Quality
Everyone has their own concept of quality. For some, it is enough if the figure vaguely resembles a human. For others, it is important that all the barrelsare drilled. For us, quality primarily means the lack of flaws and the maximum resemblance to the original. To emphasise the difference between our work and that of other producers, we introduced the concept of Pro’cast. What does this mean? This means a miniature is processed and restored by our experts. Details about the process of working on a miniature can be found here. In this way we try to satisfy any of our customer’s requests,even the most demanding.
Quality better than the original
How can this be true? Very simply, we don’t seek to fill up our clients with a bunch of warped and poor-quality miniatures. Each miniature we produce is carefully processed to ensure the best product every time.
We straighten staffs and spears, we cover cracks, we fill gaps, and we correct errors and problems with the original. We aspire to provide you with an array oftop quality miniatures that you’re completely satisfied with.
Consistently high quality
From the beginning of production, we always maintainconsistently high-quality standards. These standards don’t depend on weather, nor on flashes on the sun, or a moon phase in any way. Buying our miniatures at any time of day and night, you receive what you want. Always.
High detail
Besides the preservation of heritage and protection of miniatures from disappearing into history, the majority of our miniatures were selected because of their high texture and abundance of fine details. Such models, even unpainted, look perfect on any shelf; we love to admire similar works of art. Now, such opportunity is made available to you.
Materials
As a rule, most manufacturers use two materials in their work: Rose’s metal (and derivatives thereof), epoxy resins, or hardplastic.
In our restoration work, we use expensive, high-quality materials that are essential to the accurate transfer offine detailsfrom any figure. The material we use for our miniatures is absolutely safe for people, although we do not recommend consuming it! In fact, it is the same polyurethane resin, which is used for the production of other miniatures, but has a number of advantages:
- Minimal shrinkage. On each 1 mm shrinkage makes 0,0065 mm. It is especially noticeable at production of big and difficult miniatures and vehicle where the difference in sizes can come out in distortion and cracks.
- Lack of a smell. Of course, for the consumer it not such important detail (after all the smell disappears soon enough), but for our technical department it is huge plus — to work without gas mask.
- Ease of processing. The material we use can be cut, sawn, drilled, ground, and polished easily. It doesn’t crumble, doesn’t break easily, isn’t brittle, and will last. Our resin sticks together with any super glue (not plastic glue) and it can be primed and painted without any problems.
As with any resin, it is necessary to remember that if the product is exposed to high heat it will start easily bending out of shape. This can both mean deforming the miniature but also an easy way to fix bent parts.
Technologies
Restoration of miniatures is a difficult but fascinating process. In principle, any thematic resource will give you a complete idea of moulding methods in pictures and video, therefore we won’t go deep into the technical process.
Personnel
Our personnel are first and foremost all enthusiasts, experts with long-term experience of moulding, modellers and simply fans of tabletop miniatures and wargaming. Many of our team worked in sectors like the aviation industry, in the military sphere, or came from a background in jewellery, and therefore strict discipline and responsibility for the work are in their blood.
Strict control
Our products pass strict quality control before they go to the consumer. We consider it unacceptable to let any product leave that haseven a small and insignificant flaw, even if on the invisible side of a miniature. Modern technologies allow us to achieve the highest quality and the maximum resemblance tothe original which areessential to ourproduction approach.
Pre-processing
Many manufacturers do not seek to make perfect copies of the original, focusing on mass production and low cost of raw materials. Sometimes the original itself is not inthe best shape. The aim of pre-processing is to bring the master model to the best state before production.
Reinforcement
Long and thin parts from resin, plastic and even metal have a tendency to break. This is especially true with everyday use of miniatures (gaming, painting, transportation). Many players in such cases drill tiny holes in swords and spears and pin with thin needles or wires. Breakages can be avoided by simply putting a steel rod as a support before filling. This isn’t a difficult process for us and you receive composite material that is less likely to break as result.
Additional service
If our company can provide an additional service for processing and preparation, please contact us by mail at blackmarketminiatures@gmail.com
Defects and flaws
We are well aware ofthe production processes of other companies, and sometimes even official producers (for example, ‘failcast’). Defects usually come in two categories: visible defects and hidden defects. Black Market Miniatures have no defects in our products at all.
- First, our production process is watertight does not issue flaws.
- Secondly, if the machine suddenly issues a defected product, the watchful eye of our quality control team won’t let it through.
- Thirdly, our quality control standards are very high.
We have no defected products, but others have it and it needs to be distinguished. Let’s sort concepts, the reasons and consequences of this phenomenon.
Bubbles
Has your gallant hero Ultramarine got warts and blisters all over and now resembles grandfather Nurgle’s demons? These are BUBBLES.
In the process of hardening there can be small pockets of air that get trapped. Such bubbles often rise to the top, accumulate in bottlenecks, and cling to a textured surface. As a result, the miniature not only loses some details, but also takes the form of Swiss cheese!
Incomplete filling
It is Nurgle too! Only very decayed. If you see on your miniature this sort of thing— it is as a result of incomplete filling
If, when hardening,there were large pockets of air that accumulated, the model as a result can miss a hand or even the head. No amount of sculpting and fixing will correct such a defect.
Shift of a form
Does it looks as though there was an attempt to clonethe miniature, but in the middle of the process somebody changed their mind? This is shift of aform.
Casting moulds of a miniature consist of two halves. If these halves are connected not well or were displaced when filling, the models forward half may not coincide with the back. And on each side may be the typical step or slip.
Tail
Does the soldier have a random tag on a part of the model? This iscalled atail.
If the two halves of the mould are connected loosely, the gap between them can leakloose resin. This can easily be cut off by a knife. But if the tail is rather thick, there is a more difficult problem to fix, especially if it causes an excess thickening of the miniature.
Deformation
Does the barrel of your tank allow you to shoot from round the corner? Has the valorous knight and his charging war horse decided to lie down? This is deformation.
If the form was bent during filling or if the miniature was taken out still ‘half-baked’, thin and long parts will be bent. Such defects can be corrected byputting the miniature in boiled water for a couple of minutes (or having been heated by a hair dryer). Because of the temperature, the resin will be softened, and it can be bent back into shape.
Incomplete polymerization
Claws of adamantium are broken? Or havebecome tentacles?This is incomplete polymerisation.
Not all the resin hardened and it will never harden. The miniature is soft, sticky, or very fragile and crumbles. Colour of the material is uneven and on a surface is a whitish residue.
Shortage
The heroic commander of your army has no head, or the Titan has no foot? This is shortage.
It doesn’t matter, they can battle and so. But it is bad and short. At once write us if such suddenly happened with you.
Hidden bubbles
Your miniature, dropped from top of the Burj Khalifa, broke its leg after falling? It must be the hidden bubbles!
These are very cunning small bubbles which didn’t manage to emerge on the surface. At first sight you won’t be able to make out such a defect. When you start working with the miniature, parts can break exactly in these spots. On a break these bubbles just will also be visible. Sometimes they can be detected if you use a bright light behind the miniature.
Warranty
Reliability
You can trust us to provide the highest quality miniatures, guaranteed. If you find a problem, we will not abandon you.We will refund the lost parcel, will send the missing parts, we will fix any issue and will do so all at our own expense. You should feel 100% comfortable purchasing from us knowing you are in safe hands.
All prices are actual
The prices specified on our site are always the price you will pay at the checkout.
Always available
All goods in the catalogue are available. We don’ttrick our customers by showing them unavailable and out of stock products.
Package
For your purchases we use high-quality packing. As a result, you will always receive well-packed and protected miniatures every time you order with us.
Confidentiality
We won’t give any data about our clients to anybody. We won’t show and won’t tell. The department of marketing guard your personal information extremely well, this you can be sure.
Replacement of defected products
We do everything possible to ensure that there are no flaws in all of our products but if for any reason you found defect in our product, please get in touch with us right away. After working out the issue, the Black Market Miniatures online store will send to you at our own expense a replacement and will provide a discount for the following purchase as compensation for the inconvenience.
Compensation if the parcel is lost by a carrier
In the case of loss of a parcel because of a carrier, we will compensate the loss at our expense.