Miniature Painting Services: How to Choose and Order Commission Painting for Your Figures

A miniature painting service takes your unpainted figures and returns them finished to an agreed standard, usually split into gaming quality (tabletop-ready, efficient paint jobs) or museum/display standard (more layers, blending, and detail work). Fernando Enterprises, trading as Miniature Lovers, is a long-running commission studio based in Sri Lanka that paints metal and plastic figures from 6mm up to 54mm and beyond, and it explicitly positions itself on low cost, fast output, and the option to mail your models in from abroad. This guide covers what such a service typically involves, how scale and material change the job, and how to order without surprises.

What a commission painting service actually does

You send figures, the studio assembles (if needed), paints, bases, and returns them. The scope varies by provider, so confirm each of these before paying:

• Assembly: whether multi-part plastic or metal kits are built for you or must arrive assembled.
• Painting standard: gaming quality versus museum/display standard. Fernando Enterprises lists both, which matters because the price gap between them is usually the largest single variable in a quote.
• Basing: whether figures come based and textured, or just painted. Basing is listed as a service category on the site, so treat it as something to specify rather than assume.
• Vehicles and larger models: the studio's category list includes vehicles, boats, aircraft, and 120mm figures, so large-format work is offered — but confirm turnaround separately, since big models take disproportionately longer.
• Flags, shields, and decals: these appear as their own categories, meaning freehand or applied detail work is a distinct line item.

Scale and material: the two biggest cost drivers

Scale determines how much surface area and detail a painter handles per figure, and material affects preparation time.

Material matters because metal and plastic prepare differently — metal often needs cleaning and priming care, plastic may need assembly and mold-line removal, and 3D-printed resin can require support cleanup. The site lists metal, plastic, and 3D printed figures, so state your material when requesting a quote.

What to check before you commit

• Gallery and portfolio: look for finished examples in your scale and genre, not just the studio's best display pieces. Army painting and single-figure painting are different skills.
• Customer reviews: the site links customer reviews and guestbooks. Read them for turnaround accuracy and communication, not just paint quality.
• Quality tier definitions: ask what "gaming quality" and "museum standard" mean in concrete terms — number of layers, highlighting, shading, freehand — so you can compare quotes fairly.
• Basing and extras: confirm whether basing, shields, flags, and vehicles are included or quoted separately.
• Turnaround and queue: ask for a realistic completion date for your volume, not a best-case estimate.

How to prepare and ship your miniatures

The site's "How to Send" section exists precisely because mailing figures is the step most first-time commissioners get wrong. Practical steps:

1. Inventory everything with photos before packing, and keep a copy of the list.
2. Pack for impact: individual bagging or foam trays, rigid outer box, cushioning on all sides. Loose metal figures in a single bag arrive as a bag of bent parts.
3. Declare accurately on customs forms. Mislabeling creates delays and possible seizure.
4. Agree on return shipping and who pays it before sending. Postage both ways is part of your true total cost, and the studio notes that even with postage its prices remain low — but that is a claim to verify against your own shipping quote.
5. Insure the shipment if the figures are valuable or irreplaceable.

Briefing the painter

A clear brief prevents repaints. Include:

• Exact color references (paint brand and code, or matched swatches), not just "dark green."
• Reference images for the scheme, including any heraldry or unit markings.
• Basing style (sand, snow, urban rubble) and base rim color.
• Deadline and whether it is hard or flexible.
• Priority units, if you are sending a large batch and want part of it back early.

Comparing quotes and avoiding common pitfalls

• Unclear quality tiers: if a quote does not state the standard, you cannot compare it to another studio.
• Hidden fees: basing, assembly, shields, flags, and large models are frequent add-ons.
• Optimistic timelines: bulk army painting takes longer than single figures; ask what happens if the deadline slips.
• Shipping and customs: these can rival the painting cost on small orders, so calculate the landed total, not the sticker price.
• Payment and currency: the source material does not list payment platforms or prices, so request a written quote and payment terms directly before committing.

Typical workflow from inquiry to delivery

1. Email the studio with scale, material, figure count, genre, and desired standard.
2. Receive a quote and estimated turnaround.
3. Confirm scope, price, shipping arrangement, and payment terms in writing.
4. Pack, inventory, and ship your figures.
5. Approve work-in-progress photos if offered.
6. Receive finished figures, inspect against your brief, and raise any issues promptly.

For a Sri Lanka–based studio like Fernando Enterprises, the appeal is cost and capacity for large armies across 6mm to 54mm and beyond; the trade-off is that you are shipping your collection internationally, so packing, insurance, customs, and return postage deserve as much attention as the paint job itself.