FAQs & Help Center
Everything you need to know about our services and policies
Before You Order
What are miniprints?
miniprints are highly detailed miniature figures and accessories designed for model railroaders and scale modelers. All items are produced using high-resolution 3D printing technology to capture extremely fine details.
What makes miniprints different from other miniature figures?
miniprints focuses on storytelling figures and scenes designed specifically for model railroad layouts. Because our figures are individually 3D printed rather than mass-produced, we can create:
* Unique poses
* Small production runs
* Niche figures rarely available elsewhere
Many of our designs also come directly from customer suggestions within the modeling community.
Are miniprints ready to ship?
No. All miniprints are printed on demand after your order is placed. This allows us to offer a huge variety of figures and accessories without maintaining large inventories. Most orders are printed and shipped within 1–2 weeks.
Are miniprints figures printed or cast?
miniprints are produced using high-resolution resin 3D printing, which allows for extremely fine details that would be difficult to achieve with traditional casting methods.
How detailed are miniprints figures?
miniprints are produced using high-resolution resin 3D printing, allowing extremely fine detail even at small scales. Features such as clothing folds, tools, facial features, and textures are designed to remain visible once painted. Our goal is to create figures that help tell a story on your layout, even when viewed up close.
Where are miniprints made?
All miniprints are designed and produced in Canada using high-resolution 3D printing technology.
How big are the figures compared to real life?
miniprints are designed to match the proportions of common model railroad scales. For example:
HO scale: represents a 6-foot person as approximately 21 mm tall
N scale: represents a 6-foot person as approximately 11 mm tall
Each product listing specifies the scale so you can choose the one that fits your layout.
Why are your figures unpainted?
All miniprints figures come unpainted by design. Painting your own figures is one of the most enjoyable parts of the hobby. It allows you to match colors, clothing, and weathering to your specific layout and era. Even simple painting techniques can bring a scene to life, and many modelers find it incredibly rewarding to see their own work on the layout. If you’re new to painting figures, we provide free painting tutorials and clinics to help you get started:
Can I get them painted?
Yes—painting is available as an optional add-on when we have painting capacity. Because every piece is painted by hand, this service takes additional time and is not available for every item. If painting is available for a product, you’ll see the option “Want it painted? Yes” on the product page.
What size models do you offer?
We offer models in the four most common model railroad scales.
N scale, which is 1:160. In this scale, a six-foot man would reproduce as 11.4 mm or 0.45 in.
HO scale, which is 1:87.1. In this scale, a six-foot man would reproduce as 21 mm or 0.82 in.
S scale, which is 1:64. In this scale, a six-foot man would reproduce as 28.6 mm or 1.1 in.
O scale, which is 1:48. In this scale, a six-foot man would reproduce as 38.1 mm or 1.5 in high.
HO scale, which is 1:87.1. In this scale, a six-foot man would reproduce as 21 mm or 0.82 in.
S scale, which is 1:64. In this scale, a six-foot man would reproduce as 28.6 mm or 1.1 in.
O scale, which is 1:48. In this scale, a six-foot man would reproduce as 38.1 mm or 1.5 in high.
Do you print other scales besides N, HO, S and O?
Yes. We can sometimes produce other scales depending on the size limitations of our equipment. If you have a specific scale request, please contact us and we’ll see what’s possible.
Ordering
What payment methods do you accept?
For Canadian orders, we prefer Interac e-Transfer to bernard@miniprints.com, which helps reduce payment processing fees.
For international orders, we accept PayPal and all major credit cards, including Visa, Mastercard, and American Express.
You do not need a PayPal account to pay by credit card.
Please note that your payment may appear as Traffic Marketing + Design Inc., which is the parent company behind miniprints.
Can I change or cancel my order?
Because orders are printed quickly after purchase, changes may only be possible within a short time window. Items can often be added if your order has not yet shipped. Please contact us as soon as possible if you need to modify your order.
Do you accept custom requests?
Yes — we love custom ideas! Custom work is available when it fits within our product line and production schedule. Minimum order for custom work: $100
Can I request a specific pose or figure idea?
Yes! We love hearing ideas from modelers. While we cannot guarantee every request will be produced, many of our best figures started as customer suggestions.
Can you make a 3D figure from a photograph?
Yes! We offer The Shrinkening service to turn your photographs into custom 3D miniatures. Please visit The Shrinkening page for more details at https://miniprints.com/shrinkening
Are volume discounts available?
Yes. If you are planning a very large order, please contact us to discuss volume pricing options.
How do I get my NMRA 15% OFF discount code?
miniprints is pleased to offer 15% off regularly-priced unpainted orders to NMRA members. To get your discount code, please log in to: https://www.nmra.org/partnerships Search for “miniprints.” Please ensure you are logged in to the NMRA site, or you will not see the discount code.
Production & Turnaround
What is your order turnaround time?
Every order is printed on demand, specifically for you. Most orders are produced and shipped within 1–2 weeks, depending on:
* Current order volume
* The size of your order
* Whether your order includes painted items
We work hard to keep turnaround times as fast as possible while maintaining the quality miniprints is known for. Once your order ships, you will automatically receive an email with your tracking number.
Shipping
What countries do you ship to? How much does shipping cost?
We ship to most countries worldwide.
Canada: CA$10 flat-rate tracked shipping. For a limited time, get free shipping on qualifying Canadian merchandise orders of CA$75 or more. No code needed.
United States: US$10 flat-rate shipping via USPS. Applicable tariffs are charged separately.
Other countries: Shipping is calculated at checkout.
Are orders sent with a tracking number?
Yes. All orders are shipped with a tracking number. You will receive tracking information as soon as your order ships.
Why didn't I get my shipping email?
If you did not receive an email with a tracking number, please check your junk folder.
How long does shipping take?
Shipping times vary depending on your location and the postal system. Typical delivery times after shipment are:
United States
5–10 days
Canada
3–7 days
International
1–4 weeks
Occasionally postal delays can occur, especially with international shipments. Fortunately, lost packages are very rare. If your order seems delayed, please contact bernard@miniprints.com and we will help track it.
Will I have to pay customs or duties?
U.S. orders containing qualifying physical merchandise are currently subject to an additional 50% tariff, which we collect at checkout. Shipping is charged separately.
Canadian domestic orders have no import duties. Orders to other countries may incur local duties, taxes or customs charges.
What happens if my package is lost?
Lost packages are very rare, but if a shipment appears lost we will work with the carrier to resolve the issue. Please contact us and we will help track it down.
Returns & Satisfaction Guarantee
Do you offer returns or refunds?
Because every order is custom printed specifically for you, we unfortunately cannot offer returns or refunds once an order has been produced and shipped. However, all miniprints come with our 100% satisfaction guarantee. If something isn’t right, please contact us and we will work hard to make it right.
What if something arrives damaged?
Although damage during shipping is rare, if something arrives broken please contact us and we will make it right.
Handling & Care
How should I handle miniprints figures?
miniprints are highly detailed miniatures and should be handled with reasonable care, just like any fine scale model. When removing figures from packaging or placing them on your layout, hold them by the base or larger parts of the figure rather than thin details such as arms, tools, or accessories.
Do I need to remove supports or trim the figures?
We may have left some supports on the model to prevent breakage AND to make painting easier. These supports are easily removed with a sprue cutter. Please do not use scissors or an xacto blade. A magnifier also helps to see what you are doing.
Should I wash the figures before painting?
NO washing is required or recommended. The cured resin is safe to handle. miniprints are also paintable/sandable.
Do I need to prime the figures before painting?
I prefer acrylic paints and recommend priming first with rattle can spray paint. Please protect yourself with proper safety gear. If you’re new to painting figures, we provide free painting tutorials and clinics to help you get started:
What glue do you recommend?
If you break your miniprints and want to repair it yourself, we recommend CA (Cyanoacrylate adhesive) glue.
Community & Contact
Is miniprints on social media?
miniprints is on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/miniprints3D
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/miniprints3D
Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/miniprintsmodelers
Where can I share photos of my miniprints?
If you are on Facebook please join the miniprints modelers group on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/miniprintsmodelers
This is the place for you to share pics of your miniprints and learn tips and tricks to make your model railroad layout come alive.
I have an idea. Do you take requests?
Absolutely—we love hearing ideas. A lot of our best miniprints have come straight from customer suggestions. While we can’t guarantee every request will be made, we’re always looking for great ideas to bring to life.
How do I contact you?
The easiest way to reach us is through the contact form on our website. You can also email us at bernard (at) miniprints.com We do our best to respond within 1–2 business days.