Looking on getting your miniatures cast in plastic in the United Kingdom?
I need to know where to get your miniatures plastic cast UK.
If you are a budding board game developer or want to create some of your own miniatures, then finding a service to print your miniature may be on the agenda.
This post concentrates on where you can get your miniature cast in plastic and resin in the UK. As, finding plastics and resin’s castors in the UK can be a challenge!
But they do exist.
“Zealot Miniatures will be able to sculpt, make a master and create the mold for plastic casting. Especially for short runs and miniature prototyping.”
Some even offer the whole package, of sculpt, master, and cast.
To the juicy part.
Where to find plastic miniature castors.
Where to get your miniatures plastic cast in the UK
To get a miniature cast in the UK you will need to find a miniature printing service. These companies can be found at tradeshows and through board game design forums. (such as board game geek)
Or by simply looking on Google.
As a recommended ‘plastic miniature printing & casting service in the UK,‘ Zealot Miniatures can provide a full service’. Their website – miniatures, and casting are of an excellent standard.
Alternative resin printers and plastic castors in the UK are Mantic Games and Macrocasm.
Nottingham– where Games Workshop is based, has a strong recent history with miniature production.
SK engineering is able to offer large scale (mass production) injection moulding for plastics miniatures. They can be found online.
Where to get your miniature printed in the UK
“Their customer interaction is friendly, informative and helpful”
‘Printing’ and ‘miniature casting’ are 2 separate services. You may wish to make a 3D prototype of your model which can be made from casting resin or plastic.
In order to get your miniature printed in the UK. You will need to find a ‘3D miniature printing service that specializes in the production of 28mm or 32 mm miniatures.
Zealot Miniatures offers a professional 3D miniature printing service. They understand miniatures and miniatures for tabletop gaming.
Zealot Miniatures can create both the negative (master) of your model and also create the mould. They are a one-stop-shop for miniature printing, casting, and mold making.
Their customer interaction is friendly, informative and helpful.
Go to Zealot Miniatures > (opens in new tab)
List of 3D miniature printing companies based in the UK
If you would like to look for alternative printers to “3D print” your beloved miniature. You may also be interested in some of the following companies.
List of miniature printing companies based in the UK and mainland :
- Zealot Miniatures – Moulding, plastic casting, and printing
- Zeaks / HeroForged – A 3D printing service and ETSY shop (good quality miniatures)
- 3D People – 3D people offer a miniature 3D printing service uk with guides and helpful articles
- Syborg 3D Printing – Offer a range of high quality 3D printed historical
- 3D PRINT UK – they look to specialise in product design as opposed to a dedicated service to miniatures.
- 3DAD Another friendly UK based 3D printer who. Supply your miniatures and they can make your prototype.
*HeroFORGE – HeroForge is a service that allows you to make your own miniature through the use of their online app. Once you have created your miniature. You can either create a pointy-eared to printed and download the 3D file.
Heroforge are able to print your miniature but looks to be based in the USA. They will ship to the UK.
List | Where to get your miniatures plastic cast in the UK
After creating an initial 3D prototype of your model, you may wish to take your miniature to the next step of manufacture and consider injection molding? Or cast in resin.
Below is a shortlist of services in the UK that can cast your miniatures in plastic – with a sprue.
List Plastic casting services in the UK for miniatures:
- SK Engineering – (recommended by a board game designer) based on a recommendation this s an injection molding service based in the UK. It should be noted that their website is currently “under construction”.
- Wheatley Plastics
- Stroud Plastics
Plastic injection moulding services for miniatures UK
It is no secret that setting up plastic injection moulding for miniatures can be very expensive. Finding injection molding services that are dedicated solely to miniatures is also very rare.
The only recommendation that has been passed on through word of mouth is SK engineering. It may be best to try these.
I have also seen the end results of what SK engineering has made first hand. The finished plastic sprue was strong.
Check here for plastic injection moulding and casting services in the UK
Where to get a 3D printed prototype of my miniature in the UK?
There a number of 3D printing services you can use in the UK. These services are – Zealot Miniatures, 3D&D and Zeaks which is an Etsy shop.
The 3D prototypers and printers mentioned as they are companies that visibly can demonstrate they can make miniatures. Specifically – 3D prototype for miniatures.
Zealot Miniatures, as mentioned previously offer a mold making service and printing service. More can be read about their miniature printing services on their website.
It should also be mentioned that Dragon Bone Games is not affiliated with any of the 3D printing companies mentioned in this post.
Why is the 3D prototype important?
Plastic injection moulding for miniatures whether they are 28 mm of 32mm is very expensive. You will need to pay for tools, set up fees, materials etc. There is also a minimum order quantity generally speaking when it comes to injection molding.
3D printing is a great way of creating short runs of your miniature. You can also use this as a ‘master’ to give to the Injection molding company.
The 3D prototype of your miniature is important as it enables you to gauge how the model will look and feel in reality.
The all-important 3D prototype can allow you to spot early design flaws, strange proportions, and even as dummies pieces for a board game prototype.
You can also use the 3D miniature prototypes for photography whilst your miniatures are being cast.
Conclusive Answer – where to get your miniatures cast in plastic
As a summarised and conclusive answer on where to get your miniatures cast in plastic in the UK, here are two straight forward answers.
If you would like to have a short run of plastic cast resin, the company Zealot Miniatures is one-stop-shop for your needs.
Zealot Miniatures will be able to sculpt, make a master and create the mold for plastic casting. Especially for short runs and miniature prototyping.
If you are considering Injection moulding for large scale miniature production try contacting SK engineering.
Alternatively, contact factories that offer “plastic engineering services” or miniature plastic molding services. Or injection moulding companies with experience in creating plastic toys.
SK Engineering is a company that are able to cast miniatures in plastic. This is also based on written and verbal recommendations. SK Engineering are able to make box ready miniatures – on plastic sprues.
Their website is still under construction.
Where is the best place to get your miniature printed in the UK?
2 companies that stand out for miniature printing is Zealot Miniatures and the Zeaks the ETSY shop.
Zealot Miniatures not only looks like a 1 shop stop for printing and short productions they specialise in miniatures. 28 mm and 32mm and larger.
If Zealot miniatures are too busy then consider Zeaks also.
Helpful articles on creating miniatures
- Rupert Greyling Miniature sculptor
- How to create a homemade HeroQuest fan game
- List of UK board game distributors
- About Burrows & Badgers (miniature sculpting)
Thank you for reading where to get your miniatures plastic cast in the UK. It should be noted that DBG cannot be responsible for the content on any external websites. Care has been taken to link to websites with a safe and active online presence and professional team to cast your miniatures.