Portray miniatures is an efficient, chill time. Since I picked the interest again up in 2017 I’ve spent lots of of hours away from my screens, listening to good music and nice podcasts. And, as a bonus, I’ve dozens upon dozens of neatly painted little miniatures for all my favourite video games. When you’d additionally like so as to add an artsy little oasis to your life, one that may deliver a little bit of meditative pleasure to your free time whereas additionally including stunning bits to your favourite board video games and role-playing video games, you’ve come to the proper place. It may be daunting to construct up the talents and instruments you could get began, however our information can present you the way.
On this article, I hope to demystify these first few steps starting painters must take. Beneath you’ll discover my private suggestions, not simply of the paints and different instruments you’ll wish to purchase, however a handful of fastidiously curated lecturers and artists I’ve come to belief over the past seven years of exploring. Let’s dive in.
Which miniatures do you have to purchase?
There are such a lot of totally different sorts of miniatures in the marketplace that simply narrowing issues all the way down to a handful of selections could be troublesome work. My suggestion is to start out with one among your favourite video games or topics.
Possibly you’re actually into dungeon-crawling board video games like HeroQuest, Zombicide, Frosthaven, or Descent: Legends of the Darkish. Possibly you’re extra into technique video games, like Scythe or Twilight Imperium: Fourth Version. Or perhaps you’re interested in miniatures skirmish video games, titles like Star Wars Shatterpoint, Halo: Flashpoint, Necromunda, Warhammer 40,000 Kill Workforce, or Trench Campaign. Wherever your pursuits lie, begin with a recreation or a universe you actually take pleasure in and that little bit of ardour you are feeling in your intestine will assist to get you throughout the end line along with your first batch of painted minis.
However don’t begin off by plopping down lots of or 1000’s of {dollars} on an enormous military for Warhammer 40,000, or some other large-scale miniatures wargame for that matter. Piling up an excessive amount of plastic in your desk earlier than you even have the fundamentals underneath your belt is a surefire technique to get discouraged.
Only a handful of minis is sufficient to get you the place you’re going, so begin small and construct from there.
Whereas selecting your first small ardour venture, take into account for those who’d prefer to spend any time in any respect assembling these miniatures earlier than you paint them — since you don’t truly must. Loads of miniatures are offered preassembled nowadays — particularly ones that include interest board video games. Different choices embrace The Witcher and the Cyberpunk Pink traces from Monster Battle Membership, in addition to the massive new vary of plastic miniatures for Catalyst Sport Labs’ BattleTech. WizKids additionally presents an enormous choice of preassembled miniatures, together with all kinds of miniatures custom-made for D&D. Some even come primed and able to paint proper out of the field.
Be aware that even for those who aren’t assembling your miniatures, you’ll nonetheless want a easy self-healing slicing mat to guard your work floor.
When choosing miniatures that you simply do must put collectively, I’d suggest avoiding metallic and resin miniatures out of the gate. Each of those supplies require totally different instruments to assemble, which gained’t be coated in any respect on this information. Stick to plastic miniatures your first day out. Plastic minis will probably come on a sprue — the plastic body that holds them safely contained in the field for cargo. To softly take away each bit, you’ll want a pair of slicing pliers known as sprue nippers. Sprue nippers look a bit like scissors, however with one flat facet and one angled facet. Not like scissors, the perimeters of those blades ought to by no means overlap — in the event that they do, you’re merely squeezing them too arduous.
To make use of sprue nippers accurately, fastidiously place the nippers with the flat edge touching the floor of the miniature you’d prefer to clip from the sprue. Then, gently pull the 2 halves collectively till the piece comes free. Repeat for each level of connection between the mannequin and the sprue to free the piece fully. By no means twist items free from the sprue, as you possibly can severely harm them.
Upon getting all of the items wanted to assemble a given miniature trimmed from the sprue, you could clear these items off. The purpose is to take away no matter remnants of the sprue are nonetheless connected, which you’ll be able to simply do with a interest knife and a versatile sanding pad — kind of like an emory board, however for plastic fashions.
You’ll additionally wish to take away one thing known as “mildew traces” — which you’ll almost all the time discover someplace on a plastic miniature, even when it comes pre-assembled.
To make a plastic miniature, two halves of a metallic mildew are introduced collectively and sizzling plastic is pressed in between them. Typically the plastic seeps out the place the 2 halves of the mildew meet, creating unpleasant ribbons of plastic known as mildew traces, and a number of other totally different instruments can be utilized to take away them.
A interest knife is the most typical device used to take away mildew traces, as they’re extremely sharp. However they will result in damaging your miniatures. A greater device for newbies is the Citadel Mouldline Remover. You should utilize its agency, sharp edges to scrape off the mildew traces relatively than lower them. You’ll additionally desire a small, comfortable brush — like a toothbrush — to scrub these areas if you’re finished.
Charlie Corridor/Polygon
Photograph: Charlie Corridor/Polygon
Photograph: Charlie Corridor/Polygon
Now that you simply’ve received all of the bits of your miniature trimmed out and cleaned, it’s time to attach them collectively. At all times examine with the producer of your plastic fashions to make sure, however most of the time you gained’t be utilizing tremendous glue — you’ll be utilizing plastic cement.
Plastic cement is a solvent that actually melts the plastic that your miniature is made from, making a everlasting bond that can weld its varied items collectively. Contemplating this, it would be best to be very exact and delicate with the way you apply it. I like to recommend Tamiya Additional Skinny Cement. The comb applicator makes it straightforward to make use of simply the correct quantity of glue, whereas the low-viscosity formulation permits you to simply stream the glue into gaps after which gently sand or lower away the surplus when it dries.
Paint gained’t stick to reveal plastic, so earlier than you begin portray, you’ll want to organize your miniatures with a particular form of paint known as a primer. A primer will stick to reveal plastic, and it’ll create a tough floor that can be simpler so that you can paint on. The most typical technique to prime miniatures is with canned spray paint. Absolutely anything that yow will discover on the native ironmongery store will do, however remember to learn the label to verify it’s secure to use on plastic. Additionally, keep away from enamel and different oil-based primers as they are often arduous to scrub up.
I’ve personally had probably the most expertise with Citadel and The Military Painter primers, and each will do a good job. They’re, nevertheless, terribly costly — one thing like 4 occasions as a lot as comparable paint on the ironmongery store. That’s why currently I’ve simply been going with Rust-Oleum. One thing to think about in a while in your portray journey is the colour on your primer coat. The opposite paints you’ll be utilizing aren’t completely opaque, so a few of that primer will finally present by means of and impression the general shade and tone of your miniature. Stick to black your first time round, as that offers you an excellent base layer to work from.
You’ll additionally wish to spend money on some gloves, to maintain your palms freed from paint whereas spraying. Additionally, priming with a rattle can ought to all the time be finished outside to guard your eyes and lungs, and it’s best to intently adhere to the rules posted in your can of primer.
Most cans of spray paint don’t work the wrong way up, and can work poorly for those who even tilt them on their facet, so that will help you get into each nook and cranny in your miniature you’ll need one thing on which to mount your miniature. You’ll be able to’t go incorrect with a paint mixing stick (free at most {hardware} shops) coated in masking tape, unrolled sticky facet out. Simply stick your minis on and go. Simply make certain you’re portray in an open, well-ventilated space and apply skinny, even coats of paint. To keep away from runny, drippy coats of paint it’s best to each depress and launch the set off in your spray can whereas the stream of paint is not pointed at a mannequin.
Alternatively, a portray deal with — just like the Citadel Portray Deal with — could make cleanup a lot simpler, and assist preserve paint.
$12
American-made Rust-Oleum is out there nearly all over the place. You’ll get twice as a lot paint for half the price.
$16
Even since earlier than the pandemic, Atlantic Security’s Black Lightning examination gloves have been my go-to for interest work. They’re cheap and sturdy.
$20
I do know it seems bizarre, however this Spray Stick could also be top-of-the-line concepts that Video games Workshop has ever had. It enables you to prime as much as 20 miniatures — two squads — of miniatures on the similar time.
$13
Many different producers have tried to beat it, however for the cash you possibly can’t do a lot better than the Citadel Paint Deal with. This revised version contains a barely extra refined form.
The following massive choice you’ll must make is which line of paints to start buying. For newbies, we suggest beginning with acrylic paints that wash up with water. Oil-based paints are nice, particularly for weathering and different results, however water-based acrylic is much more forgiving if you’re simply getting began — and there’s no fumes to talk of.
So what model of acrylic interest paint do you have to get? My suggestion is to swing by your native interest store and see what they’ve received in good provide. That manner if you run low on one thing, or wish to strive a brand new shade, you’ll have choices which can be suitable with the work you’ve already finished. However you probably have your alternative within the matter, we suggest Two Skinny Coats paint. Designed by former Video games Workshop presenter Duncan Rhodes, and manufactured by Trans Atlantis Video games, these paints are primarily based on the widespread hues discovered within the Citadel vary however function extra consistency from pot-to-pot. Additionally they are available a dropper bottle with a chrome steel mixing ball inside — two options that Citadel paints lack.
Earlier than you go any additional, you’ll additionally want to know that no matter paint you purchase will not be going to be able to go onto your mannequin straight out of the pot. As a substitute, you’ll must skinny your paints. Rhodes, who nonetheless presents on YouTube, does an excellent job of explaining why and exhibiting how.
Washes are a form of skinny paint, designed to run into the recesses in your miniature. These will give depth and nuance to your fashions, particularly the areas with plenty of texture and shadow. Washes are utilized on high of layer paints as soon as the earlier layers are dry. Washes are inclined to pool up, and also you’ll use your brush to place these swimming pools the place you need them in your mannequin. Washes are manufactured by nearly each firm that makes layer paints, together with Two Skinny Coats, Citadel (Video games Workshop), The Military Painter, Vallejo, and others.
The most recent form of paints accessible in the marketplace are known as distinction paints, named after the progenitors of the sort — Citadel Distinction Paints.
Distinction paints are used like layer paints, however behave like washes. You’ll want an even bigger, fatter brush to make use of distinction paints in most settings. Distinction paints are utilized in neat, even coats. A number of coats construct up extra opacity, deepening the tone of the colour. When thinned, nevertheless, distinction paints can typically be used similar to a wash.
Be aware that whereas layer paints have some variance in how they are often thinned, blended, and utilized to fashions, distinction paints differ wildly of their consistency. Most notably, they typically don’t look something like they do within the bottle as soon as they’ve dried in your mannequin. So whereas distinction paints could be an expedient technique to paint — particularly for those who’re utilizing the “slapchop” technique talked about beneath — in addition they take a bit of little bit of apply to get snug with.
Distinction-style paints can be found from Citadel (Video games Workshop), The Military Painter, and Vallejo.
$4
After testing all the main manufacturers, we’ve settled on Duncan Rhodes and Trans Atlantis Video games’ Two Skinny Coats line for its consistency pot-to-pot — and for the shortage of pots! These all are available dropper bottles with metallic mixing balls already inside.
$7
A revolutionary formulation that modifications how fast and simply miniatures could be painted, Citadel’s Distinction Paint stays the unique and greatest answer for strategies like Slapchop in our expertise.
$88
Get extra paint in your fashions in much less time with a top quality paint mixer like this one from Lab Genius. Initially designed for medical and analysis settings, it’s a rock-solid possibility for mixing even probably the most cussed thick paints.
$8
You probably have Citadel paints in your assortment, you possibly can improve them with these mixing balls.
There are a variety of various types that you should utilize to color your miniatures, they usually are inclined to contain totally different brushes. Right here we’ll talk about layer portray intimately, contact on drybrushing, and talk about the most recent type — a hybrid referred to as “slapchop.” You’ll discover hyperlinks beneath to starter brushes that can be suitable with every.
Essentially the most conventional technique of portray miniatures makes use of base layers and spotlight layers, utilized with small brushes, to construct up element on a miniature. These surfaces are usually painted from the underside up, that means that painters are working with the deepest layers of element on the miniature and dealing their technique to the topmost layers. The finer the work, the extra variation and gradation between and inside these layers.
As an example, if I used to be portray a knight in armor I might paint his padding first, then his chainmail coat, after which the plates of polished metal on high of that. I might begin every layer by blocking out the areas I must separate them from the layers beneath, neatening up the perimeters with different colours as I am going.
As I work on every new layer, I would use only one or two paints, or maybe a number of totally different strategies like glazing or drybrushing, or totally different sorts of paints like washes and distinction paints in several methods. Completely different strategies — like stippling, glazing, and non-metallic metallic shading (mentioned beneath) — may even be used to simulate totally different supplies.
Layer portray is the type mostly seen in Kickstarter campaigns for high-end board video games and within the lavish miniature wargames produced by firms like Video games Workshop and others. It’s additionally probably the most generally taught strategies of portray, because the similar abilities apply no matter what number of layers there are or how detailed these layers is likely to be.
As a result of layer portray is so fashionable, tutorials are straightforward to return by on-line. I discovered my manner utilizing Video games Workshop tutorials virtually solely for the primary few years. Nearly each mannequin that the British firm makes has its personal tutorial — multiples, in actual fact, to incorporate the colour schemes for every of its totally different factions. They’re at present divided into two ranges of issue: Battle Prepared and Parade Prepared. You’ll find all of them on YouTube and within the Citadel Color cellular app.
Whereas there are numerous totally different strategies that go into layer portray, probably the most vital is named edge highlighting. This includes taking a comparatively full brush and utilizing it to attract skinny traces alongside the sting of a mannequin. Merely the presence of a skinny, shiny line by itself offers the geometry of a miniature extra definition and quantity. However you may also add depth and flash by portray a number of traces, every one thinner than the final, utilizing progressively brighter, sharper colours. It’s a delicate, versatile method that applies simply as effectively to navy fashions and mechs because it does to faces and flesh.
There are a bunch of tutorials that may train you extra about edge highlighting. Listed below are just some to get you began.
Miniac: Edge Highlighting
Squidmar Miniatures: Edge Highlighting
Drybrushing is a standard method utilized in layer portray alongside edge highlighting, and in that context it’s not a lot of an enormous deal. Simply get a brush, put some paint on it, then wipe almost all of that paint off. Drag that dry brush towards the sharper particulars in your miniature and voila, off comes the paint. It’s like edge highlighting, however a bit softer and over a bigger space.
However you may also use the method to color your fashions begin to end, utilizing little or no layer portray strategies alongside the way in which. This technique has been popularized by an organization known as Artis Opus. Its signature type of portray depends on massive, poofy, makeup-style brushes and a specifically textured palette. Whereas newbies may have extra success with bigger fashions, together with terrain, it will also be mixed with layer portray for smaller miniatures as effectively.
Artis Opus’ video tutorials are large, and embrace every thing from portray giant items of terrain to smaller figures to caring for these giant, distinctive brushes.
The final type of portray that we’ll take care of on this information is named “slapchop,” named after a principally satirical video by The Trustworthy Wargamer that helped to popularize the type in 2022. Whereas they clearly got down to take the piss out of over-serious portray movies and YouTube interest gurus generally, they by accident made a good little tutorial of their very own. Right here’s the way it works.
Slapchop is a hybrid of each drybrushing and layer portray. It begins with a black primer, after which a thick drybrush of white paint excessive. The key right here is that the white paint is utilized directionally, with the intent to protect areas that may be shaded by a pure gentle supply.
Think about a black baseball cap. To arrange that black baseball cap for slapchop, you’d hit it arduous with a white drybrush from the highest. The imagined solar (the white paint) could be hitting the highest, whereas the imagined shadow (the black paint) is hiding underneath the brim.
When you’ve established a monochromatic, totally shaded mannequin, slapchop makes use of the transparency of distinction paints (Citadel Distinction, Military Painter Speedpaints, and others) to its benefit. A single, comparatively thick coat of paint over a given space can be extra intense over white, and fewer intense over black. Simply slap on the bottom colours that you really want, and also you get shading and mixing free of charge, basically, because of the high-contrast black-and-white undercoat. You’ll be able to go away it there, or glam it up with washes, glazing, stippling — or much more drybrushing.
$8
Artificial Kolinsky sable hair seems and looks like the true factor, whereas traditional Princeton craftsmanship means you’re getting the very best quality brushes accessible for portray miniatures. We suggest a measurement 0, a measurement 2/0, and a measurement 2 for bigger areas.
$35
I’ve been utilizing the Exemplar Moist Palette from Sport Envy, and I can’t say sufficient good issues. I like its inflexible, dishwasher-safe development and the high-quality absorbent pads that include.
$21
Drybrushing is a quick and highly effective device for miniatures of each measurement, and good brushes will make the work a lot simpler. These goat hair bristles will stand as much as loads of abuse.
$31
The Paint Puck Rinse Cup’s most vital function is its arms, which maintain your brush’s tip pointing downward to guard it when not in use.
Defending your miniatures
When you’ve completed a miniature, you could shield it from harm utilizing a transparent varnish. Varnishes could be utilized with a brush as a skinny, all-over coat. They’re additionally accessible in cans and could be utilized by means of an airbrush. Two skinny coats will do in most conditions. Selecting both a gloss varnish or a matte varnish will change the feel and appear of your miniature, so plan accordingly.
Varnishes will also be utilized in between phases of portray, successfully saving your work from harm earlier than you progress on. These clear varnishes are important when working with different kinds of paint as effectively, together with enamel and oil-based paint.
It’s additionally vital to think about how and the place you wish to retailer your miniatures. Some plastic inserts can harm your paint work, so watch out when putting minis again into the field.
For displaying your miniatures, take into account clear plastic or glass bins.
$8
A transparent, protecting coat for saving your work between layers or ending off a mannequin for show or in-game use. This formulation is greatest utilized with a brush.
$8
A matt varnish, like this one from Vallejo, is an effective way to boring down miniatures that look weathered and worn down. It protects simply in addition to gloss varnish.
$10
End a miniature and it’ll instantly start to get dusty. Snag a glass cloche to guard a very powerful components of your shelf military.
$22
This 6” x 7” glass cloche ought to simply home small autos, like that Land Speeder you’ve been making an attempt to complete these previous couple of years.
Further portray strategies
There are a bunch of extra strategies that you should utilize to complement your chosen type. Listed below are just some of my favorites, offered by trusted sources and accessible free of charge on YouTube. You may as well take a look at my different information on airbrush fundamentals.
Filling gaps in your mannequin
Winterdyne Fee Modeling Weblog information to Waterslide Decals
We’ve talked about a number of occasions that contrast-style paints could be misleading in how they’ll truly look in your mannequin. Beneath you’ll discover a fan-created shade information for varied distinction paints utilized on high of varied surfaces.
Citadel and different contrast-style paint swatches
Typically you possibly can’t fairly discover the proper shade on the native store, and you’ll’t look ahead to it to ship from a web based retailer. That’s when you could think about using a special model of paint. The chart linked beneath will help you discover suitable colours throughout a number of ranges.
Dakka Dakka paint vary compatibility chart (for swapping colours between manufacturers)
In fact, that is removed from an exhaustive listing and leaves out many different widespread strategies — together with airbrushing. However, it’s a very good place to start out and may preserve you busy for months, if not years.
You probably have a favourite portray trick, tutorial, or tutor, remember to point out them within the feedback beneath.