Miniature Figures: From Model Soldiers to Fantasy Gaming

Miniature Figures: From Model Soldiers to Fantasy Gaming is part of Crabtree’s series s titled “Model-Making Mindset”. Model-making is a pastime that can be enjoyed from a young age, with skills and creativity increasing over time. The rise of fantasy gaming has renewed the interest in model-making that used to be more focused on military figures. Now, miniature figures are as likely to be fantasy people and animals as they are to be military heroes from the past.

Miniature Figures includes chapters on the gaming world, using scale, researching your subject, planning a workspace, painting and finishing, creating creatures and backgrounds. The book makes it clear that model-making kits are a natural place to begin, but readers are then encouraged to develop their model-making skills by practice and problem-solving. Research is also an important skill that students will want to develop as they become more experienced in making miniature figures.

The final chapter in the book, “What’s Next?”, looks to the future which will make further use of 3-D printing, and virtual reality. Miniature Figures includes a table of contents, a simple glossary, an index and a short “About the Author” section. Author David Jefferis includes a note in his biography that “For the Model-Making Mindset, David worked closely with Mat Irvine, who makes models for many TV shows. These include Doctor Who, the popular BBC sci-fi series.” Clearly, Model-making can develop into a fascinating career.