With a 3D printer and a lot of creativity, Ray Jones has taken hobbies, games and collectables to a new level. 

His new shop Mimic Games, at 2/142 Keen Street, Lismore is a treasure trove of collectables and tabletop games, which people can come to buy or play with.

“I am focused on collectables and games that are no longer being made and I’m keen to host miniature painting workshops,” Ray said.

"I want to teach people how to paint miniatures and make terrain and give them advice and tips on making things for the tabletop hobby.

"The 3D printer really helps with this - we can make all sorts of things.

“If you're interested in trading card games, board games, tabletop RPGs, Warhammer, Bloodbowl, miniature painting, terrain building or 3D printing, I might have what you're looking for.”

Some of the models Ray has made and painted.

He has retro gaming equipment for sale or for playing – everything from Atari to Nintendo 6C and Superdrive.

“I even have an early gaming console that has a red screen that pops up a warning telling you to turn it off before you get hurt,” he said.

“And I have the original Nintendo robot – it’s great for collectors.”

With a background in sales, Ray has been collecting for over 10 years – games, equipment, cards, models and magazines.

“When my mates started collecting games, I got into it,” Ray said.

“I started collecting White Dwarf magazines from the 1980s long before I got into gaming myself.

“I’ve been collecting Chaos Dwarves models for years and now have a big collection.”

His collecting experience means that Ray can now offer evaluations on collectables that people might have if they are not sure what it’s worth.

Ray uses 3D printing and plaster and to makes creative props that people can buy and use in their gaming.

He’s made a skull that opens to reveal a brain cavity which becomes a dice roller for a game. 

“I’ve even created terrain people can put on the table to make the game interesting,” he said.

One of the miniature models Ray spent hours painting.

Over the course of his life, Ray has bought and painted about a thousand miniature models. 

Some of the models are worth about $200 unpainted and even more when painted. 

“I also have people commission me to paint models for them,” he said.

“It can take hours to paint a small figurine – it’s detailed work and I paint in layers with shading to get an effective colour scheme on a figure.

“If people want to come in and paint a model, I have miniature models they can buy and paints – or they can also buy an already painted model to use in gaming.”

When it comes to games, Ray said Bloodbowl is one of the games he’s really interested in getting a games night happening with. 

“It’s humans versus orcs,” he said, “You only need 11 models to play, which is good because other games need a lot more models and it can be expensive setting up the game.”

Ray has played the card game Magic the Gathering all his life and still plays it in competitions now.

 He’d like to see more games of Magic take place in his new shop.

“There’s always a rewards to gaming,” Ray said. 

“If people participate in painting a model or playing a game, they can get freebies. 

“I’m always giving away Magic cards and old models.

“I also dabble in precious metals, collectable coins and coin rings.

“Currently I have stock in Magic the Gathering cards, Yugioh cards, pewter Warhammer Fantasy models, NES games, SNES games, N64 games, some miniature basing supplies, some paint sets and other collectables."

With lots of games to play at the store including Dungeons and Dragons and Master of Combat, Ray encourages people to drop in to the air conditioned comfort of his new space. 

“All ages from 9 to 90 and all experience levels are welcome,” Ray said. “Come visit and give life to your treasures - we have something to keep you occupied.”

Mimic games is located above the Shoebox Café and Chinese Restaurant at Suite 2 / 142 Keen Street.

If you would like to get in contact with Ray, email him at mimicgameslismore@gmail.com 

The shop is open seven days a week, 11am to 5pm, but opening times are flexible if there’s an event on.