Victorian Halfling Sniper Squad: Assembly and Basing Tips
By Victoria Miniatures by Victoria Lamb | Published: 2026-11-05
Category: How-to Guides
A step-by-step guide to assembling the Victorian Halfling Sniper Squad, from tray cleanup to basing small miniatures for stability and paint-friendly detail.
Quick answer
Work from the Snap Tray in one figure at a time: clean minimal supports, test-fit the pith helmet head and arms before gluing, then base each halfling on its supplied 25mm round base with a low, stable texture so the small silhouette stays readable.
Why small miniatures need a slower assembly order
Halfling proportions put the head, hands, and weapon close together. That makes a full dry-fit more useful than on larger figures, because a small shift at the shoulder can close the gap needed for the rifle or push the pith helmet out of line. Keep the Snap Tray intact until each figure is built so you do not mix near-identical components between the ten snipers.
The kit is a physical 3D printed modular set with minimal cleanup and brush-away supports. Treat that as a starting point, not a guarantee: support nubs on small contact points still need a light scrape, and the 25mm plastic bases are where you control stability.
Basing trade-off: texture versus footprint
A 25mm round base leaves little room for tall rocks or deep rubble before the halfling looks crowded. For a sniper squad, low texture and a clear front arc usually work better than a dramatic vignette base, because the figure is small and the rifle already draws the eye. If you want unit coherency, repeat two or three simple ground treatments across all ten rather than giving each model a unique scene.
Step-by-step assembly and basing
- Sort and clean one figure at a time: Keep the high-density Snap Tray nearby and remove only the components for a single sniper. Scrape support nubs with a hobby knife, then brush away loose dust before assembly. Checkpoint: dry-fit the cleaned pieces before opening the next figure.
- Dry-fit the pith helmet head and arms: Set the Grimdark Empire Pith Helmet head and both arms in place without glue. Adjust the arm angle until the rifle sits naturally and the head sits level. Common mistake: gluing the head first and discovering the rifle arm will not align.
- Glue the torso and legs to the base: Attach the legs and torso to the 25mm round plastic base first, using a small amount of plastic cement or superglue appropriate to the material. Let it cure before adding arms. Checkpoint: the figure should stand without rocking before you continue.
- Attach arms and weapon last: Glue the arms and rifle after the body is stable. Hold each arm in place until the joint grabs, then check the rifle line from the front and side. Common mistake: adding basing texture before the arms are set, which can shift the figure.
- Base with low, stable texture: Spread a thin layer of texture paste or sand over the 25mm base, avoiding the feet and the front arc. Keep mounds low so the halfling silhouette stays clear. Checkpoint: no texture should rise above the ankle line.
- Prime and paint in sub-assemblies if needed: If the rifle crosses the chest, prime the figure before gluing the arms, or use a brush-on primer to reach the interior. Paint the face and helmet before the rifle is fixed if access is tight. Common mistake: fully assembling then finding the face is blocked by the weapon.
Kit facts that affect your build
- Victorian Halfling Sniper Squad: The squad includes all-new Grimdark Empire Pith Helmet heads and 10x 25mm round plastic bases. Test-fit each pith helmet head before gluing, and plan basing around the 25mm footprint so the squad stays stable and consistent.
Victorian Halfling Sniper Squad
