Prepare for Arrival - A Painting & Handling Guide for Iron Shield Army Miniatures

The Summoning Has Begun...

Welcome, brave artisan. The miniatures you now possess are more than resin—they are fragments of realms forged in fire and shadow, ready to take their place upon your table. But before they enter battle, they must first be awakened, refined, and armored with your skill.

This is your guide to preparing them for the glorious arrival.

1. From Forge to Dispatch – How Your Miniature Was Prepared

Each Iron Shield Army miniature is crafted using high-resolution UV resin printing. After printing:

• Models are thoroughly cleaned in isopropyl alcohol to remove uncured resin.
• All supports are removed by hand with great care.
• Miniatures are then UV-cured for durability.
• Once cured, they are individually sealed in ziplock bags to prevent scuffing or contamination.
• Figures are wrapped securely in bubble wrap, paired with themed goodies (see: What's in the BOX), and finally packaged for safe transit.

2. Unboxing & Handling

Upon receiving your parcel:

• Open the box carefully – do not tear it open.
• Unwrap the bubble wrap slowly – swords, wings, and other sharp details can get caught and risk snapping.
• Inspect your miniatures gently before assembly.

Most miniatures consist of two parts – the character and its base. Larger models (like dragons or giants) may come in multiple components. This ensures safe printing and shipping.

3. Assembly – Merging the Warrior

If your miniature arrives in parts:

• Dry-fit pieces before gluing.
• Use cyanoacrylate super glue (e.g., Loctite, Gorilla, Zap-A-Gap) for bonding.
• For larger pieces: consider pinning joints using brass rod or wire.
• Optional: Fill any small gaps with green stuff or resin putty.

Let glue fully cure before priming or handling the model.

4. Painting – Giving Color to Legend

To prepare your model for paint:

• Use an acrylic-based primer (spray or brush-on). Black, grey, or white depending on your style.
• Paint using acrylic miniature paints (Citadel, Vallejo, Army Painter, etc.).
• Use fine detail brushes (sizes 00–1 for detail, larger for basecoats).
• Begin with base colors, follow with washes, highlights, and fine details.
• Finish with a matte varnish to protect your work.

Tip: A wet palette helps extend paint life and smooth blends.

5. Show Us Your Iron Shield Army

We want to see your creations on the battlefield!

• Share your painted miniatures on Instagram using #IronShieldArmy
• Tag us @ironshieldarmy and get featured
• Visit our store to see new arrivals and exclusive releases: www.ironshieldarmy.com

Steel Your Brush. Prepare for War.

The Iron Shield Army awaits your hand.

This guide was forged for the champions of the tabletop. For questions or advice, contact us anytime at support@ironshieldarmy.com.

 

Written by Scriptor Orthon, archivist of the Iron Shield Army and keeper of the sacred methods of miniature preparation.