Conversions and Custom Work
Make the Model You Actually Want
Sometimes the miniature you want doesn't exist.
Maybe the pose isn't quite right. Maybe the weapon needs to be different. Maybe you want to combine parts from several kits. Maybe you're building a character that exists entirely in your head and need someone to figure out how to make the damn thing physically work.
That's where conversions and custom work come in.
At A Tiny Brush Works, we can modify existing miniatures through kitbashing, part swaps, reposing, sculpting, custom components, and other alterations to create something that isn't simply straight out of the box.
Every conversion is different, so we approach each project individually, starting with what you want the finished miniature to look like and working backward to determine how we can build it.
Kitbashing & Part Swaps
Kitbashing combines components from different kits to create a model with a different appearance, pose, or purpose.
A different head. A new weapon. An alternate backpack. Parts from another faction. Components borrowed from several kits to create an entirely new character.
These changes can be relatively straightforward, or they can become considerably more involved depending on how well the components fit together.
We'll determine what parts are needed, how they can be combined, and what additional work is required to make the finished model look intentional.
Reposing & Structural Changes
Sometimes the right conversion isn't a different part, it's a different pose.
Reposing can involve cutting, reshaping, pinning, filling, and reconstructing portions of a miniature to achieve a specific stance or movement.
Whether you want a character to look more aggressive, a weapon held differently, or a model positioned around a scenic base, we'll consider the entire miniature rather than treating the pose as an isolated modification.
Because structural conversions can affect both the model and its eventual painting, we'll plan the work with the finished piece in mind.
Custom Weapons, Equipment & Components
Some ideas require something that simply isn't included in any existing kit.
Custom weapons, equipment, armor components, accessories, trophies, mechanical parts, and other additions can be incorporated into a miniature to create a unique design.
Depending on the project, components may come from existing kits, commercially available parts, 3D-printed components, or custom-built elements.
If a specific component needs to be fabricated rather than sourced, we'll discuss the available options before beginning the work.
Sculpting & Custom Fabrication
For more ambitious conversions, existing components may only get us part of the way there.
Sculpting and custom fabrication can be used to create or modify armor, clothing, organic details, insignia, equipment, and other elements that aren't readily available elsewhere.
These projects require considerably more planning and hands, on work than a standard conversion, so we'll discuss the design and intended result before providing a quote.
For especially complicated projects, we may recommend producing or sourcing a component separately before incorporating it into the miniature.
3D Printed Components
3D printing can be an incredibly useful part of a conversion project.
If you've found a specific component, weapon, accessory, or other STL that would make your miniature exactly what you're looking for, we can print it and incorporate it into the commission.
We're not a general-purpose 3D printing service. Printing is offered primarily as part of a larger miniature project, such as a conversion, assembly, or painting commission.
If you already own the STL, we'll handle the printing and preparation. If you don't own it, you'll need to provide or purchase the appropriate files and any required commercial license.
Printing costs are calculated from the actual materials and processing involved, including resin, cleaning materials, and applicable handling/hazard costs. Complex prints or significant post-processing may require additional charges.
The goal isn't to sell you a 3D print. It's to use the right tools to build the miniature you actually want.
From Idea to Finished Miniature
A conversion commission usually begins with an idea rather than a shopping list.
You might send us:
A reference photograph
Artwork
Another miniature
A kit you'd like to modify
A rough sketch
A description of the character you're imagining
Or simply “I want this guy to look like this.”
From there, we'll figure out what's actually required.
We'll identify the parts that can be sourced, determine what needs to be modified or fabricated, discuss any 3D-printed components, and establish what the finished model should look like.
For larger or more complicated conversions, we'll make sure the scope and design are agreed upon before significant work begins.
Built for the Paint Job
One of the biggest advantages of having your conversion and painting handled together is that we can design the conversion with the final paint job in mind.
A beautiful conversion isn't particularly useful if the pose makes half the model impossible to paint.
We'll consider things like:
Pose → accessibility → subassemblies → composition → basing → final paint scheme
This can influence where parts are joined, which components remain separate, how the miniature interacts with its base, and where details are positioned.
The result isn't just a modified miniature.
It's a miniature designed as one complete piece.
What Counts as a Conversion?
Not every customization requires a conversion.
A standard alternate head or weapon selected from the kit may simply fall under Assembly.
Once we're cutting, reshaping, combining unrelated kits, sculpting, fabricating components, or otherwise modifying the physical miniature, we're generally entering Conversions & Custom Work.
If you're not sure where your project falls, don't worry.
Tell us what you want to accomplish. We'll figure out the best way to get there.
Your Idea Doesn't Have to Exist Yet
Some of the best commissions start with a sentence that sounds completely unreasonable.
"Can we make this guy holding a massive sword?"
"Can we turn this character into a veteran covered in trophies?"
"Can we combine these three kits?"
"Can we make the model look like the artwork?"
That's what custom work is for.
Bring us the idea. We'll figure out how to build it.