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I've been doing customs for over 25 years. Here's some tips and tricks that might help you.
Before you start, always wash your figures / fodder and make sure they are 100% dry before you begin. Get rid of all the factory mold release residue on the plastic, so that paint can adhere to it better.
Prime your figures. I recommend Tamiya Fine White primer. It is the BEST around and will give you a smooth, even surface to paint on. Spray on the primer in light passes, essentially passing OVER your figure as you spray, never ever directly onto the figure. That will get gloppy and will dry uneven.
Invest in GOOD BRUSHES. These are GREAT. I use them all the time.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M7UFLP5/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Paint with light, watery layers. Never directly from the bottle. Build up the color and do it slowly.
Every 4 or 5 coats, I spray my customs with a sealant. It helps lock down the color and also allows for more even coverage. It also acts like a barrier in case you mess up, you can easily wipe off the paint. I like to use Krylon Matte Finish.
Eyes are really tough, but if you have patience, and a small enough brush you can do it. Look at the other figures and see how they are painted. Usually a solid holding line around the white, then an iris color, a pupil and a small white highlight dot. GO SLOW.
Don't be heavy handed with washes or drybrush. That will only gum up the surface and make it harder to see the fine detail.
Finally, practice, practice, practice. Keep at it. You're on the right road - and if you need any help, or have any questions, I'm happy to chat it up.
You can get good sets on amazon for like 20 bux that work just fine.
Ive used this set Miniature Paint Brushes Detail Set -12pc Minute Series XII Miniature Brushes for Fine Detailing. Model Brushes for Acrylic Watercolor Oil - Paint by Numbers Art Supplies Kit https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M7UFLP5/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_YY8QGQ7JH87MWBD8YWY0?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Worked fine
Im still newer to painting, but when I first started I got these.
I know everyone has their own things going on, so if you can't get them for whatever reason or you just want a different starter set, send me a message and we can sort it out.
Its a joy to see new painters in this hobby, it would be a shame to have some one lacking the tools be discouraged from continuing.
In regards to bolt guns I quite like metalics on the bottom and another color on the top bit.
😔✊🏾i just used the smaller brush that came with the liners,, but the brush on the far right of this set is similar to the one i got !
Detail Paint Brushes Set 10pcs Miniature Brushes for Fine Detailing & Art Painting - Acrylic, Watercolor,Oil,Models, Warhammer 40k. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075L8LCTG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glc_fabc_l390Fb10SCQT3?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1 I use these and they’ve been great.
I recently got these Pentel Water Brushes from Amazon and they work really great in controlling just much water to use for watercolors. You should look into them, it has made me much more confident when doing watercolors.
Buy a different set of paint brushes as others have said. I got this cheapo set from Amazon that's been treating me well: https://www.amazon.com/Heartybay-10Pieces-Round-Pointed-Nylon/dp/B00V4EG6D6/ref=lp_12920001011_1_1?srs=12920001011&ie=UTF8&qid=1535485885&sr=8-1
Something I noticed as a newbie painter, don't smoosh the brushes when they're drying otherwise they become wonky and won't paint very well! I kinda ruined one of those brushes by just shoving it into a bag and it dried pressed up against the bottom of the bag and I couldn't recover it. Luckily I had more!
Some people like to paint from corner to corner, others like to paint one number at a time, there is no right way! If you paint from corner to corner, really wash and dry your brush between color changes. Personally I think that takes a lot more patience, so I like to paint one number at a time. If you do choose to paint one number at a time, I'd still say work from corner to corner to ensure you don't end up smudging areas of your painting by backtracking. Another tip is the paint will start drying out if you do one number at a time, dip your brush in water and drip a few drops of water into it to get it back to the right consistency. I can see why painting from corner to corner is beneficial, because that way the paints won't dry out as easily if you close them properly.
If you mess up a color, let it dry completely and paint over it, no harm done! You might need a few coats, but you'll be able to fix it. Sometimes you will end up going out the lines - don't worry about it! You haven't ruined anything if you do so, just make a mental note to fix it later. All in all, this can be a super relaxing hobby, so don't overthink it :) I'd recommend posting progress pics too, it's fun to see your painting come to life!
If this is your first time painting, it would be very unwise to buy expensive brushes.
Buy a bunch of cheap ones from Amazon. There's $10 sets with like 10 brushes of varying sizes.
Also, NEVER skimp on paints. Citadel makes the best, imo, and most tutorials online use them for guidelines. But vallejo and army painter also make a great product.
Hey!, glad i could help. I dont rly have a preferred brush brand, but i linked you some recommendations. If you dont end up getting these, just note, Generally you will need really small and thin brushes, you will rarely need large brushes.
AIEX 9 Pieces Fine Detail Paint Brush Miniature Painting Brushes Kit Mini Paints Brush Set for Acrylic, Watercolor, Oil, Face, Nail, Scale Model Painting, Line Drawing(Black) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PJ5GMX7/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glc_fabc_BAFS326WMHQ36FP5E5AP
https://www.amazon.com/Detail-Brushes-Miniature-Detailing-Painting/dp/B075L8LCTG/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=miniature+paint+brushes&qid=1618540076&sr=8-5 Kinda just searched up miniature paint brushes lol and clicked the first one I saw
I use army painter for the bulk of my work. They're cheap and good enough. If you're newer to painting, you'll chew brushes up or get too ambitious with paint and end up getting it up in the metal barrel.
For more serious painting, I go to my Windsor Newton Series 7. They're pricey and they need to be taken care of. I really don't suggest this unless you really like painting, and even then, only once you feel like cheaper brushes are holding you back.
For the price of one WN Series 7 size 1 brush, you can get a set of Army Painter that has a standard brush, a dry brush, and a detail brush.
https://www.amazon.com/Miniatures-Paint-Brush-Miniature-Brushes/dp/B007H4YR8S/
Really impressed with what looks like highlighting on the pant legs! Great first start. You may eventually want to touch up the chest plate.
Top side is a little thick as others have mentioned. I use a wet pallet (sandwhich tupperware, wet paper towel folded, parchment paper square on top), put a bit of paint on it and then use a tiny dip into water to thin the paints. Be sure not to have too much paint on brush. Paint really never needs to be higher than half way up bristles in my somewhat inexperienced opinion.
I personally use the citadel painting handel. Easier to hold.
Also recommend the army painter brush set $16 on Amazon link
And if you have trouble seeing small detail, give a jewelers magnifying headband w lamp. They are pretty affordable on amazon too.
Best of luck and welcome to the hobby! Always treasure your first model. It will be wonderful to take comparison photos to see how far you’ve come.
Golden Maple brand - I got them on Amazon. I needed something larger than average so my hands wouldn't hurt when painting.
Mostly I use Amaco Velvet Underglazes and a few Mayco underglazes. Here are the brushes I like best, which are pretty inexpensive:
If you look at my profile, I posted another video recently with a few tips on underglaze. I think it is great, low risk way to get started with surface design in ceramics. Have fun!
Honestly for 16$ these brushes did everything I needed when I started painting
So its not one actual brand its a standard brush set sold on amazon by different companies but essentially they are all the same . You can tell by the handle/bristles and the silver cap. I'll give a link on amazon but pretty much look for the most affordable priced ones with the same design. there's a lot of companies up-marking them for profit. I usually go with the golden maple version they are usually better made.
this product will help you to fix that
other than that you will need to buy a paint pen and clean the surface off realllllly nicely then you can use the paint pen liquid and one of these
don't use the thickin pen that comes with the paint pen otherwise you will have massive overlap onto real paint and it will look like poop... just get many many brush strokes in with the paint and super fine brush and it can look like new again
https://www.amazon.com/Miniature-Brushes-Detailing-Painting-Watercolor/dp/B01M7UFLP5
I use this set above. It's not sables but the handles are so comfortable that I can paint for hours with them. Try it. It's from a company called D'Artisan Shoppe and called Minute Series XII. There's plenty of copycats with lesser quality bristles though so make sure you're getting the right one.
Here are the ones I use. Search for miniature detail brushes. The set I have has some general mini-painting brushes, but about half of them are the detail brushes. This same manufacturer has multiple options on Amazon. The brushes are really good, and they are well packaged.
The more I paint, and the more brushes I gather, the more I realize I don't really use the middle size brushes much. I use tiny, tiny ones, or the bigger ones. I have a couple of flats (bristles make a square shape) that are 1 1/2 to 2 inches (3-5 cm) that I use frequently, as well as a bunch of detail size brushes, like these . I do like filberts (rounded) in almost any size. And the pointed ones, called rounds in all the sizes. The angled brushes, I tend to like smaller, less than 1cm. If I was doing really large paintings, bigger than 18"x24" (45x60 cm) I think I'd want more of the middle size brushes.
All of what I said, though, depends on her style of painting. Abstracts have a different brush dynamic than more realistic paintings, and the brushes can be bigger and looser. Hyper-realistic paintings really rely on more detail.
Anyone else have an idea?
I have some Angelus but not micro. I ordered these
Nicpro Miniature Detail Paint Brush Set, 7 Micro Professional Small Fine Painting Brushes for Watercolor Oil Acrylic,Craft Scale Models Rock Painting & Paint by Number for Adult-Come with Holder https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BQ42113/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_KR2TSS8X2SBV14NEWNKD
https://www.amazon.com/Detail-Brushes-Miniature-Detailing-Painting/dp/B075L8LCTG/ref=sr_1_6
I'm new to painting, but I just painted a few models (in my profile) and like these well enough.
Check out these cheap brushes:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PJ5GMX7/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Yeah I’ve really enjoyed AP’s primer and paints and varnish. Brush is meh.
Looks like I spent $26. Close enough!
Miniature Paint Brushes Detail Set -12pc Minute Series XII Miniature Brushes for Fine Detailing. Model Brushes for Acrylic Watercolor Oil - Paint by Numbers Art Supplies Kit https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M7UFLP5/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_SGBPNDRWB1H783VSSPPN
Though Amazon sucks, I found these to be really good! https://www.amazon.com/Detail-Brushes-Miniature-Detailing-Painting/dp/B075L8LCTG/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=miniature+brushes&qid=1628259191&sr=8-1
Hi Karazax thanks so much for your detailed reply and I look forward to looking at the videos.
Regarding brushes these were the ones that I purchased. However only the smaller brushes really have a 'tip'. I did notice paint dries quicker on those...did I purchase an incorrect set?
And regarding the thinning of acrylic paints I assume that Reaper Paints fall under this and should also be thinned additionally out of the bottle?
Thanks!
I'm not sure if they are overpriced or not, but i took this set of 3 brushes by army painter which cover pretty much any usage you could have as a begginer and they are quite good.
This is pretty solid if you are just starting off. Not too expensive and you get a variety of sizes.
These are the brushes that I bought and they’re great. A lot of people will recommend Citadel or Tamiya acrylics, but I already have regular painting acrylics intended for painting pictures on canvas and those will work just fine once watered down. I would recommend starting off with something simple, maybe adding a wash or something to see how it goes. Then work your way up from there. I’m a portrait artist with fairly steady hands, and painting figures’ faces is still a challenge for me.
This community is pretty helpful for these things, so feel free to ask any questions and myself and others will be happy to help!
In that case if you like the hobby so far I’d also recommend getting some more brushes. Don’t get anything too fancy because you will mess up your first brushes at least a little. I’ve tried a few different brands and my favorite for the price is definitely this.
Detail Paint Brushes Set 10pcs... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075L8LCTG?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
They are relatively cheap but good. They are my go too for now. And while it may not seem like it at first, even the bigger brushes are helpful. Sometimes you just need to get a bunch of paint on fast for some bigger models. Or if you are using contrast paints on any sized model.
For paints really anything works, I use a mix of Army Painter, Valejo, and Citadel. Fancy paints don't mean much if you don't know how to use them so watch some tutorials.
For brushes, tools, etc. you'll need glue (super glue or Tamiya thin plastic cement), clippers to cut out flashing, and a hobby knife. I'd also reccomend a wet pallete as it will make painting easier. Regarding the glues, plastic cement chemically bonds plastic so it not very good when there a lot of paint on a surface but its clear, fast drying, and easy to use. Super glue takes longer to set, and is a little messier so I use it for less detailed bits like terrain or gluing tbe mini to bases. For brushes just stick with the cheap stuff, it will work good enough and many award winning painters use them. I like using (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PJ5GMX7?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share) and some misc large brushes for dirty work that doesnt need much detail.
Theres a crap ton of tutorials out there for minis, just dont get too anal about detailed work. It becomes genuinly unnecessary and very difficult after some basic shading. I repainted my clones twice before I just did it again with simple shading/detail and it turned out best the simple way.
this is a really good set and it’s pretty cheap. As for paint, I’d probably go with reaper paints as they’re a little cheaper and grab yourself a citadel nuln oil as well for washing. If you need further help hit me up or head over to the mini painting subreddit they’re a great resource.
So it wouldn’t be the end of the world but I wouldn’t sell yourself short. Check out Pete the Wargamer on YouTube and watch him paint some of the bolt action troops. He’s amazing. This isn’t to say your models will be as good as his, but his step by step instructions really help. Mine look 10 times better since I’ve followed his painting guides.
Check out these brushes. This is what I started with. Good set for only $10.
It all depends on who you’re playing with. I like bolt action because of the historical references and the game play. I like playing tables that took someone realistic. However, I wouldn’t pass up a game if someone had a solid painted army. It’s all personal preference.
Give painting a shot. Don’t forget to thin your paints. Take your time. Have fun.
Wasn't able to find documentation on what the technical 00 or 000 sizes measured at. Has to be something below .8mm.
Either way, there's plenty of sets on Amazon
A YouTube reviewer recommended using water brushes for erasing. My wife just ordered some for the Rocketbook I got her for Christmas.
Hi, I found these on Amazon for only $11.99, but they look like just the thing for someone painting in miniatures like that:
https://smile.amazon.com/AIEX-Miniature-Painting-Brushes-Watercolor/dp/B07PJ5GMX7/
Yeah of course! I used regular Liquitex acrylic paints and these brushes .
Make sure you wash figures with soap to get any oils from the factory off and water your paint down decently before applying.
I'm using a 00 brush from this brush set. It's brand new, this is the first time I've used any of the brushes.
It might be that I didn't thin correctly; as I mentioned, all I'm getting is a watery smear. The oil paint was super thick, so I figured I needed a fair bit of thinner; I'm just hoping that mineral spirits was the right choice to thin this stuff. Do you happen to know of a video that shows proper thinning technique? Your description makes sense but I can't quite visualize it.
thank you! that is a great question- instead of markers i use pentel water brushes ( https://www.amazon.com/Pentel-Aquash-Water-Assorted-FRHBFMBP3/dp/B00AX31TZO ) in the smallest size. they are portable like markers but you can use them with gouache or watercolor so you have a lot more control over opacity and color choice. there is a learning curve with figuring out how to use them but once you get them to work they are very helpful!
Thank you!
I've used the The Army Painter inks, I've got a kit on amazon
I made everything using those inks, washes and a regular miniature brush from this regular set
I've focused on having areas of high contrast to make the mini more interesting
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I borrowed my Aunt's airbrush just to test it so I tried in the Bat, but since it's a cheap airbrush and sometimes it clogs I've only used to give a base coat of dark red, then I went back to the basic brush
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Im glad you liked, it makes me happy :D
Legion is my first miniature game as well! A buddy of mine recommended a army painter set when I first started. To be honest they are not that great and a couple of the brushes have fallen apart. I have been eyeing these brushes on amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Miniature-Brushes-Detailing-Painting-Watercolor/dp/B01M7UFLP5/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?crid=18KR6TIBSRBKI&keywords=miniature+brushes&qid=1550092873&s=gateway&sprefix=miniature+bru%2Caps%2C127&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1
they seem like a nice set! Those vallejo paints will work perfectly, I have a few of them and I really like their product. Citadel paints (in my opinion) are top tier paint quality wise. If you dont want to shell out the "Citadel Tax" for them, vallejo is an awesome product for the price.
Everyone touts the W&N line and natural hair brushes but I've been having no problems with my synthetic brushes. You dont need to pay an arm and a leg for brushes if you dont need to, if you are looking for a decent set here is one on amazon for 26 bucks that has a great selection of sizes. Heck a lot of the reviews for this specific set came from warhammer painters.
You can save up over time for W&N if you want, look up basic brush maintenance and keep your brushes in good shape and you will rarely have issues.
Happy painting.
I really like this writeup as a jumping point for learning how to lube. There's also lots of helpful info in the comments, or you could just ask questions there. If you're looking for a specific video guide I'd recommend Krelbit's; IIRC he uses 3204 in it but the process is the same.
As for brushes, I like this pack from amazon. There's one in there that's the exact size of an MX bottom housing slider rail which is nice, but it also includes a bunch of smaller ones. Brush size is a preference thing so it's best to test a bunch IMO.
Speaking of testing, experimentation is SUPER important with lubing. Everyone has different preferences so it's good to try different amounts of lube on a few switches to see what it feels like. I'd recommend at least intentionally overlubing one switch to see what it feels like, then trying different combinations of lubing certain spots and not lubing others. e.g. I prefer to only lube my stems.
alot if it is in quality brushes with a fine tip these here are decent for the price. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B010QLOJ3G/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
any suggestions on what brush to get for painting very small details like eyes? I was thinking about getting this set
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BQ42113/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A34FA0CFLSXPAO&psc=1
So yes, I did the same thing as you, I can not state enough how much watering down the paint helps with overall look and control. Yes it takes a bit more time as you will need to do 2-3 coats for your base layers but it really helps keep the model looking slick.
I would advise buying a nice set of brushes as well i your serious about painting I ended up buying these for like $25 and my god they have been amazing, and have held their point thus far.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M7UFLP5/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I recommend amazon you can get a nice set of brushes that are super fine tipped. Like these
Nicpro Micro Detail Paint Brush Set, 7 Tiny Professional Miniature Fine Detail Brushes for Watercolor Oil Acrylic,Craft Models Rock Painting & Paint by Number https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BQ42113/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_Ck6vFbVYS83RZ
Pictured: Vallejo Model Color Sky Gray, undiluted on left, diluted with tap water on right
I've been working on my first model (Bandai AT-ST) and was excited to get to the painting stage, but I've been dealing with paint separation that is driving me crazy and causing splotchy, miscolored results. I have been following what seemed like the recommended method - dilute to the consistency of milk, paint multiple coats, etc, but dealing with the inconsistent paint separation has been very frustrating to say the least. I've tried shaking the bottle more, but that hasn't helped much. Is this a common problem? Do I need to be using distilled water? Could my brushes (a cheap, but well reviewed set from Amazon with suspicious orange bristles) be the culprit? I'm at a loss and hoping someone can help. Thanks!
Brushes: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KT2JK3S
Raphael’s have gotten pretty pricey on Amazon.
I’ve been using these cheap brushes which have also jumped up in price due to the pandemic.
BOSOBO Paint Brush Set, 10pcs Round Pointed Tip Nylon Hair Artist Detail Paintbrushes, Professional Fine Acrylic Oil Watercolor Brushes for Face Nail Body Art Craft Model Miniature Painting, Blue https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KT2JK3S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_fFwYEb7P68CWP
I’ve been using some brushes I bought off amazon, made by D’Artisan Shoppe or something like that. I’ve had them for well over a year and so far they haven’t failed me. Here’s the amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/Miniature-Brushes-Detailing-Painting-Watercolor/dp/B01M7UFLP5/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?keywords=mini+paint+brush&qid=1585583914&sr=8-5
There is a ton of resources out there. Look into tabletop wargames like Warhammer, Flames of War, Warmachine and Hordes. These games involve assembling the minis and painting them. This means there is a wealth of information on paints to use, brushes, techniques, and tutorials. Definitely something to look into.
As for actual recommendations, I use Citadel, Vallejo, and Reaper paints. I used to use solely Army Painter and Citadel brushes, but now I'll use what ever brushes I can get on Amazon. This is the set I'm currently using.
Hope this helps!
Is there a specific pack you'd recommend on Amazon? I see this one for five bucks, but I have no idea how to tell if brushes are any good.
Seconding that. And get a set of micro brushes like this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BQ42113/
I have the 15pc version of those brushes and they help so much with trying to paint tiny parts be its model tanks or minis.
I use these and love them, they aren't too expensive either which is great
This brush ?
These are what i have, besides a couple of citadel brushes that are frayed and ruined (my fault ) https://www.amazon.com/Miniature-Brushes-Detailing-Painting-Watercolor/dp/B01M7UFLP5 some of these brushes seemed fine others split immediately
I use these and they are great, right price and keeps their point. Don't need to buy expensive brushes to get good quality minis
There are fine detail brushes you can use for painting figurines or models.
I used ones very similar to these: https://www.amazon.com/Fine-Detail-Paint-Brush-Set/dp/B014GWCLFO
In case you're also interested in the paint, I used Revell Aqua Color acrylic paint and can highly recommend.
I use these now after citadel for a year or abuse, but honestly you don't need to buy expensive brushes to get good results a value pack from a craft store is my go to for everything but detail work
Great advice thank you. I got a set of 12 synthetic detail brushes on amazon for a little over $20 that seems like a great jumping-off point: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M7UFLP5?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
Once I am more confident in my brush care I will spring for W/N. I got the pick of masters brush cleaner too, and set up a wet palette in a small Tupperware box the way I saw on the Tabletop Minions channel: https://youtu.be/96mjmqWTPfM
Airbrushing still seems miles away (advanced) and I don’t think I have a workstation set up for it. I’m going to rattle-can prime the dark imperium box next.
I'd start with Army Painter brushes. Cheap but decent quality.
> Start with a small dry brush, a medium layer, and a detail brush, you won't need more than that for a while.
So, this?
Also what does caring for a brush entail to exactly?
Agrax does wonders to the bronze trim.
Welcome to the hobby, nice first mini! Watch your edges -- if you need some finer paintbrushes I recommend this kit.
What about buying thicker handled brushes? Or putting pencil grippies on them.
Edit: Like these
They should! I've used that exact brand of white before.
You should also get a set of small tip paint brushes like these if you don't already have some.
Some folks just tip the handle of the brush and use it to transfer (personally I think that's a bit of a mess but could work in a pinch). You could probably use toothpicks or cotton swabs just as well as you just need something...
You could use a good brush but you need to be careful to avoid getting paint in the ferrule as that can damage the brush and it ultimately probably isn't worth it when there's cheaper / safer options.
I'd say grab a few cheap brushes and sacrifice them to the paint pot gods. They're really helpful for basing (applying PVA glue), transferring paint to pallets, whatever.
Don't sacrifice a more expensive nylon or sable brush as you should be able to get a bunch of cheap nylon brushes for $5 or so:
A bit of advice from my own experience. I got these brushes a couple of weeks ago and I LOVE them: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M7UFLP5/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I had alot of trouble with other brush sets, getting the tips to stay pointy and not have hairs just come right out because of cheap quality. Use what you are comfortable with but after trying a few different brush sets those are the ones I'd recommend.
I first bought this set when i started
Gives you a ton of brushes and you dont have to worry about what happens to them. You will mess them up and learn why. I also think having some cheap sythetics like the ones michaels sells (if in us) is helpful. Synthetic sucks because it doesnt hold much paint but that doesnt mean they cant serve a purpose because they have more spring usually and dont fray at tio as quick. There are several other bruah packs on amazon comprable and maybe better then what i listed. I literally just got my windsor brushes today in mail so i cant comment how much better they are but i know i would have destroyed them if i got them when i started. Its a nice way to reward yourdelf after a few months painting
Honestly, those brushes should do just fine but I can’t guarantee it because I have never used them, imo 12 brushes seems a bit excessive but you do you. I bought the Army Painters Wargamers most wanted brush set https://www.amazon.com/Miniatures-Paint-Brush-Miniature-Brushes/dp/B007H4YR8S . Honestly these have been the best for me, the insane detail brush is one of my all time favorites for detail and the regiment is great for any kind of base coating or medium-large size miniatures. The small drybrush is great for highlighting and (obviously) dry brushing if you’re into that (you should be).
I actually just got a few and I'm making a watercolor journal for my DnD character :D It's not as clean and pretty as yours though lol.
You ever think about using water brushes? https://www.amazon.com/Pentel-Aquash-Water-Assorted-FRHBFMBP3/dp/B00AX31TZO
I cobled together a collection based on a painting guide for Scythe on BGG.
I bought this brush set:
And the following paints:
Vallejo - Light Flesh, Flat Brown, Carmine Red, Flat Black, Old Gold, Black Green, Russian Uniform Green WWII, Gold Brown, Gunmetal Grey, Luftwaffe Camo Creen, Dark Prussian Blue, Light Turquoise, Blue Grey Pale, Pale Grey Blue, Foundation White, Intermediate Green, Ice Yellow, Dark Blue, German Orange, Royal Purple Citadel - Nuln Oil, Typhus Corrosion, Agrax Earthshade, Seraphim Sepia, Biel-Tan Green, Necron Compound
Detail Paint Brush Set 12pc Minute Series XII Miniature Brushes for Fine Detailing & Art Painting. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M7UFLP5/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_ylINzbFVDJHES
If these ever come back in stock, they are really nice brushes for the money. Been using them almost exclusively recently. They get more use than my Windsor and Newton brushes.
I came across these Jane Davenport Mermaid Markers at Michael's when I went to pick up some Tombow brush pens. I went back and forth on buying them but in the end I caved. They're like any old refillable water brush, and it's way cheaper than buying 12 water brushes and filling them with fountain pen inks (I have one water brush dedicate to FP ink). They're a dye-based water soluable ink and the tips are bristles instead of a flexible marker tip. A little ink goes a long way so I can see these lasting for a long time before I need to refill them!
Also I love seeing /u/colette0101's posts and I need more art-doing in my life!
No problem. Are they a good price? They aren't anything super special just good quality brushes for a decent price. That being said, this one is literally the 3 I would suggest, if not maybe the psycho for details. And that's a really good price since they'd be at least $12 separate at my local shop.
Those were Aquash waterbrushes by the brand Pentel :)
It works like normal brushes you use for watercolor but with little barrel inside to store water.
Pick yourself up some "Washes" from either P3, Games Workshop, or Reaper. Devlun Mud is my favorite (from Citadel). Washes are basically just super thin, watered down paints that you apply to an aea or the whole mini. They seep into all the recesses and give really great definition to the mini, making for quick and easy shadows or tinting.
Also look up tutorials on Youtube for Drybrushing and Feathering. It think between Dryrbushing, Feathering, and Washes you can go extremely far as they're simple techniques that add a lot to your minis.
If you haven't already, pick yourself up some Miniature painting brushes and real miniature paints. For decent standard brushes I really like Army Painter's. Something like this will do you just fine, although I think I'd try for a "Character Detail" brush instead of the "Regiment Detail" brush that comes in that kit.
For paints, Army Painter also makes good paints, as does Reaper and P3. I'm a bit partial to Vallejo, but I think it's because I'm a bit fo an old blood and I have their entire line from the early 2000's before it changed over. Make sure to thin your paints out with a bit of water or maybe make yourself a "wet pallet" (My wet pallet is literally paper towels folded up into a Noosa yogurt container with about 1/4'' water in it).
Last but not least, no matter what anyone ever tells you, never prime your miniature in black. White is what you want. Black is just too dark and requires too many layers of paints, causing you to obstruct details on the miniature's surface.
Good luck and welcome to Miniature painting! Your minis look very good, especially for a beginner! Before long you'll be paintin' like a pro.
~Happy Hobbying :)
Testors Matte spray, I assume? You said I should do matte followed by gloss, but I read that I should do gloss (for durability) followed by matte (for non-shiny appearance). Which is best?
I may have to go with Vallejo paints if I can find them, as they're frequently recommended and come in droppers (which I think will be less fuss).
I read that cheap brushes will be more frustrating than they are worth, and since my free time is scarce, I planned on using nicer brushes. What would you recommend for a cheap brush set that's not a pain in the ass? Something like this on Amazon, $15?
I use some junk no-brand brushes I found on amazon with good reviews. I cut-down the #3 brush for using as a flat. Base-coat with the #2 & #4, main workhorse #1 & #0, and the 00 & 000 for tiny parts. Perfect for minis. By the time they wear out, you dont care about getting a new one cause the whole set was $10. They hold a good amount of paint and flow well enough.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B014GWCLFO/
this mini was done entirely with the linked brushes
EDIT: A warning though, since these are cheap synthetic bristle brushes, the larger ones curl pretty bad with lukewarm water. Use only cold water for cleaning. Keeping the tips moist helps keep the bristles together and from splaying out too. The curly hook, a trademark of cheap brushes, I find to actually be useful for getting a reliable fine-ish point that goes where I want it more predictably. But I may just be a bad brush apologist.
Glad I can help!
As I said I use them all the time and so far they have preformed AWESOME. By the way, you might also want to consider getting this water brush. I use it with the markers to distribute the color and create the watercolor effect. It is super handy, easy to work with and most of all mess free. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AX31TZO/ref=s9_simh_gw_p229_d0_i3?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=desktop-1&pf_rd_r=02ND5D0E52CZSYVNY7Q8&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=2079475242&pf_rd_i=desktop
This set of paints is pretty cool as well. It is portable and very convenient. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001OVG40E/ref=s9_simh_gw_p229_d0_i2?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=desktop-1&pf_rd_r=02ND5D0E52CZSYVNY7Q8&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=2079475242&pf_rd_i=desktop
I carry the markers, the water brush and the paints with me everywhere. All of them are certainly good investment.
Cheers!
You can paint minis very inexpensively. I painted with whatever I could find for years, and it wasn't until I started playing with fancier paints, washes, lights, etc. that i started really spending money. I still enjoyed it just fine, but for very little you can try out the hobby and see if you like it. :)
Simple suggestions:
Army Painter "most wanted" brush set - $12 These three brushes will cover all your needs for 99% of mini painting.
Acrylic paint tubes set - $6 (thin them with water and paint on waxed paper or waxed plates) All the colors you'd ever really need, because they're cheap and you can mix them all day long. I used this kind for years, and used waxed paper plates as a palette. You can make any color except metallic this way, so you may want to buy a silver and a gold acrylic paint if you wanna do metal. You can mix tube acrylic color with a drop of water and metallic color to get different shades.
You'll also need toothpicks, paper towels, and good lighting. Check out your local hobby shop for some Reaper Bones that go easy on the detail, because they're cheap and less frustrating, and they don't need primer. Follow the advice online about prepping them by boiling, ice-bath, and washing-- little time, big help.
Finally-- you can do washes and stuff like that with regular acrylic paints just by thinning them out.
Fantastic. Have you ever tried one of these? I have a friend who does very fine oil paintings and he uses one for some of the work with thinned oil paint.