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!