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.

 

[zenopus]

Wow, great to see these! Thanks for the heads up. I've re-shared the info on my blog.

Metal Minis based on the Holmes Basic Set Cover are Forthcoming

zenopusarchives.blogspot.com

 

[Ziran]

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

Hey there, this is Justin and i am the producer of the Holmes Boxed Set - Sirius Metal.

The box set was my entry point into the game and I wanted to give a little something back to the fans.

Can’t wait for you to see everything we have for future sets.

Let m know if you have questions.

 

[EthanSental]

I probably overlooked it on the site but is there a release or preorder date?

 

[Ziran]

I probably overlooked it on the site but is there a release or preorder date?

February 2026, you should reach out to your local FLGS and have them place a pre-order with their distributor.

I will reach out to our ecom team about our listing on siriusdice.com - it should be setup for online pre-orders as well (vs sold out).

 

[piper909]

I'm with metal all the way. Much easier to clean and file and I can't stand the flimsy weight of plastics or trying to assemble multiple-piece minis and getting the super glue on everything except where it belongs. Plus plastic breaks, bends, and is often not a crisp a sculpt and harder to prime and paint in my experience.

Anyway, when they come out with some good ol' throwback pumpkin-headed bugbears, I'm all in!

 

[MGibster]

I'm with metal all the way. Much easier to clean and file and I can't stand the flimsy weight of plastics or trying to assemble multiple-piece minis and getting the super glue on everything except where it belongs. Plus plastic breaks, bends, and is often not a crisp a sculpt and harder to prime and paint in my experience.

This is a phoenix produced in plastic from Archon Studios' Dungeons & Lasers line retailing for about $35. As you can see, we're long past the days when plastic means softer details.* At roughly 5 inches in height and about 8.5 inches across, this miniature would be very difficult to manage if it were metal. Assembly would have been a chore because I'd need to pin the wings to the body as well as manage the weight while painting. A base like this wouldn't even be possible because it'd likely bend under its own weight. In many ways it's tougher than a metal miniature because it won't collapse under its own weight. Even if dropped, it has a much better chance of remaining intact, without its paint chipping, than a metal miniature would.

*Some cheaper plastic miniatures, like Reaper Bones, often have terrible detail. Though even Reaper's Bones line have improved quite a bit over the years.

 

[piper909]

View attachment 421195
This is a phoenix produced in plastic from Archon Studios' Dungeons & Lasers line retailing for about $35. As you can see, we're long past the days when plastic means softer details.* At roughly 5 inches in height and about 8.5 inches across, this miniature would be very difficult to manage if it were metal. Assembly would have been a chore because I'd need to pin the wings to the body as well as manage the weight while painting. A base like this wouldn't even be possible because it'd likely bend under its own weight. In many ways it's tougher than a metal miniature because it won't collapse under its own weight. Even if dropped, it has a much better chance of remaining intact, without its paint chipping, than a metal miniature would.

*Some cheaper plastic miniatures, like Reaper Bones, often have terrible detail. Though even Reaper's Bones line have improved quite a bit over the years.

Roger that! I do have some plastics, esp. larger than man-size creatures, so I'm not entirely a lost cause. I agree, metal dragons, e.g., tend to be ultra-expensive and ponderous and liable to damage from handling. I'm all in favor of that sort of plastic or resin model. (And dinosaurs! Toys are just as good as miniatures.) I will accept simple plastic figures when nothing else is available. But when it comes to historicals and most fantasy, I'm a long-time metal diehard. If you began in the later 1970s, that's what you grew up with.

 

[EthanSental]

I hope these sell well enough to do more of these style minis based on classic box art mini icons.