Miniatures and wargames · 2026
Proxy miniatures for wargames, 3D printed
What is a proxy miniature and how do you get one printed?
A proxy is a miniature that takes the place of a unit on the table without being the manufacturer's model: almost always an independent sculptor's own design, bought as an STL and printed in resin. A 28 mm miniature costs €8–€23 on its own and about €4.50 each in a batch of 30, excluding VAT and shipping. Among friends it's almost always fine; at tournaments, check the event pack. On Fabrishare you post the project for free and makers in the network send you quotes within 24–48 hours.
Which units can be proxied, and how are they printed?
The golden rule: same base and similar size to the unit it replaces, so your opponent can tell what's what. Common bases in 28–32 mm wargames:
| What it replaces | Common base | How it's printed |
|---|---|---|
| Infantry and characters | Round, 25, 28.5 or 32 mm | Resin: fine detail at 28–32 mm |
| Large troops and small monsters | Round, 40 or 50 mm | Resin, sometimes in two or three parts |
| Cavalry and beasts | Oval | Resin; the rider is usually separate |
| Monsters and huge characters | Round, 60 mm or more, or large oval | Resin in parts to assemble |
| Vehicles and war machines | No base or a large one | Resin for detail; FDM for large hulls |
Check the base the rules require for each unit: that overrides this table. If the STL comes with a different one, ask for the figure to go on a separate base of the right size.
Why do so many players use proxies?
Price
An army of 30 printed miniatures comes to about €135 unpainted, according to the calculator: a fraction of the boxed price.
Units that are sold out or slow to arrive
When a unit is sold out, hard to find or slow to release, a proxy lets you play it now.
An army with its own look
Your theme, your colours, your favourite sculptors: many players build the whole army from independent designs.
Get them paintedTesting a list before you buy
Print a few units to try them on the table before spending on the full army.
Are proxies allowed in games and tournaments?
With friends and at the club
Almost always, as long as it's obvious at a glance which unit it is: same base, similar size and visible weapons. Mention it before the game and there's no argument.
At tournaments, it depends on each one
Every event sets its own rules. Some, especially the manufacturer's own events, only allow their miniatures; others accept other sculptors' models if they clearly represent the unit (known as “counts as”). Read the event pack and, if in doubt, send the organiser a photo beforehand.
What never works
Using any old figure for another unit with nothing in common in size or wargear. It confuses your opponent and it's what nearly every tournament bans.
How much does it cost to print a proxy army?
A 28 mm resin miniature, unpainted, excluding VAT and shipping. The single price is the network's real range; batches are Fabrishare calculator estimates. Each maker sets their own price in their offer.
| Miniatures | Guide total | Per miniature |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | €8–€23 | €8–€23 |
| 10 (one unit) | €57 | €5.73 |
| 30 (a small force) | €135 | €4.50 |
| 100 (a large army) | €406 | €4.06 |
The price per miniature drops sharply from 1 to 10 because the work of preparing and cleaning the print is shared; from 30 upwards it barely moves. Vehicles and large monsters are separate: they depend on size and how many parts they have.
Miniatures and figures are the second most requested group on Fabrishare: 28 of the 110 requests registered between May and October 2026.
How to order your proxies, step by step
- 1
Choose independent sculptors' designs
Look for STLs of sculptors' own designs in their shops and subscriptions: there are whole armies made as alternatives.
- 2
Check the licence
See whether your licence lets someone else print the figures for you. If it's personal use only and doesn't allow it, look for a maker who holds that sculptor's commercial (“merchant”) licence.
- 3
Set scale and bases
28 or 32 mm, to match the rest of your collection, and the base the rules give each unit. To go from 32 to 28 mm, scale down to roughly 88%.
- 4
Say they're for gaming
That one line tells the maker to quote a tough resin, which handles drops and transport better than standard resin.
- 5
Choose the finish
Unpainted, primed or painted: painting is ordered separately, from the same maker or a painter in the network.
What else does your army need for the table?
Proxies are only one part: terrain, RPG miniatures at the same scale and producing your own designs each have their own guide. If you're not sure whether a part should be resin or filament, or what price to expect, start here:
Their own designs, never copies
A proxy is another sculptor's figure, not a copy of the manufacturer's. Fabrishare never prints copies, scans or recasts of commercial miniatures, even if that figure is no longer sold.
Fabrishare does not review licences: when you post the project you declare you have the right to have that file printed, and a maker can turn the job down if that isn't met.
How to order your proxies on Fabrishare
- 1Post the project for free: the STLs (or a link), the scale, the bases, how many of each figure and whether they're for gaming.
- 2Get offers within 24–48 hours from makers who print miniatures in resin.
- 3Choose on price, lead time or finish; the maker prints them and ships them to you.
FAQ about proxy miniatures
Is it legal to print proxies?
Yes, if they're a sculptor's own designs and the licence lets someone else print them for you. Copying or scanning a manufacturer's miniature is not: that never gets printed on Fabrishare, even if it's out of production.
How much does a 3D printed proxy cost?
A 28 mm resin miniature costs €8–€23 on its own. Batches are cheaper: about €5.73 each for 10 and about €4.50 for 30, unpainted, excluding VAT and shipping (Fabrishare calculator).
Can I use proxies at a tournament?
It depends on the event. Some, especially the manufacturer's own, only allow their miniatures; others accept other sculptors' models if they clearly represent the unit and sit on the right base. Read the event pack and, if in doubt, send the organiser a photo.
What base does each proxy need?
The one the rules give the unit it replaces. The most common are round 25, 28.5, 32, 40, 50 and 60 mm bases, and ovals for cavalry and monsters. If the STL has a different one, ask for the figure to go on the right base.
Should I order my proxies at 28 or 32 mm?
At the scale of the rest of your army or your gaming group's. Many sculptors design at 32 mm; to go down to 28 mm, scale to roughly 88% and leave the base as it is.
Resin or filament for an army?
Resin for infantry, characters and monsters: it's what gives the detail at 28–32 mm. Filament (FDM) works for large vehicle hulls and for table terrain.
Can they be delivered painted?
Yes. Many makers paint or work with painters; painting is quoted separately and depends on the level you ask for, from tabletop standard to display.
Can I have a miniature I already own copied?
No. Scanning or copying a commercial miniature to print it is a recast, and it isn't done on Fabrishare. What you can do is find a similar independent design and have that printed.