Highland Miniatures: Building Fantasy Armies With 3D Printed Miniatures
Highland Miniatures has become a particularly interesting option for fantasy wargamers who want the look of a traditional rank-and-flank army with the flexibility of modern 3D printing.
Knights.
Dwarfs.
Undead.
Orcs.
Goblins.
Elves.
Renaissance-style humans.
Siege engines.
Heroes.
Monsters.
Rather than producing a handful of disconnected display miniatures, Highland Miniatures builds broad faction ranges designed to let hobbyists assemble complete fantasy armies with a consistent visual identity.
That makes the range particularly useful for players who want to build armies for fantasy mass-battle games without every unit looking like it came from a different sculptor.
It is also a good example of how much 3D-printed miniatures have changed.
Modern resin prints can provide sharp detail, large model variety and poses that would have been difficult for smaller miniature companies to release through traditional injection-moulded plastic.
But 3D-printed resin is not identical to plastic.
It requires different handling.
Scale matters.
Assembly matters.
And buying thirty models because they look impressive is not always the best way to start an army.
This guide explains what Highland Miniatures are, the major fantasy army styles available, what to expect from 3D-printed resin, and how we recommend building a complete force without turning the project into an unmanageable pile of grey miniatures.
Browse physical Highland Miniatures models in our Highland Miniatures collection at Tistaminis.
Highland Miniatures at a Glance
- Scale: Approximately 32mm fantasy miniature scale
- Style: Classic fantasy with strong historical and mythological influences
- Best For: Fantasy rank-and-flank armies, RPGs, skirmish forces, display projects and alternative miniature collections
- Army Coverage: Infantry, cavalry, heroes, monsters, artillery and command models depending on faction
- Production: Originally designed as digital STL files for 3D printing, with physical models available from licensed printers and retailers
- Material: Physical third-party prints are commonly resin; exact material can depend on the licensed producer
Our main recommendation: treat Highland Miniatures as an army-building range rather than simply a source of individual display models. Their biggest advantage is how well the units work together visually.
What Are Highland Miniatures?
Highland Miniatures is a digital miniature studio specializing in fantasy models designed for 3D printing.
The range is built primarily around 32mm fantasy miniatures and includes complete faction collections rather than only individual characters.
Depending on the Army, You Can Find:
- Core infantry
- Elite infantry
- Archers
- Crossbowmen
- Cavalry
- Command groups
- Heroes
- Wizards and clerics
- Artillery
- Monsters
- Large centrepiece models
That makes the catalogue especially useful for wargamers.
A beautiful hero is easy to find online.
A beautiful hero plus matching infantry, cavalry, artillery and command models is much more useful when you actually want to build an army.
The Biggest Strength Is Consistency
A Highland army can look like one coherent faction rather than a collection assembled from six unrelated miniature ranges.
Highland Miniatures Has a Classic Fantasy Look
The overall design language tends to lean toward classic European fantasy, mythology and historical inspiration.
This makes the models especially attractive to hobbyists who enjoy:
- Old-school fantasy armies
- Ranked infantry
- Heraldry
- Heavy armour
- Historical-fantasy crossover
- Large monsters
- Medieval and Renaissance aesthetics
The designs are recognizably fantasy without requiring every miniature to be covered in excessive visual detail.
That is important when painting thirty or forty models for one regiment.
What Armies Does Highland Miniatures Make?
The current Highland Miniatures catalogue covers a growing selection of fantasy factions.
| Army | General Style |
|---|---|
| Gallia | Chivalric medieval humans, knights, men-at-arms, archers and siege weapons |
| Sons of Ymir | Classic fantasy dwarfs with Norse and Germanic inspiration |
| Sunland | Renaissance-inspired humans with pikes, armour and early gunpowder influences |
| Transilvanya | Dark gothic undead, vampires and necromantic forces |
| Orcs | Heavy fantasy greenskin armies |
| Goblins | Smaller greenskins, infantry and characterful support units |
| Aegean Elves | Elven fantasy forces with classical influences |
| Feral Elves | More wild and naturalistic elven forces |
| Eternal Dynasties | Ancient-themed fantasy forces |
| Sewer Vermin | Fantasy ratmen and underground hordes |
| Sons of Marduk | Ancient Mesopotamian and Persian-inspired fantasy designs |
The exact catalogue continues expanding, so individual faction ranges can grow over time.
GALLIA Chivalric Fantasy Armies
Gallia is one of the easiest Highland ranges to understand immediately.
Think:
- Knights
- Men-at-arms
- Archers
- Crossbowmen
- Handgunners
- Clerics
- Noble heroes
- Trebuchets
- Bombards
- Giants
The faction combines medieval European and Arthurian fantasy influences.
Why Gallia Works So Well as an Army
You can build visually distinct units while keeping a strong shared identity.
For example:
- Peasant infantry
- Armoured knights
- Dismounted elites
- Ranged troops
- Siege weapons
all still look like they belong to the same kingdom.
Good Starting Army for Painters
Gallia gives you excellent opportunities for heraldry, shield patterns and contrasting unit colours without forcing every miniature to have a completely unique palette.
SONS OF YMIR Classic Fantasy Dwarfs
The Sons of Ymir lean strongly into the classic dwarf army fantasy.
Expect:
- Heavy armour
- Axes
- Shields
- Warriors
- Heroes
- Traditional fantasy engineering
The designs draw from Norse mythology and heroic European literature, making them particularly appealing to players who want dwarfs that feel traditional rather than highly stylized.
Painting Advantages
Dwarfs work extremely well with:
- Metallic armour
- Rich beard colours
- Strong shield heraldry
- Stone and mountain basing
They can also be relatively forgiving for batch painting because armour occupies so much of the miniature.
SUNLAND Renaissance Fantasy
Sunland offers something slightly different from the more conventional medieval kingdom aesthetic.
The army combines:
- Pike formations
- Armoured infantry
- Early firearms
- Renaissance clothing
- Structured military formations
This makes the range especially interesting for players who enjoy the transition between medieval warfare and early gunpowder armies.
Good for Historical-Fantasy Crossover
Sunland models can fit naturally onto battlefields that mix realistic Renaissance equipment with monsters, magic and fantasy heroes.
TRANSILVANYA Gothic Undead
Transilvanya is Highland Miniatures' darker gothic army.
The Theme Naturally Supports:
- Vampires
- Undead infantry
- Necromancers
- Gothic characters
- Dark monsters
This is a particularly strong range for painters who enjoy atmosphere.
Undead armies can look excellent using:
- Desaturated skin
- Rusty weapons
- Dark cloth
- Weathered armour
- Graveyard basing
You can also paint an entire army relatively quickly because uniform cleanliness is unnecessary.
Orcs and Goblins
Orcs and Goblins are excellent subjects for 3D-printed army ranges because sculptors can produce huge amounts of visual variety.
That Helps Avoid the Problem Where:
Thirty models appear to be the same three miniatures repeated ten times.
For greenskin-style armies, visual variation is a strength.
Different weapons, poses, expressions and armour can make a large regiment feel chaotic while still maintaining a consistent faction style.
Elven Ranges Offer a Different Painting Experience
Highland's elven ranges move away from the heavy, brutal shapes of dwarfs and orcs.
They give painters more opportunities for:
- Clean armour
- Bright cloth
- Fine weapons
- Organic basing
- Elegant colour schemes
They may take slightly longer to paint if you want every fine detail to remain crisp.
Why 3D Printing Works Particularly Well for Fantasy Armies
Traditional miniature production has an expensive limitation:
moulds.
Injection-moulded plastic is excellent once produced at scale.
But creating tooling for every possible hero, variant and niche regiment can be expensive.
Digital sculpting changes that equation.
A Digital Range Can More Easily Add:
- Alternate poses
- Command models
- Multiple heroes
- Rare units
- Large monsters
- Siege weapons
- Decorative accessories
That is why Highland Miniatures can offer faction ranges with considerable depth.
What Is 3D-Printed Resin Like?
Physical Highland models sold through licensed printers are commonly produced using resin 3D printing.
Resin allows extremely fine sculpted detail.
But it behaves differently from injection-moulded polystyrene.
Compared With Hard Plastic, Resin Can Be:
- More brittle
- More vulnerable to thin parts snapping
- More dependent on print orientation and support cleanup
- Better at capturing extremely fine surface detail
Handle Thin Parts Carefully
Spears, sword tips, standards and arrows can be more fragile than equivalent hard-plastic parts.
Use the Right Glue
Standard plastic cement is designed to chemically weld compatible polystyrene plastic.
It generally does not work correctly on cured 3D-printed resin.
For Resin Models, Use:
Cyanoacrylate super glue.
This is one of the most important differences for players moving from traditional plastic kits into printed miniatures.
Browse adhesives and assembly tools in our hobby supplies collection.
Do 3D-Printed Miniatures Need Washing?
Properly finished prints from a professional producer should already have been cleaned and cured.
However, inspect every miniature before priming.
Look For:
- Remaining support marks
- Dust
- Residue
- Loose material
If you are uncertain about a particular model, a gentle clean before priming can be sensible.
Always Prime Resin Miniatures
Primer gives your acrylic paint a reliable surface to grip.
That is particularly important with resin.
Common Primer Choices Include:
- Black
- Grey
- White
- Coloured hobby primers
Your choice depends on the final army palette.
Browse our miniature paints and primers for army painting supplies.
Highland Miniatures Are Approximately 32mm Scale
This is important if you intend to mix them with an existing army.
"28mm," "30mm" and "32mm" are not perfectly standardized miniature scales.
Different manufacturers measure differently.
Some measure to the eyes.
Some measure to the top of the head.
Some use intentionally exaggerated heroic proportions.
That Means Two Models Both Described as 32mm Can Still Differ In:
- Height
- Head size
- Weapon size
- Hand size
- Body proportions
Mixing With an Existing Collection?
Compare a sample model first before ordering an entire replacement regiment.
Does Scale Matter for Rank-and-Flank Games?
Usually less than players think.
On a ranked battlefield, the overall unit appearance matters enormously.
A miniature being a few millimetres taller than another manufacturer may not be noticeable once twenty models form a regiment.
What Matters More Is:
- Base size
- Unit footprint
- Model readability
- Whether the miniatures physically fit together
Always check the rules of the specific game you are playing.
Can Highland Miniatures Be Used for Other Fantasy Wargames?
Highland Miniatures are generic fantasy models rather than miniatures tied exclusively to one proprietary rules system.
That makes them attractive for a wide range of fantasy games.
Potential Uses Include:
- Rank-and-flank fantasy games
- Mass-battle systems
- Skirmish games
- Role-playing games
- Display projects
- Homebrew rules
For organized tournaments, always check the event's miniature and proxy policies.
Casual gaming usually provides much more flexibility.
Highland Miniatures Are Particularly Good for Kings of War-Style Army Building
Games that care primarily about unit footprints can be particularly friendly to alternative miniature ranges.
You can create:
- Regiments
- Troops
- Hordes
- Scenic multibases
without necessarily requiring every miniature to be individually positioned in perfectly separate spaces.
This can turn Highland Miniatures into excellent material for highly scenic army projects.
They Can Also Suit Classic Rank-and-Flank Collections
If your ideal fantasy army is:
blocks of infantry supported by cavalry, heroes, artillery and monsters
then Highland's design philosophy makes sense.
The range feels intentionally built around complete armies rather than isolated character sculpts.
Start With the Army Core, Not the Centrepiece
This is where we think many hobbyists make a mistake.
They see:
A giant.
A dragon.
A huge mounted hero.
And immediately buy it.
Then they still need forty infantry.
We Recommend Starting With:
- One core infantry regiment
- One second battlefield unit
- One command or hero model
Paint those first.
Then expand.
A Painted 500-Point Army Is Better Than an Unpainted 3,000-Point Army
A Good First Highland Miniatures Project
For a traditional fantasy army, try:
- 20–30 core infantry
- 10 ranged troops
- 5–10 cavalry or elite troops
- 1 hero
That already gives you enough visual variety to establish the faction's identity.
You can then decide whether the next purchase should be:
- More infantry
- Artillery
- A wizard
- A monster
- Another cavalry unit
Batch Painting Is Almost Mandatory for Large Armies
Painting thirty miniatures one at a time is usually inefficient.
Instead:
- Prime the full unit.
- Paint the main cloth colour across all models.
- Paint armour across all models.
- Paint leather across all models.
- Apply washes.
- Highlight the most visible areas.
- Finish bases together.
This creates a production line.
It may sound less artistic.
But the final regiment often looks more cohesive.
Do Not Overpaint Rank-and-File Models
This is another lesson that becomes obvious after your third regiment.
A hero deserves:
- Extra highlights
- Face detail
- Freehand
- Careful blending
The nineteenth spearman in the third rank does not necessarily need the same treatment.
Spend Your Time Where Players Will See It
Focus on:
- Faces
- Shields
- Weapons
- Standards
- Front ranks
- Heroes
The unit as a whole is the visual goal.
Highland Models Work Well With Speed-Painting Techniques
The strong sculpted textures found on fantasy miniatures are well suited to:
- Washes
- Drybrushing
- Contrast-style paints
- Speedpaint-style paints
- Zenithal priming
This is particularly useful for:
- Cloth
- Fur
- Leather
- Undead skin
- Wood
Traditional acrylic layering can then be reserved for armour, faces and focal details.
Shield Designs Can Define an Entire Army
Many classic fantasy armies contain large numbers of shields.
That can become one of your most powerful army-wide design tools.
Try Repeating:
- One colour
- One heraldic symbol
- A limited set of patterns
- Matching unit markings
You do not need every shield to be identical.
You simply need enough repetition that the army feels connected.
Basing Is Even More Important With Mixed Miniature Ranges
If you combine Highland Miniatures with models from another manufacturer, consistent basing can visually unify everything.
Use the Same:
- Ground texture
- Tufts
- Grass
- Rocks
- Snow
- Rim colour
Differences in sculpting style often become much less noticeable once the entire army shares the same battlefield environment.
3D Prints Are Excellent for Unit Variety
One of our favourite advantages of printed armies is pose diversity.
Traditional hard-plastic kits may provide:
Five or ten bodies.
Those bodies are then repeated throughout a large regiment.
A digital range can more easily provide additional sculpt variations.
This Matters Most In Large Units
Thirty infantry look much more natural when:
- Heads vary
- Weapons vary
- Stances vary
- Command models are distinctive
But Resin Can Be Less Forgiving for Gaming
There is a trade-off.
Fine detail looks excellent.
Fine detail can also break.
Be Careful With:
- Long spears
- Thin swords
- Banner poles
- Arrows
- Delicate horns
- Small decorative pieces
If you transport the army regularly, use proper miniature storage.
Magnetized Storage Can Work Extremely Well
For ranked armies, magnetic transport is particularly attractive.
You can:
- Magnetize individual bases
- Use metal movement trays
- Transport complete regiments more securely
This reduces the amount of individual handling required before and after games.
Should You Build a Whole Army From Highland Miniatures?
Yes, if you like the aesthetic.
That is arguably the best way to use the range.
The complete-faction approach means:
- Heroes match infantry.
- Cavalry matches infantry.
- Artillery looks like it belongs to the same culture.
- Monsters follow the same artistic direction.
The final force therefore has much stronger visual cohesion.
Highland Miniatures Are More Convincing as an Army Than as Random Individual Additions
Should You Mix Highland With Other Manufacturers?
Also yes.
There is no hobby rule saying every model needs to come from the same manufacturer.
Mixing Works Well For:
- Heroes
- Special units
- Monsters
- Unit fillers
- Alternative command models
Just pay attention to scale and basing consistency.
Highland Miniatures vs Hard-Plastic Fantasy Kits
| Category | 3D-Printed Highland Miniatures | Hard Plastic |
|---|---|---|
| Detail | Excellent | Excellent |
| Pose Variety | Potentially very high | Limited by sprue tooling |
| Material Durability | More brittle | Generally more flexible |
| Plastic Cement | No | Usually yes |
| Super Glue | Recommended | Optional depending on kit |
| Army Variety | Very High | Depends on manufacturer |
| Conversions | Possible, but material is less forgiving | Usually easier |
Highland Miniatures vs Traditional Metal Miniatures
Both can provide very sharp detail.
Resin Advantages:
- Lighter
- Easier to cut
- Often supports more complex poses
Metal Advantages:
- Weight
- Traditional feel
- Less brittle in some thin areas
Neither material is universally superior.
They simply require different hobby habits.
Are 3D-Printed Miniatures Cheaper?
Sometimes.
But price should not be the only reason to buy them.
A physical printed model includes costs for:
- STL licensing
- Resin
- Printer time
- Cleaning
- Curing
- Failed prints
- Labour
The real advantage is often:
access to miniatures that might never be commercially viable as traditional plastic kits.
Buying Physical Prints vs Printing Them Yourself
If you already own a resin printer, buying STL files can make sense.
But owning a printer creates another hobby entirely.
You Need To Manage:
- Resin
- Supports
- Slicing
- Print failures
- Cleaning
- Curing
- Ventilation
- Waste disposal
For many miniature gamers, buying professionally printed physical models is much simpler.
You Do Not Need a 3D Printer to Enjoy 3D-Printed Miniatures
Buying finished physical prints lets you skip the manufacturing process and go straight to assembly and painting.
Who Are Highland Miniatures Best For?
| Hobbyist | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Fantasy Army Builder | Excellent |
| Rank-and-Flank Player | Excellent |
| Painter | Excellent |
| RPG Player | Very Good |
| Collector of Classic Fantasy | Excellent |
| Heavy Conversion Hobbyist | Good, but hard plastic may be easier to modify |
| Player Rough on Miniatures | Use extra care because resin can be brittle |
| Player Who Wants Huge Army Variety | Excellent |
Our Recommended First Highland Miniatures Army Plan
Stage 1 – The Test Unit
Buy one infantry unit.
Build and paint it.
This tells you:
- Whether you like the scale
- Whether you like the material
- Whether you enjoy painting the sculpt style
Stage 2 – The Core Army
Add:
- A second regiment
- A hero
- A ranged, elite or cavalry unit
Stage 3 – The Centrepiece
Now add:
- A monster
- A war machine
- A mounted character
- A major hero
Stage 4 – Fill Tactical Gaps
Buy based on what the army actually needs after several games.
This Keeps the Project Manageable
You are constantly adding to a functioning painted army rather than creating a huge backlog before playing your first game.
Painting Highland Miniatures
The models work with the same major miniature paint ranges used throughout the hobby.
A Typical Painting Workflow:
- Inspect and clean the miniature.
- Assemble with super glue where required.
- Prime the model.
- Apply base colours.
- Add washes or shading.
- Highlight.
- Paint details.
- Finish the base.
- Varnish if desired.
Browse our miniature paint collection for acrylics, washes, metallics and primers.
Use a Limited Palette Across the Army
A huge fantasy army becomes visually confusing if every regiment uses unrelated colours.
Choose:
- One main colour
- One secondary colour
- One neutral
- One consistent metallic tone
Individual units can vary within that system.
The army still feels unified.
Weathering Can Help Ground Fantasy Miniatures
High-detail sculpts can sometimes look too clean if every surface is painted perfectly.
Consider adding:
- Dust
- Mud
- Rust
- Dirty cloth
- Worn leather
This is particularly effective on:
- Orcs
- Undead
- Human infantry
- Dwarfs
- Siege equipment
Browse our AK Interactive collection for pigments, weathering products, textures and hobby effects.
Terrain Helps the Army Look Even Better
A painted fantasy army deserves an appropriate battlefield.
Useful Fantasy Terrain Includes:
- Forests
- Ruins
- Stone walls
- Village buildings
- Fields
- Hills
- Roads
Browse our tabletop terrain collection for fantasy battlefield options.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Highland Miniatures?
Highland Miniatures is a fantasy miniature design studio specializing in detailed 32mm models created for 3D printing. Its ranges include complete fantasy armies with infantry, heroes, cavalry, monsters and war machines.
What scale are Highland Miniatures?
Highland Miniatures describes its fantasy range as approximately 32mm scale. Exact perceived size can still vary compared with other manufacturers because miniature scale is not perfectly standardized.
Are Highland Miniatures physical miniatures or STL files?
The original Highland Miniatures range is designed as digital STL files. Physical printed versions can also be sold through authorized and licensed printers and retailers.
What material are physical Highland Miniatures made from?
Physical 3D-printed Highland models are commonly produced in resin, although the exact printing material and process can depend on the licensed manufacturer producing the physical miniatures.
What glue should I use for 3D-printed resin miniatures?
Cyanoacrylate super glue is generally the appropriate choice for cured resin miniatures. Standard polystyrene plastic cement normally does not bond resin correctly.
Do Highland Miniatures need primer?
Yes. Priming is recommended before painting so acrylic paint has a reliable surface to adhere to.
Are Highland Miniatures fragile?
Resin can be more brittle than hard plastic. Thin parts such as spears, swords, standards and arrows should be handled carefully during assembly, gaming and transport.
Can Highland Miniatures be used for fantasy wargames?
Yes. Their complete army ranges make them particularly well suited to fantasy rank-and-flank and mass-battle systems. Always check specific tournament rules if you plan to use alternative miniatures in organized play.
Can I mix Highland Miniatures with other manufacturers?
Yes. Many hobbyists mix miniature ranges. Compare scale first and use consistent basing to help different sculpting styles look unified within the same army.
What armies does Highland Miniatures make?
Current ranges include Gallia, Sons of Ymir, Sunland, Sons of Marduk, Transilvanya, Feral Elves, Sewer Vermin, Eternal Dynasties, Orcs, Goblins and Aegean Elves, with the catalogue continuing to expand.
Are Highland Miniatures good for beginners?
Yes, provided beginners understand that resin miniatures require super glue and somewhat more careful handling than typical hard-plastic gaming miniatures.
Are Highland Miniatures good for army painting?
Yes. The consistent faction designs and broad unit ranges make them particularly good for batch painting complete fantasy armies.
Do I need a 3D printer to use Highland Miniatures?
No. Players who do not own printers can purchase physical models from licensed producers and retailers rather than printing the STL files themselves.
Where can I buy Highland Miniatures in Canada?
You can browse physical Highland Miniatures models online through Tistaminis, including fantasy infantry, characters and army-building options.
Final Verdict: Are Highland Miniatures Good for Building Fantasy Armies?
Yes. In fact, complete fantasy armies are probably where Highland Miniatures make the most sense.
The strength of the range is not simply that the individual sculpts look good.
It is that the models belong together.
The knights match the infantry.
The heroes match the soldiers.
The artillery matches the kingdom.
The monsters still feel like they belong to the same world.
That matters when you are building fifty, eighty or one hundred models.
A fantasy army is a visual object.
You want to look across the table and immediately understand what culture, kingdom or creature type you are seeing.
Highland Miniatures does that particularly well.
The 32mm scale also gives the models enough physical presence for modern fantasy gaming without pushing every miniature into oversized display-model territory.
There are trade-offs.
Resin is more brittle than hard plastic.
You need super glue.
Thin parts need careful transport.
And anyone mixing multiple manufacturers should test scale before committing to a giant purchase.
But those are manageable hobby considerations rather than major obstacles.
The biggest mistake would be buying an entire giant army before you know whether you enjoy working with the models.
Start with one unit.
Paint it.
Add a hero.
Add a second unit.
Then build outward.
That approach gives you a growing painted army rather than a growing box of unfinished resin.
If classic fantasy armies, cohesive faction design and detailed 3D-printed models appeal to you, Highland Miniatures are absolutely worth a look.
Build Your Highland Miniatures Army
Browse our Highland Miniatures collection at Tistaminis for physical fantasy miniatures, infantry, characters and army-building options.
Get your models ready for battle with our miniature paints and primers and hobby tools, super glue and basing supplies.
For more realistic weathering and basing, explore our AK Interactive range, or build a complete battlefield with our tabletop terrain collection.
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