priming, painting, finishing, quality checks, materials, failed or replaced parts, packing, and many hours of hands-on work all contribute to the final price.
A raw kit and a professionally finished display piece are fundamentally different products even when they begin with the same sculpt.
Physical size is only part of the workload. Part count, base complexity, clothing and skin detail, effects, armor, textures, masking, assembly, alternate parts, scenic elements, and the amount of painting required can all change the amount of labor involved.
Two figures can occupy roughly the same shelf space while being very different projects once they hit the workbench.
STL Files & Licensing
No. The models offered in the shop are physical painted collectibles. Digital STL rights belong to their respective designers and are governed by the applicable designer licenses. If you want a digital file for a particular sculpt, check with the original designer.
An STL is a common 3D model file format used for 3D printing. It describes the surface geometry of a model but does not automatically include things like printer settings, supports, resin profiles, assembly instructions, or a magically successful first print.
Creators may sell STL files under personal-use or commercial licenses. Buying a digital model does not automatically give someone permission to sell physical prints, redistribute the file, or claim the sculpt as their own.
Many independent sculptors license their digital models to approved merchants who are allowed to produce physical copies. The exact rights depend on the designer’s license. A personal-use STL license generally does not grant permission to operate a print shop with that artist’s work.
DMM works with licensed designs for the physical products it offers. If you are printing models yourself, check the designer’s terms rather than assuming every STL comes with commercial rights.
Returns & Support
Current DMM orders are professionally painted collectibles and commissions, and all sales are final except where required by law or in the event of a verified shop error. Returns, exchanges, cancellations, and refunds are not accepted simply for buyer’s remorse, change of mind, artistic preference, or normal variation in handmade work.
If an order arrives damaged, incomplete, or incorrect, contact us within 30 days of delivery and retain all original packaging while the issue is reviewed. The complete policy controls if there is ever a conflict with this summary.
Refund & Return PolicyYou can use the site’s quick-response/chat feature or email info@dmminisus.com. You can also reach us by text or phone at 913-608-4111.
You’re dealing with the person actually running the shop, so there isn’t a mysterious fourteen-person support department hiding behind the curtain.
About Dungeon Master Minis
DMM started in the miniature side of the hobby: tabletop gaming, resin printing, and the eternal quest to stop using random objects as monsters on the table. Over time, the projects got larger, miniatures turned into figures, figures led to garage kits, and painting became a bigger and bigger part of the work.
Eventually the business shifted away from selling raw prints and kits entirely. Today the focus is professionally painted resin figures and collectibles, but the years spent printing and preparing models still influence how each project is approached.
Because I am.
Dungeon Master Minis is a one-person operation. That means painting, prep, packing, customer support, website work, troubleshooting, and occasionally staring at a piece while wondering why the part that fit perfectly yesterday has chosen violence today.
A little humor keeps the place human. The sarcasm is intentional. The quality standards are real. The personality is part of the brand.