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How to Make Steel Miniatures

Role-playing games such as "Warhammer," "Warhammer 40,000," and "Lord of the Rings" are played with steel miniatures on a game board. The first step in this type of gaming is acquiring the miniatures, then painting them. Rather than buying expensive miniatures, you can cast them yourself using molds and metal. Once you have a mold you can produce a massive army of miniatures to play out an epic battle or give them away to your friends.

Things You'll Need

Cotton ball
Release powder
Rubber mold
2 support boards
4 clamps
Small ladle
Leaden tin mix
Stove
Wooden stir stick
Pliers or scissors
Shoe brush or wire wool

Instructions

- 1
  Dab a cotton ball with release powder, then coat both sides of the rubber mold.
- 2
  Bang the molds together a few times. This will remove any excess powder.
- 3
  Place the support boards on either side of the mold. Secure the boards with two clamps on either side.
- 4
  Fill a small ladle with leaden tin mix. Place the ladle on the stove and set the temperature to medium-high.
- 5
  Dip the wooden stir stick in the mix for 10 to 15 seconds. If the stick lightly smokes when you remove it, you have set the right temperature for melting and you are now ready to cast. If there is no smoke, raise the temperature. If there is too much smoke, lower the temperature.
- 6
  Put the metal through the mold̵7;s holes, slowly and steadily. Be careful that you don̵7;t splash the molten metal.
- 7
  Hold the mold with one hand and tap with the other for 10 to 12 seconds to settle the metal.
- 8
  Wait three minutes. Remove the clamps, then the boards. Open the mold gently.
- 9
  Wait a few more minutes to allow the figures to cool. Be careful as they can be hot. Pry the figures out with a pair of pliers or scissors.
- 10
  Clip away the connecting pieces with the pliers or scissors.
- 11
  Remelt the excess metal in the ladle.
- 12
  Polish the figure with a shoe brush or wire wool.

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