2021:what's in the pot?

You didn't expect it, am I right?

I think it's time to unveil the projects we are working on to make your 2021 mightier than ever!

Last year has been a huge success, for us, with an amazing Kickstarter campaign that filled us with joy and, ehm...doubloons*!

I didn't want to waste this ego boost, after all I'm deeply convinced that the first way to design interesting miniatures is to keep the fire inside as bright as possible, so I took a decision that I was thinking about for years: a small range of big-scale miniatures!

Working on larger scales is fascinating: it's true, I've grown up with classic 28mm figures and I still look at the wargaming scale as the ideal one, but I thought that it would be interesting to see how we can do if I'm able to unleash Valerio's full power!

Said so, "big-scale" doesn't mean only the chance of adding more and more details, without worrying about production issue: it's a different way of interpreting a subject!

Valerio and I spent some time, imagining how to keep our own style, adapting it to a larger canvas, trying to find an ideal balance between our cartoonish/old school style, and a more realistic approach.

I didn't want to lose the iconic (well, let's say so!) vibe of my Dwarves, falling into a generic realistic Dwarf subject, and in general I wanted to keep as much as possible our brand identity (damn, today I'm so hardcore, concerning marketing!) so I decided to start with a scene that screams "DPF" loudest as possible: an Iron Crow sentinel, and his new little bulldog companion!

If you follow my private account on Facebook, you surely know that I've adopted a little Bulldog (Giulio!), so it was just a matter of time, before making a tribute to my little boy. In specific, a matter of a very short time.

I wanted to create a funny and relaxing scene, a kind of portrait of an Iron Crow's daily life moment: there will be a proper place for war, weapons and badass vibes in the next characters of this range, but I wanted this first character to be a peaceful scene.

In brief, the scene is pretty simple: there's an unexpected hole in the Iron Crow's bag, strangely right where the food is kept. Who took a non-authorised bite?

Well, I think we all know who's the guilty one!

I wanted to insert as many iconic details of our Dwarves, in the scene: the fluffy bag, the tasty food, the big nose, the little doll and everything that makes our Iron Crows so charming!

I'm impressed by how Valerio managed to update the basic concept of our Dwarves, taking advantage of the benefits of working on a larger scale: he did not exaggerate with details and texture, for example adding a photo-realistic texture on skin and leather, and I think that he handled this change...elegantly.

I'm a painter, so when I design my minis I first of all try to make them interesting to paint. Of course, I think about a design that fits my own painting tastes (the privilege of designing my own minis, after all!), but in general I want that my minis have a balanced amount of detailed and plain areas.

I often saw that many sculptors that work on large scale minis, add an amazing level of details, going very close to a photo-realistic result: this is cool, and I think that it works well especially on an unpainted kit. It's not difficult to add that kind of details, on a digital sculpt: it's only a matter of finding the right alpha to use.

Said so, I prefer, even on big scale figures, when there is not an excess of details and texture: this way, you can paint your minis the way you want, enjoying painting with textures if you like them, or testing your skills with perfect glazes and subtle transitions!

If Valerio added a photo-realistic texture to the bag, you would be obliged to paint it in a single way, and I didn't want that to happen: big-scale figures, in general, are products made more for painters, and I want that painters will be able to unleash all their personal style on these "canvas".

I think Valerio did a great job, and this is a perfect way to start a range of products where we will be able to give our very best: I want this range to be the flagship of our company, a little collection of figures that show our best skills.

I like to work on special edition and high-end products, in fact this is how I handle my wargame range, and I'm so excited when I think about the upcoming releases of this new miniature line: I'm convinced that these characters will help us to better portrait the lore I created for my minis, we will be able to show you the peoples of Inneath in a unique way, more detailed than ever!

There won't be only busts: we are also working on full figures.

Like the badassest Dwarf that ever badassed: the new 75mm scale Iron Crow Veteran.

Stay tuned!