Reply To: Are older miniatures better ?

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On the whole, I think today’s miniatures are “better” than older, metal minis. But there’s a fine line in getting the details just right. Humanoid miniatures are very “stylised” – or, at least, they used to be (or should be?).
Big heads, big hands, oversized small details – in the past it was because everything had to be sculpted by hand and limitations in the manufacturing process. These days, it’s no longer necessary.

But I still prefer the stylised look of “old style” minis over today’s ultra-realistic, super-detailed digital renderings. But let’s be honest, a lot of the early metal miniatures were rubbish! Hands were little more than blobs with three lines scored into them. Faces sometimes looked warped and twisted.

For me, Artisan Guild and Cyber Forge are perfect examples of well-sculpted, modern minis. They’re pretty well detailed, but keep the charm and character of “old school sculpting”. There’s enough detail to make them interesting to look at, but not so much that painting them becomes a chore. I’d take these minis over any “older miniatures” any day.

So are older miniatures better? Nah.
Sometimes they’re more fun to paint than a hyper-realistic digitally sculpted resin print.
But that’s a failing of the modern sculptor, not because “older miniatures are better”. There are plenty of other sculptors to choose from!

Give me today’s minis over those nasty, blobby, poorly cast lumps of lead any day!