Dark Sword Miniatures

[Balgin Stondraeg]

Okay, first off I'm not reviewing any particular models individualy. This is a look at the entire range as a whole.

Dark Sword miniatures are beautiful. They're really really very nice. I have many of them (about two thirds of the range) and, whilst some of them can get a bit samey, I've found one generic problem with them: I never paint them. Oh about a quarter of them are undercoated with the skin and eyes painted and  about two are half done but it's almost as if they're too beautiful to paint. I like them a lot but yet it's almost as if I cannot bring myself to put brush to the metal. I suppose a lot of it is looking at them and imagining the pretty colours I could put on them, and then not bothering to do it because I've already had that lovely mental image, but some of it too could be because they're in that lovely Tom Meier "very realistic but not always very structuraly solid" style which can be a bit fiddly and hard to paint on account of some bits being so skinny.

I really shall try to get some more painted up sometime (hopefuly even finish one or two) and I intend to order many of the new releases when I can afford them. They aren't expensive, it's just that I've sort of spent all my expendable budget for this month already so they're going to have to wait (again :().

Anyway, I thought I'd share that overall impression/gut feeling with you guys (another gut feeling I have is that Vermis wouldn't like them, although he might like some of the dragons). I might do some thoughts on individual figures if people liked (maybe you could even request my opinions on certain ones as there's definately some that I don't like that much).

[gi6ers]

Yup, I've always been impressed, well cast and lifelike proportions.

[Keeper]

Well, in the next few weeks, I'm going to be painting one for Guhfloyd as a birthday present (she already knows - she's currently choosing the colours!)  So, I'll let you know how I feel after that! :)

At the moment, though, all the rest of my Dark Sword minis are sat in the lead mountain awaiting paint - but not for any other reason than I haven't got to them yet.  I'm having a bit of a 15mm sci-fi think at the moment (Lord, I'm so fickle!) :D

[Baldemyr]

I agreed.  Darksword minis are fantastic-3 boxes sitting on my shelf to be painted.

[cheddarmonger]

They are beautiful, and local!  Yay, Minnesota!  And Jim is a heck of a nice guy; he responds to emails!

Yes, the sculps are great, they are very realistic proportions so they look akward with other miniatures, I look at them as mini statues or 3d paintings.  I have painted a couple of them.  I am particularly impressed by the quality of their casting.  The integral bases are irritating, but I think they are phasing them out.

I have the ploogaks, I'm really looking forward to painting them at some point, but I think the best paintjob on them would be flat rather than shaded/highlighted, because they already have so much going on dimensionally.  Also have that goofy grunge furry lizard guy; his story was so compelling that I couldnt resist picking up the mini.

[Balgin Stondraeg]

I agreed.  Darksword minis are fantastic-3 boxes sitting on my shelf to be painted.

3? You lucky sod, I've got about 10 or 11 boxes full waiting to be painted......

[Baldemyr]

LOL and ouch.  11 boxes of just Dark Sword minis?



I actually have some special one that was released only at Gencon 06 or 05.  Now ill need to find her to be sure