Dancing Yak Miniatures are a small company of gaming enthusiasts who have dedicated ourselves full-time to bringing you high-quality metal miniatures at affordable prices.
Our goal is to bring your ideas to life by offering a variety of miniatures and services for your gaming needs. Miniatures are sculpted digitally and through traditional methods.
We hope you like what you see and enjoy what we have to offer and that you also like our future lines. We look forward to bringing our miniatures to your tabletops.
Thank you for your time, love, and support.
Why a Kickstarter and what are we offering
On May 22, 2019 at 8:00 PM EST, we will be launching our 10mm & 28mm Chaos/Infernal Dwarf & Hobgoblin Kickstarter campaign.
We believe that Kickstarter is the best way to get this first project off the ground.
For years, we have wanted a Chaos Dwarf army and this has allowed us to bring our unique feel to it. We have bought two 3D resin printers, a vulcanizer, a kiln, supplies, and a workspace.
We are engaged in this as a full time job. This Kickstarter will allow us to continue with other projects and ensure us the ability to deliver the miniatures to you in a timely manner, regardless of any issues that may arise.
Plus, we will be offering a bunch of freebies and stretch goals as exclusives. We will be making the miniatures in metal. We hope you're happy with them.
The products will also be available after the Kickstarter albeit at a higher cost on our online store.
First things first, I absolutely love fantasy miniatures. I have been collecting fantasy miniatures for over 37 years now. From lead to pewter to plastic to resin, I collect them all. If it is cool, I want it.
I started collecting miniatures in Christmas of 1983, which was exactly one year after an aunt bought me a very interesting Christmas present. What was this interesting present you ask? The Red Erol Otus Dungeons and Dragons Basic Set. Ahhh the memories…My first miniature set was the official TSR “Fighters Rangers and Paladins” set with the Jeff Easley cover. I still have that set and thousands of other classic miniatures to go along with it.
Well, back in 2002, I decided to give something back to the hobby I truly love by producing a line of premium miniatures for both gamers and collectors. I am sure that everyone has heard people in the hobby stores criticizing miniatures or complaining about this, that, and the other thing. Or you have overheard people talking about how cool it would be if a miniatures company would do this or if a miniatures company would do that.
Well, I guess you could say this company was inspired by my frustration that no one stepped up to the plate back in 2002 to start producing fantasy miniatures based on the artwork of one of my favorite artists of all time: Larry Elmore. Larry Elmore is one of the coolest dudes in the industry and I really wanted to see some new miniature lines based off of his phenomenal artwork.
In addition, there were a number of other fantasy miniature sets that I wanted to see produced. So instead of waiting until someone came out with the miniature sets I wanted to see produced, I decided to form a miniatures company and just go ahead and start producing them myself.
Dennis Mize and Larry Elmore were my two must-haves to make this venture worthwhile in terms of us all investing our time and energy. This would be a team effort and every team member needed to be up for the task. Well to make a long story short, I presented the concept to Larry and Dennis (along with a number other industry members) and we decided to green light the miniature line. We finalized the Dream Team in terms of artist, sculptors, mold making, casting, painters, packaging, graphic design, etc. and it was off to the proverbial miniature races.
Dark Sword Miniatures Inc. was born…
Fast forward to 2020 and we have just under 1,000 miniatures & miniature related products in the Dark Sword collection, and we work with Larry Elmore, Keith Parkinson’s estate, Jeff Easley, Clyde Caldwell, Stephanie Law and Tony DiTerlizzi. In addition, a number of years ago I was approached by a certain author that wanted to work with Dark Sword on multiple miniature related projects. He was not an artist, but he was writing a book series. I had not read his books yet, but I had them on my bookshelf awaiting the moment when I would have time to read them as my friends all raved about his book series. His name was George R.R. Martin and he loves miniatures as much as I do. He grew up on the 54mm variety, but has since come over to the Dark Side of the Force with 28mm heroic gaming scale miniatures. Dark Sword has now been officially working with George R. R. Martin, since 2007.
Dark Sword brings our miniatures to life in a style that can best be described as Fantastic Realism. To accomplish this, Dark Sword works with a very select core group of sculptors that includes: Tom Meier , Dennis Mize (RIP), Dave Summers, Jeff Grace, Patrick Keith, and Jason Wiebe. Other wonderful guest sculptors will jump into the fray from time to time with a piece or two as well. We also have some of the very best miniature painters in the world painting up our studio display models for your inspiration and viewing pleasure. Marike Reimer, Jen Haley, Jessica Rich and Matt Verzani have painted up the bulk of the Dark Sword studio collection. Jumping in to lend a brush here and there when time permits are other outstanding award-winning miniature painters such as Kat Martin, Jennifer Wojcik, Mary Profitt, Susan Wachowski, Rhonda Bender, Alison Bailey, Michael Proctor, Aaron Lovejoy, Jen Kaufman and Zach Lanier.
Our ranges have expanded beyond our core licensed fantasy artwork lines into creations of our own design. From awesome RPG characters to fun/cute anthropomorphic animals, we have all sorts of great choices and options to meet the needs of serious collectors, casual painters and gamers alike.
We have lost some good friends and industry giants along the way. Keith Parkinson passed away on October 26, 2005 and then less than five months later, Dennis Mize passed away on March 13, 2006. Both Dave Arneson and Gary Gygax passed away in 2009 and 2008 respectively. Their impacts on the gaming industry will forever be felt and they are all dearly missed.
Dark Sword Miniatures has a deep respect for the great miniature companies that came before us. Two of the key companies that paved the way for my love of miniatures at a young age were Ral Partha and Grenadier which were both formed in the mid 1970’s but later met their demise in the mid 1990’s amidst a rapidly changing game industry succumbing to the collectible card game craze. I grew up on both of these companies and still collect their miniatures to this day. And of course one must recognize Reaper Miniatures which stepped in to fill the massive void left by the passing of both Grenadier and Ral Partha from the mid 1990’s to today. Reaper Miniatures kept my miniature habit going strong and I still collect their miniatures as well. I now have the privilege of personally knowing the owners of both Reaper Miniatures and Iron Wind Metals (aka: Ral Partha reborn). ReaperCon and my visits to Ohio to hang out with the Iron Wind crew while visiting with a number of my Dark Sword sculptors are some of the funnest experiences a miniature nerd like myself could ever hope for. Ah the stories
Figone produces Fantasy, Sci-Fi and Historical miniatures and busts.
Grim Forge Miniatures was created with the aim of satisfying any type of clientele with original sculptures and miniatures. From individuals looking for a specific model for a diorama to companies that want to develop new board games or miniatures.
We are able to completely create, from the conception to the realization of the finished model. Original miniatures in a format compatible with the existing three dimensional wargames of any scale. To create exhibition sculptures, to create prototypes for games in development. With your own style or with that requested by the customer, for any theme. (fantasy, historical, science fiction, etc.) and subject (characters, accessories, furniture, animals, vehicles).
On this site, currently undergoing continuous growth. You will find an exhibition of the models. We have made and some examples of our processing techniques in continuous development.
Our goal is to get to propose as soon as possible. In addition to the creation of models on commission. A complete catalog that can meet the needs of those looking for original models in advance.
Irregular Miniatures makes 2mm, 6mm, 10mm, 15mm 20mm, 28mm 30mm, 42mm 54mm and 75mm historical, fantasy and science fiction.
All figures cast in white metal.
2mm & 6mm figures in ready based strips.10mm-75mm figures priced & sold individually.
Irregular Miniatures figures sold separately, and there is no minimum order you only have to spend a pound or two to see what our models are like. For this reason we don't send out free samples.
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Westfield
Great Edstone
YO62 6NZ
Kellerkind miniatures is a small manufacturer and online shop for metal/ resin figures and diorama accessories for scale models.
Martin Hille
Am Fort 1
13591 Berlin
Germany
La Meridiana Miniatures is an Italian manufacturer producing an excellent range of figures in various scales (white metal and/or resin), covering the French and Indian Wars, Medieval Italian subjects, WWII Colonials, and Ancients, mostly in 54mm and 75mm scales. They also produce a range of resin scenic architecture and animals in 54mm scale besides a growing range of 200mm and 1:16 and 1:12 scale resin busts.
Mondaino RN
Italy
Marco Navas Estudio A self-taught sculptor and painter. He began his professional activity at the age of 16 in the field of miniature. Where his works arouse the interest of numerous private collectors. After 7 years working as a freelance. In 1998 he founded his own studio and at the same time created Fontegrís. A firm that will set a precedent in European miniature collecting due to the eclecticism of its catalog. And which soon became the subject of articles in the international specialized press.
The work at the head of his studio leads him to develop the application of plastic techniques to micro sculpture. And a personal concept of composition, which have led him to become one of the most recognized and recognizable miniaturists. Of his generation. He has accumulated more than fifty national and international awards. And holds the merit of being the first Spanish miniaturist to exhibit his works alone in art galleries.
Miniaturenland is the official distributor of Dark Sword Miniatures, Inc.
64291 Darmstadt
Germany
Morland Studios produce 32mm and 54mm figures, 200mm busts as well as bases and scenics with the focus on quality display miniatures. This is the home of the Officially Licensed Nene Thomas, Howard David Johnson & Order of the Stick miniature lines.