Will your army be ready in time?

Separate the stages

A studio can accept new enquiries while its painters are booked for weeks. Ask for the earliest actual start and what reserves it. The clock may begin after models arrive, preparation is approved or a deposit clears; clarify the trigger.

After the queue come preparation and painting, sample approval, possible changes, final approval and dispatch. The carrier then needs time to deliver. If you need the army for an event, leave room to inspect it and resolve a problem before travelling.

Give an arrival date, not just an event date

Tell the painter when the models must be at your address and whether that date is essential or preferred. An event on Saturday does not mean dispatching on Friday is sufficient. Include your own travel and any time you need for final assembly or transport preparation.

Ask what happens if a sample needs revision, a kit is unavailable or you respond late to an approval request. Agree how the schedule will be updated. A deadline should be recorded with the scope, not inferred from a generic turnaround statement on a website.

Use a planning estimate, then confirm it

The planner below adds the days you enter for each stage. Its numbers are hypothetical calendar-day inputs, not a studio promise, carrier quote or forecast. Replace every value with information from your chosen painter and carrier. If they quote business days, convert them with weekends and holidays in mind.

Large armies may benefit from agreed batches. Make clear whether the first batch is playable on its own, whether later batches have reserved dates, and how colour recipes will stay consistent. A batch plan is useful only if shipping and setup costs are included in the budget.

A few common questions