D&D General Metal Miniatures Based On the 1977 D&D Basic Set Box

The first of a collection of old-school metal Dungeons & Dragons miniatures based on classic D&D art pieces will be released in February by Sirius Miniatures.

Based on David Sutherland's art for the cover art of the 1977 D&D 'Holmes' Boxed Set, the zinc-alloy miniatures feature a large red dragon (75mm), and the wizard and the fighter shown on the box's cover.

Unusually these days, the miniatures are not made of plastic. While they're not made of lead (for obvious reasons) like they were in the 1970s-1980s, they are metal miniatures made from a zinc alloy, which give the miniatures a heft that feels different to the plastic equivalents,

The miniatures will cost $49.95, and are the first set in a series of old-school miniature sets based on classic D&D covers and art pieces.

 

[Cergorach]

Nice! That they made it metal is also very 'authentic'.
Link to manufaturer and product: Sirius Metal Miniatures: 1977 D&D Holmes Boxed

But I personally have not played the original boxed set, so have no investment in that illustration piece. Now The original Red Box art is a different story. Wizkids made a rare (chase) prepainted version of the warrior (their interpretation: female*), but I'm not sure if the dragon was also made. I find the wizkids for display purposes not up to par, this iconic warriors looks like a blob (don't believe the Wizkids promo's):

And costs $40 on the secondary market.. facepalm

*Interestingly enough the original illustrator (Larry Elmore) intended the warrior in the piece to be male. That suddenly caught my attention as sometimes the discussion comes up about the original intentions of the 'artist' (illustrator) and how they should be respected, which WotC/Wizkids obviously didn't do to score points. Larry on the other hand turned around (eventually) and said that it's all about interpretation... So if both WotC, Wizkids, and original D&D illustrators think it's all about interpretation, why shouldn't we?

 

[Morrus]

Nice! That they made it metal is also very 'authentic'.
Link to manufaturer and product: Sirius Metal Miniatures: 1977 D&D Holmes Boxed

But I personally have not played the original boxed set, so have no investment in that illustration piece. Now The original Red Box art is a different story. Wizkids made a rare (chase) prepainted version of the warrior (their interpretation: female*), but I'm not sure if the dragon was also made. I find the wizkids for display purposes not up to par, this iconic warriors looks like a blob (don't believe the Wizkids promo's):
View attachment 420795
And costs $40 on the secondary market.. facepalm

*Interestingly enough the original illustrator (Larry Elmore) intended the warrior in the piece to be male. That suddenly caught my attention as sometimes the discussion comes up about the original intentions of the 'artist' (illustrator) and how they should be respected, which WotC/Wizkids obviously didn't do to score points. Larry on the other hand turned around (eventually) and said that it's all about interpretation... So if both WotC, Wizkids, and original D&D illustrators think it's all about interpretation, why shouldn't we?

I am aware. I covered it at the time:

D&D General Thread 'D&D Red Box: Who Is The Warrior?'

May 7, 2024

The Dungeons & Dragons Red Box, famously illustrated by Larry Elmore in 1983, featured cover art of a warrior fighting a red dragon. The piece is an iconic part of D&D's history.

WizKids is creating a 50th Anniversary D&D miniatures set for the D&D Icons of the Realms line which includes models based on classic art from the game, such as the AD&D Player's Handbook's famous 'A Paladin In Hell' piece by David Sutherland in 1978, along with various monsters and other iconic images. The set will be available in July 2024.

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• Morrus
• Replies: 623
• Forum: *Dungeons & Dragons

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[Zarithar]

I love this. My very first D&D product... Holmes Basic.

 

[Marc Radle]

I love this. My very first D&D product... Holmes Basic.

My intro to D&D as well!

Man that cover, and those minis, brings back the warm fuzzies of nostalgia!

 

[Aellic Mornbringer]

I am an absolute sucker for the nostalgia collectibles, especially something like this where I can display them on top of my bookshelves.

 

[aco175]

I would be more interested if they came painted. My son might like them since he paints some. Then again, if I need them painted why not just make them plastic?

 

[Cergorach]

Then again, if I need them painted why not just make them plastic?

You need to feel the weight of the history it represents!

 

[Morrus]

I would be more interested if they came painted. My son might like them since he paints some. Then again, if I need them painted why not just make them plastic?

Because that would be an entirely different product.

 

[The Soloist]

Cool retro looking miniatures. I still have a few original Ral Partha 90s models but nothing from the 80s.

My first D&D game in 1980 was with Holmes Basic, as a player, and only discovered it was different than the Moldvay Basic edition about 15 years ago.