Getting started with Minsc

I’m going to start with Minsc who is arguably the most popular character in BG1.

I’ve never attempted to kitbash a figure. I’m learning as I go.

I started by joining One Sixth Republic on Facebook and posted that I’m looking for an artist to commission the entire figure. I did get a response from a very talented artist whose work (see here, here, here) is very impressive, Pedro Lujan of LUX Sculpts. Unfortunately his 3D printer is malfunctioning at the moment, so for now (as of this writing 4/24/21) so he’s only creating the .stl file for head sculpts.

I figured it would be preferable to find an artist that can print and paint the head sculpt. So Pedro kindly gave me a short list of artists that he recommends: Marcel Sälzer, Darren Biggy Rowe, Palmin Van Persi, and Daniel Gonzalez. He also advised that the average ballpark price range for a custom head sculpt these days for most artists is perhaps around $150-250. Anyway, I’ll be reaching out to them. I’m very grateful to him for his assistance, and depending on how things go I may still use him, if he can get his printer fixed.

I’ll need to get a Phicen body. For Minsc it should be a bulked one. Probably TBLeague M34. They’re going for about $100 with shipping.

Finding a two-handed sword on eBay shouldn’t too difficult. I’ve found a few so far that look pretty decent. But I’ll keep looking.

I honestly have no idea what to expect if I commission and artist to make the armor and any other gear. How expensive… How good a job it would be…

Piecing together armor and other gear for Minsc from what’s available online is another option. It may prove to be more a challenge, though–and possibly even more expensive. I’ve found an interesting assortment of items including a chest plate, chainmail, boots, bracers, belts, satchels. It’ll be sort of a mishmash, but that’s actually very much in the spirit of Baldur’s Gate. I’d love to find studded leather armor for him, but so far no luck. However I did find the chest armor for Asmus’ Eomer figure, and that might work for him.

TBLeague Phicen M34 Male Seamless Muscular Body w/ Steel Skeleton 1/6 – $73.99 + $6.99 Square Trade Deal +$5.36 tax + $5 shipping = $91.34

Pants for 1/6 scale 12″ Action Figure Man,Medieval Knight Civil War Viking – $16.61 + $1.10 tax + $13.84 shipping = $31.55

Tunic for 1/6 scale 12″ Action Figure Man,Medieval Knight Civil War Viking – $13.84 + $0.92 tax + $13.84 shipping = $28.60

Knight’ s Chain Mail Upper Body Suit for 12″ Action Figure 1:6 scale – $26 + $1.72 tax = $27.72

1/6 scale toy LOTR – Éomer – Brown & Silver Torso Armor w/Shoulder Guards – $36.40 + + $2.41 tax + $7 shipping = $45.81

1/6 scale toy Dragonborn Warrior – Leather Like Chest Armor w/Shoulder Piece – $47.32 + $3.13 tax +$7 shipping = $57.47

1/6 Assassin’s Creed Leather Boots Roman Soldier Armor For Hot Toys PHICEN USA – $15.15 + $1.00 tax = $16.15

1/6 Scale Toy Roman Imperial Army Camp Flag Bearer – Forearm Bracers – $16.38 +1.09 tax + $7 shipping = $24.39

MEDICOM RAH 1/6 Scale AKIRA Glove Hands Model for 12″ Figure – $20 + $1.33 tax = 21.33

1/6 Scale Metal Cross Sword Model Weapon Toy Accessories For 12″ Figure – $30 + $1.99 tax = $31.99

Leather Belt B for COOMODEL SE018 VIKING VANQUISHER — WARL LORD 1/6 12″ Action – $14 + $0.93 tax + $3 shipping = $17.93

Red Death Wilderness Rider – Shoulder Satchel – 1/6 Scale – VTS Action Figures – $10 + $0.66 + $4.55 shipping = $15.21

I’d go with either Eomer’s leather chest armor or the chainmail tunic, one or the other. Probably the leather chest armor as that would show off his biceps. I’ve ruled out the shorter chainmail shirt and the plate mail for the torso.

Going with Eomer’s armor I’m at $324.36 for armor and gear.

Still searching for a really nice looking purple or red cape. But I might be able to make that myself…