Reddit mentions: The best hobby tool paints
We found 614 Reddit comments discussing the best hobby tool paints. We ran sentiment analysis on each of these comments to determine how redditors feel about different products. We found 181 products and ranked them based on the amount of positive reactions they received. Here are the top 20.
1. Reaper Miniatures 08906 Learn to Paint Kit Core Skills, Master Series Paint Box Set
- Easy to follow guide for basic Miniature Painting skills with paints, brushes, and minis included.
- Brothers of Legend (formerly named Battles of Legend) enters the fray this Fall!
- You can even find ways to revitalize famous cards from the past, like a whole new strategy based on the many Penguin monsters that have existed in the Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG since 2002.
- This 100-card set introduces multiple brand-new themes as well as 2 new Borrel monsters including the very first Ritual Monster for this iconic series of monsters from Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS!
Features:
Specs:
Height | 10 Inches |
Length | 11 Inches |
Size | 16 Piece Set |
Weight | 1.78 Pounds |
Width | 3.5 Inches |
2. The Army Painter Miniature Painting Kit with Bonus Wargamer Regiment Miniature Paint Brush - Acrylic Model Paint Set with 50 Bottles of Non Toxic Model Paints - Mega Paint Set 3
- COMPLETE SET OF 50 WARGAMER MINIATURE PAINTS + 1 DETAIL PAINT BRUSH - An exceptional model paint set that includes 50 Warpaints: 39 nontoxic acrylic miniatures paints, 5 metallics, 4 Quickshade Washes and 2 Effects paints; 1 triangular-handled Regiment detail paint brush and a detail-rich painting guide
- GREAT DEAL SAVINGS - The Army Painter Mega Paint Set 3 offers excellent value for your money. You can save about 20% if you get this terrific warhammer paint set rather than buy the bottles and the detail brush individually
- FANTASTIC CONSISTENCY AND COLOR PIGMENT - Each bottle of The Army Painter warhammer paint is 0.6 oz/18 ml. They are not too thick and not too watery; offers great quality coverage and usability with just the right viscosity, making it easy to manipulate and work with
- EASY-TO-SQUEEZE DROPPER BOTTLE - Bottles are designed with a dropper cap system, enabling you to administer the exact amounts of paint you need without having to open the lid all the time. This ergonomic design prevents wastage and drying out the paint
- FOR BEGINNERS AND VETERANS ALIKE - This superb and popular miniatures paint set for warhammer 40k figures and other wargame models and miniatures includes the best possible quality paints, metallics and washes available today. It caters perfectly to both experienced and novice wargame painters
Features:
Specs:
Color | Multicolour |
Height | 8.85825 Inches |
Length | 11.811 Inches |
Number of items | 1 |
Size | 50 Count (Pack of 1) |
Weight | 2 Kilograms |
Width | 3.34645 Inches |
3. The Army Painter Miniatures Paint Set, 10 Model Paints with Free Highlighting Brush, 18ml/Bottle, Miniature Painting Kit, Non Toxic Acrylic Paint Set, Wargames Hobby Starter Paint Set (New Version)
- AFFORDABLE YET SUPERIOR QUALITY — Our price is more affordable than other known wargame paint brands. You’ll only pay about a couple of dollars for each 0.6oz/18 ml bottle yet get premium quality paints from The Army Painter miniature starter set, a fantastic deal you shouldn’t miss
- GREAT GIFT FOR NOVICE ARTISTS AND VETERAN PAINTERS — This model paint set is a great birthday present or gift for any occasions for beginners who just got into the hobby of miniature painting and for advanced painters who need to replenish the basic colors for their already existing paints set
- FREE HOBBY HIGHLIGHTING BRUSH — Made from the finest quality synthetic hair, this highlight detailing brush is a great all-around brush for making detailed highlights on your warhammer figures and other military models; has a sharp tip for hard-to-get areas on a miniature
- SUPERB CONSISTENCY FOR EASY APPLICATION — The Army Painter’s range of primary color acrylic paints, metallic paint and miniature wash is lauded because of their perfect consistency; neither too thick nor too thin, which makes them easy to apply and manipulate
- DROPPER CAP TO PREVENT DRYING — Get the exact amount you need with the ergonomically designed dropper bottle, so you won’t be wasting any paint. The colors are highly pigmented; give the bottle a good shake before you squeeze
Features:
Specs:
Color | multicoloured |
Height | 1.18 Inches |
Length | 8.98 Inches |
Number of items | 1 |
Release date | June 2020 |
Size | 11 Piece Set |
Weight | 0.000625 Pounds |
Width | 5.98 Inches |
4. Vallejo Airbrush Flow Improver 200ml Paint Set
- Each bottle contains an eyedropper device
- Improve flow through needle on Air Brush
- Presented in plastic bottles of 200ml
Features:
Specs:
Color | Airbrush Flow Improver 200ml |
Height | 2 Inches |
Length | 5.8125 Inches |
Size | 6.7 Fl Oz (Pack of 1) |
Width | 2 Inches |
5. Games Workshop Citadel Shade Paint Set
Become a painting daemon with the Citadel Shades.Citadel Shade Paint Set contains 8 pots of Citadel PaintThe set also includes 1 Wash Brush.1 Nuln Oil, 1 Carroburg Crimson, 1 Drakenhof Nightshade, 1 Biel- tan Green, 1 Casandora Yellow, 1 Agrax Earthshade, 1 Reikland Fleshshade,1 Seraphim Sepia.Offic...
Specs:
Height | 0.8267716527 Inches |
Length | 4.1732283422 Inches |
Number of items | 1 |
Weight | 1.433004703 Pounds |
Width | 2.8346456664 Inches |
6. Tamiya TS-80 Clear Flat Spray 100ml
- TS-80 Flat Clear
- 100ml of paint
- Ideal for preparing ABS and Styrene plastic for paint
- May also be used on Metal Parts
- Part Number 85080
Features:
Specs:
Color | Clear Flat |
Height | 4.21259 Inches |
Length | 2.04724 Inches |
Number of items | 1 |
Release date | May 2018 |
Size | 3.38 Fl Oz (Pack of 1) |
Weight | 0.3 Pounds |
Width | 2.04724 Inches |
7. Lusterless Flat Lacquer Clear Coat Testors
- 196003 CLEAR FLAT ONE 3 OZ CAN
Features:
Specs:
Height | 2.25 Inches |
Length | 2.25 Inches |
Weight | 0.3 Pounds |
Width | 4.25 Inches |
8. The Army Painter Dungeons and Dragons Official Paint Line Adventurer's Paint Set
- ALL YOU NEED TO GET STARTED – 10 water-based non-toxic acrylic paints including one metallic and one brush-on primer, includes one handmade Starter brush with high-quality synthetic taklon bristles and a free painting guide. Nolzur’s Marvelous Pigments is our premium D&D brand, ensuring you great and affordable quality and variety when you start out your epic fantasy miniature painting quest!
- GO FOR THE EYES, BOO! - Immerse yourself in The Forgotten Realms immediately! This set includes a Minsc and Boo D&D miniature so you can start painting straight away. The model comes pre-assembled and ready to be primed and painted according to the easy-to-follow painting guide included, explaining every step of the painting process.
- EXCELLENT COVERAGE AND CONSISTENCY – Nolzur’s Marvelous Pigments are made with heavy pigments and a creamy consistency, allowing for excellent coverage and application. The extremely fine pigment makes our paints excellent for use in an airbrush as well as with regular paint brushes.
- NON-TOXIC AND ECO-FRIENDLY – Our acrylic Warpaints are marked with the Nordic Swan Eco-label, your guarantee that we have done our utmost to lower our emissions, reducing the overall environmental impact from production and consumption of goods. Furthermore, our paints are non-toxic and safe to use for anyone just starting out miniature painting, as well as for the advanced hobbyist concerned with their health without compromising on the quality of their tools.
- BORN FROM GAMING – The Army Painter is the brainchild of wargaming and painting veterans of many years Bo Penstoft and Jonas Faering – We wanted to produce the paints and accessories that could have carried us all the way from the level of novice to experienced painters and gamers when we first started out. With The Army Painter our aim is to help you get awesome painted models on the table, and still get more time for Gaming!
Features:
Specs:
Color | Multicolor |
Height | 1.181102361 Inches |
Length | 8.8582677075 Inches |
Number of items | 1 |
Size | 13 Piece Set |
Weight | 0.0005952481074 Pounds |
Width | 5.905511805 Inches |
9. Tamiya Weathering Master 6-Sets(A,B,C,D,E,F) [Japan Import]
- TAMIYA weathering master 6sets(A,B,C,D,E,F) packing.
- Semi-wet material adheres well and won't run into surrounding areas. Use included tool to apply. Perfect for adding a touch of extra detail to finished models as well.
- A-set[87079]:Sand,Lighit-sand,Mud / B-set[87080]:Snow,Soot,Rust / C-set[87085]:Orange-rust,Gun-metal,Silver
- D-set[87088]:Burnt-blue,Burnt-red,Oil-stain / E-set[87098]:Yellow,Gray,Green / F-set[87123]:Titanium,Light-gun-metal,Copper
- Made in Japan.
Features:
Specs:
Height | 1.8 Inches |
Length | 4.4 Inches |
Number of items | 1 |
Size | 6 Count (Pack of 1) |
Weight | 0.15 Pounds |
Width | 3.9 Inches |
10. TAMIYA 87131 Panel Line Accent Color Black For Plastic Model Kit
Contents: 40mlA fine brush on the cap enables pinpoint application and removes the need for palettes, etc.Simply apply and watch as it flows into panel lines to highlight details. Once dried, any excess can be cleaned up using enamel thinner.Made In Japan
Specs:
Color | 87131 Black |
Number of items | 1 |
Size | 1.35 Fl Oz (Pack of 1) |
Weight | 0.0881849048 Pounds |
11. Citadel Paint, Shade: Nuln Oil
24ml (0.8oz)For filling small cracks
Specs:
Color | Black |
Height | 2.25 Inches |
Length | 1.25 Inches |
Number of items | 1 |
Size | 0.8 Fl Oz (Pack of 1) |
Weight | 0.08125 Pounds |
Width | 1.25 Inches |
12. Dull Cote Spray Testors
DULLCOTE 1/SLEEVE
Specs:
Height | 5 Inches |
Length | 5 Inches |
Size | 3 Fl Oz (Pack of 1) |
Weight | 0.3 Pounds |
Width | 5 Inches |
13. Tamiya 87085 Weathering Master C Set
Brand new item. Sealed in original package.
Specs:
Height | 0.393700787 Inches |
Length | 3.149606296 Inches |
Number of items | 1 |
Size | 1 Count (Pack of 1) |
Weight | 0.0661386786 Pounds |
Width | 1.968503935 Inches |
14. TAMIYA Panel Line Accent Color 3-colors(Black,Brown,Gray) Set [Japan Import]
Tamiya enamel paint 40ml 3-colors[ITEM 87131,87132,87133] set. Made in Japan.(Usage Warning) Do not apply onto enamel paint.Shake well or stir with paint stirrer before using.May cause plastic to become brittle. Do not apply to parts which must be pressed in or movable. Be careful when using as it m...
Specs:
Color | Gray,Brown |
Height | 2 Inches |
Length | 5.7 Inches |
Weight | 0.67 Pounds |
Width | 2.4 Inches |
15. Tamiya America, Inc TS-13 Clear Spray Lacquer, TAM85013
Tamiya TS-13 Clear Spray Lacquer 85013
Specs:
Height | 4.21259 Inches |
Length | 2.04724 Inches |
Number of items | 1 |
Size | 3.38 Fl Oz (Pack of 1) |
Width | 2.04724 Inches |
16. Vallejo Black Primer Acry-Poly 200ml Paint
- 200ml plastic bottle
- Water-based
- Apply with airbrush or brush
Features:
Specs:
Color | Black Primer Acry-poly 200ml |
Height | 5.75 Inches |
Length | 1.88 Inches |
Number of items | 1 |
Size | 6.76 Fl Oz (Pack of 1) |
Weight | 0.44974301448 Pounds |
Width | 1.88 Inches |
17. Tamiya America, Inc Acrylic X22 Gloss,Clear, TAM81022
- Ages: 8+
- Tamiya P/N: 81022
Features:
Specs:
Color | Clear |
Height | 2 Inches |
Length | 2 Inches |
Number of items | 1 |
Size | 0.77 Fl Oz (Pack of 1) |
Weight | 0.16 Pounds |
Width | 1.5 Inches |
18. Reaper Miniatures Master Series Paints #09970 Starter Set for Mini Figures
Specs:
Height | 9.25 Inches |
Length | 10.5 Inches |
Number of items | 1 |
Size | 13 Count (Pack of 1) |
Weight | 1.75 Pounds |
Width | 3.25 Inches |
19. Color Change Holographic Paint Aerosol 3.5oz
- Vivid Colors
- Flexible Formula
- Premium Hobby Paint
- Made in the USA
- For interior RC car body applications, must be backed with High Gloss Black, Black Backer, or other color.
Features:
Specs:
Color | Holographic |
Height | 6 Inches |
Length | 2.5 Inches |
Number of items | 1 |
Size | 3.5 Ounce (Pack of 1) |
Weight | 0.31 Pounds |
Width | 2.5 Inches |
20. Vallejo Game Air Paint Case Set
Each bottle contains an eyedropper deviceThis paint is intended for plastic and metalPaint Presented in plastic bottles of 17ml
Specs:
Color | Game Air Paint Case Set (47) 17ml |
Height | 4.38 Inches |
Length | 15.5 Inches |
Number of items | 48 |
Release date | November 2014 |
Size | 0.57 Fl Oz (Pack of 48) |
Weight | 5.8 Pounds |
Width | 11.75 Inches |
🎓 Reddit experts on hobby tool paints
The comments and opinions expressed on this page are written exclusively by redditors. To provide you with the most relevant data, we sourced opinions from the most knowledgeable Reddit users based the total number of upvotes and downvotes received across comments on subreddits where hobby tool paints are discussed. For your reference and for the sake of transparency, here are the specialists whose opinions mattered the most in our ranking.
First comment:
Please upvote this by default so it stays towards the top. I'm still learning how2reddit
So I am NOT an artistic person so this is especially anxious for me. But, I needed something to keep my hands busy that wasn't masturbating, so here we are.
I have probably over studied techniques and materials, and I want this post to be a "documentary" if you will. Where someone who has no business painting is going to be doing just that.
So, I'll be documenting my pitfalls and approaches to everything here. With all of you lovely people, it'll also hopefully be a central location for someone like me or just wants to get into 40k can refer to.
Disclaimer: I'll be at work until 5pm EST. But my job is pretty cushy so I'll be adding planning details throughout the day
Tools and Such
Well, I probably overspent here. Only because I'm lazy and didn't want to make the drive to harbor freights. But then again, paying the premium to help support my local game shop is going to give me some karma in the long run. Here's the list of things that I ended up picking up:
Theory is Great and All (11.13.19)
So here are my updates from actually painting.
Life Sucks and I haven't gotten much done (11/15/19)
So I was only able to apply a second coat of to what I've already done. But honestly, not too shabby! Apparently I didn't water down the paint too much.
https://imgur.com/gallery/lA9LV1N
Also, I recently switched to a different cell phone carrier, and got a $200 prepaid card.... So I'm getting these.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004INERK4/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A3TMLEXVMVIW94&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002JLVM5U/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?smid=A1Y3PCPH3CY53X&psc=1
There's a blog that I found (will have to find it again later) that recommended these.
Glad to hear it.
On the inevitable Painting supply questions that will be coming shortly...
Do you plan to paint like the box art for your army? or going to do your own thing?
Paint:
Brushes:
Glue:
Model Fixes:
My man, mini painting is my jam. Head on over to r/minipainting and we'll help you out more.
The best value starter set has to be reaper's new learn to paint kit for around 30 american dollars: https://www.amazon.com/Reaper-Miniatures-08906-Learn-Paint/dp/B00NTMC49G/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=reaper+learn+to+paint&qid=1564577927&s=gateway&sr=8-1
11 paints, 2 brushes and 3 pre-primed minis. It's the best way to dip your toe in and see if you like the hobby. No need to go crazy and spend 100s, see if you like it.
From there the best value stuff depends on a few things, are you a dm or a player, and roughly where in the world are you.
For paints:
No one brand is best at everything. We absolutely want hobby or artist grade stuff however, do NOT be lulled in by the false promises of cheap craft paints. Particularly as a newbie they will make your paintjobs look 10x worse, and get thrown out anyway.
Varnish and primer are super important don't forget them or the paint job is liable to chip and get ruined!
minis
As a dm, you cannot afford to buy say, individual wizkids minis for everything. That'll get a bit pricey. DM's are in luck though because the next round of reaper bones' kickstarter series is about to hit. Reaper sends absolute buckets of meh quality minis (they aren't bad, great value, but nobody will ever rave about em that's for sure). Perfect for a dm who needs a tonne. Very early september is when wave 5 will kickstart, but expect a massive wait after that too.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1513061270/reaper-miniatures-bones-4-mr-bones-epic-adventure
Look at those sets, about $1 a mini there on that 4th wave.
The other cheap option is boardgames with minis. These are often much better value and give a variety of minis. Again not the highest quality usually. What style do you like? I'm assuming normal dnd style ones, not chibis as with say 'super dungeon explore'?
Here is my list I will put links when I can.
Citadel Shades- also known as washes. I would suggest Nuln Oil as your black wash and Reikland Fleshshade as a brown wash. Example you would black wash the probe droids but I would suggest the brown wash for the wookie.
I find these washes great for new painters because you don’t have to do anything to them. Use them right out of the pot.
http://www.games-workshop.com/en-AU/Citadel-Shade
Also the Citadel base paints that have the metal look to them like lead belcher are excellent for doing highlights on metal surfaces like the blasters or the droids.
For all my normal colors I only use the 1$ acrylic paint from normal craft stores. They work just as well as long as you water them down. You pay more for the special miniature paints and Side by side I did not see the difference in my Minis.
For primer I use white for most things even stuff that will be dark. It is much easier to make something darker. It is harder to lighten up it back up. The washes especially the black wash will darken up the mini as well so it is important for the colors to be brighter than you think they will needed to be.
Some talked about having to do more than one coat and for about half my colors I normally do two coats but the white gives me the freedom to just do one coat if I want it to look lighter. Example I have to paint a mini one time that was wearing jeans. I only applied one coat of blue paint then used the black wash over it. This gave the jeans this faded look and was done much easier than having to do the lighter highlights by hand.
For brushes a size 0 1 and 2 would be a good start. For washing I use a side 3-4 as well since that makes it quicker.
Varnishes there is only one to use Testors Dull coat
http://www.amazon.com/Testor-Corp-1260-Spray-Testors/dp/B0035LOUMU
Ok here are items that are just really nice to have that you may not have thought about
You will need something to put the models on while you are painting them. I use corks and you can get those at a local craft store then you pick your brushes up. You don’t want to be holding on the mini while painting as your figures will pull even some of the dry paint off with enough handling.
Best way to attach them to the corks is poster tack. It is reusable and holds them very secure.
http://www.amazon.com/Elmers-Poster-Reusable-Adhesive-E1531/dp/B000BKQDB4/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1420900105&sr=8-3&keywords=poster+tac
For priming I have seen a lot of people use a box to prime the minis and I have done this but I find it sometimes hard to get primer over the bottom of the minis. My solution to that is a yard stick. You are going to get paint all over it so make sure it is not one you ever plan on using as a yard stick again. Use the poster tack to minis to the stick. This allows me to flip the minis over completely to be able to get primer even in the hard to reach spots. I can spray about 12 minis at one time.
Edit wanted to add some examples of my work. These are the first minis I ever painted.
http://s750.photobucket.com/user/mrush007/slideshow/Zombicide%20First%20Batch
If you're in a tight budget, it's best to go to Micheals and take advantage of their coupons. Depending on the store, some will take multiple coupons at once and use their competitors' coupons but be sure to check/read their restrictions. And check out your local game workshop and ask if they do deals. Sometimes, they can give you a discount.
For the brushes, there is only one size everyone uses and that's size 1. The best brush brands you can use are Artists Loft and Royal & Langnickel. Keep in mind that when you go to the store, be sure to read what the brushes are for. There are three types: watercolor, oils, and acrylics. Get the acrylic brushes! Those are your best friends when you paint minis. Also, watch out for specialty brushes. Those have animal hairs that are used for specific paint styles and are high maintenance to keep clean. You can learn about those special brushes here and learn the different types of brushes here.
The paints you are using are really watered down so the results will be quite messy and unpleasant to look at but you can make neat textures with them so keep them. The best paints to use are Winsor & Newton (acrylic & oils), Artist Loft (acrylic & oils), Golden (acrylic & oils), Citadel (acrylic), and/or Vallejo (acrylic). Read the labels of your paints before purchasing! People these days do not put the paint back so they are often mixed up. So, for the time being, to make things easier for you is to try out Reaper Miniatures or Army Painter. These brands have good starter kits when you are in a strict budget.
The only thing I would have done differently if I were a beginner would be the research. Before I buy anything, I research which materials are best suited for my projects, look into stores on what kind of discounts I can get from them, list what interests me, and compare prices. It's a pain to do but it's worth the money. The best advice I can give you as a long-time painter is to experiment and practice. The more you do, the more you learn. Even though it may take forever to finish, the experience you went through will help you figure out which technique is worth doing. Remember, you are the painter, do what's easier for you! Sometimes, you don't need pricy things to make your projects look good. It's all in technique and patience.
Hey OP, this is where I started: the Reaper Bones Core Skills set.
It has 3 figures, 2 brushes, about a dozen paints, and a booklet that gives you instructions and tips on how to get acquainted with the hobby. It's only $30, doesn't take a ton of space, and has pretty decent paints (brushes are like bare minimum to work, but that works because you're just getting started).
There's another kit called Layer Up! that comes with new brushes, paints, and figures, and teaches some more advanced techniques as well, so the "next step" is there waiting for you whenever you want to branch out.
I'd also grab maybe a wine cork, thread/yarn spool, or something that fits nice in your hand, plus some cheapo poster tack to help you hold a figure. The Reaper figures are supposed to be made in such a way that they don't require primer, but I still wash the minis with dish soap and a toothbrush and prime them anyway (I like Vallejo primers).
The best advice I can probably give is be patient not just with the work you do, but with yourself as well. The idea of the hobby is to have fun, create stuff, and enjoy the process/output. It doesn't have to look perfect your first go, nor should it. Give yourself the opportunity to improve and keep it relaxed.
If you've got any other questions on starting out or anything, feel free to hit me up.
First of all, I’m sorry to hear how you were treated. Game stores are supposed to be open-armed to all who want to join our esoteric hobbies, hope you have better luck with them in the future.
As far as starting out goes, there are a couple things to do. First, ignore GW paints they are VERY expensive. I personally like them, but didn’t get them until almost a year after starting. I started with this kit: https://www.amazon.com/Reaper-Miniatures-Master-Starter-Figures/dp/B07664WJ3H/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=reaper+paint+set&qid=1564300027&s=gateway&sr=8-3 ($30 usd on amazon) which has just about everything you’ll need to start (except a good black white and gray/silver for metal, which you may have to buy separately) mini brushes at hobby stores (not game stores) work great and are usually sub-$10. After that, you’re obviously going to be looking at models. There are a couple ways you could approach this- as far as raw mini-to-dollar value the Start Collecting! boxes are best, but a $90 usd entry fee is a bit high. I’d say pick your favorite faction and grab one of their boxes of infantry- space marine tactical squad, ork boyz, termagaunts horde, etc. Should be at max $40, down to as low as $30. And if you want to paint either space marines or chaos, you’re in an even better place- the easy-to-build kits are ~$15 for three models, or at max $40 for a big dreadnought (heavily armed mech-suit). I don’t know what stuff you want to paint but hopefully this helps. It’s easy to save money on paints and brushes, but with the minis it’s harder. You could also consider getting miniatures from companies like Reaper to practice on as they’re much cheaper. Not 40k quality, but might help you decide if this hobby will help you with your needs. Sorry for the long response and I hope you get better and find everything you need in this awesome hobby! Good luck!
> And, if it's not too bad, can anyone recommend some critical supplies for this hobby? Like what types of paints, brushes, etc will I need to do a good job?
The Reaper Learn to paint Kits are the best place to start. Everything you need to get started in the box. $35 and free shipping is the perfect price to get started!
> Are there any good tutorials out there?
YouTube, son.
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My two cents: If your really interested in it then go for it. It's a great hobby and can be a profitable one, once you reach a certain level.
Paints: which are the best? What do you use?....
Those are the ones I've had experience with...there are more out there, I hear Army Painter makes a good product and Reaper dabbles in paints as well.
Some people will steer you towards craft paints, I wouldn't listen to them if your really thinking about getting into the hobby, as the hobby paints are a better quality. The reason I heard back when I was getting started is Something along the lines of "Light levels and UV protection." The condensed version is: The Hobby paints will hold their color longer and not fade vs the Craft paints.
Other than that....
Edit: Buy Masters brush cleaner. It will save your brushes!
First off WELCOME TO THE TIME/MONEY BLACKHOLE !!
As a fellow Tau player I just have to correct something, they arent robots. Theres little fish face alien fuckers in those suits.
Yes they are fantastically awesome !
If you hit your local shop on weekends you will very likely find people who will be incredibly nice to you and will be very happy to help you learn to paint. This is usually a great bunch of fanboys and we love talking to newbies :) My son will talk for hours on how awesome orks are and his buddie will tell me how amazing Chaos is. I play Tau, Space Marines, Eldar & Necrons. oh i'm 47 so the habit will last your lifetime.
As for what equipment, I suggest an exacto knife for removing tiny bits of plastic. A task light with a magnifying glass is awesome. A good set of brushes & an Army painter kit. Links are below. Paint scheme... dude they are all awesome. What do YOU want ? Dont go crazy at first. start simple, 3 colors and basic bases. As you get better you can add details. Please post photos of your progress and never be afraid to ask questions
For the greater good !
Light - https://www.amazon.com/Spectrum-Daylight-Magnifier-3-Diopter-VS01222B/dp/B00DJG9DFA/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1493865330&sr=8-2&keywords=task+light+magnifier
Paint - https://www.amazon.com/Army-Painter-Warpaints-Mega-Paint/dp/B01MTXRUUT/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1493865371&sr=8-1&keywords=army+painter+set
Brushes - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M7UFLP5/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Welcome to the hobby and this great game!
As for beginner painting resources, I highly recommend Mike Meeple's "Painting Poorly" series:
https://mikemeeple.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_16.html
He does a great job of breaking down the steps and his guides are very easy to follow. As an added bonus, he focuses on painting using less expensive materials and showing that you can get quality results without needing to spend a ton of money on paints, brushes, etc.
As for "best starting paint set" - there are a lot of different answers depending on the specific of your situation. For example, what colors do you plan on using? Do you already have brushes, or do you need brushes? Some paint sets include brushes (although they usually aren't very high quality).
When I first started, I was gifted this set from The Army Painter:
https://www.amazon.com/Miniature-Painting-Bonus-Wargamer-Regiment/dp/B01MTXRUUT
I've been very happy with it. But I've used maybe half of the paints in the set, so that's probably overkill.
It really depends on your goals, and how much you're comfortable spending. You can certainly make a ton of progress without nearly as much investment as that set.
The biggest beginner mistake I would caution against is not thinning your paints. If you use paints straight from the pot, it will be very thick and you'll end up obscuring a lot of the finer details on your models. So thin your paints (I just use water, but there are specialty thinning mediums that some people like to use). And take your time! Try to enjoy the process. Not everyone enjoys painting their models, but I find that it's a great way to relax at the end of the day. Don't put too much pressure on yourself to make your models look perfect. Take a slow, and as you practice you'll become more confident and you'll be able to paint more models more quickly.
Disclaimer - I am by no means an "expert" painter. But hopefully my comment is helpful.
Side note - I recommend joining the "A Song of Ice and Fire: Tabletop Wargamers" Discord server. There are a lot of really helpful people on there who are great at answering rules questions, giving painting tips, and discussing game tactics.
Hey there! I got into painting based on the board games I was picking up that came with plastic miniatures. This was a good starting place as the figures aren't super detailed and adding any paint to them seemed to make them better than standard board game pieces.
If the art side if things is more of the draw then I would suggest checking out a starter kit. There are a few "starter kits" out there that are good because they give you the basic necessities to jump into painting without spending tons of money.
I saw a couple good looking kits on Amazon. Here is a DND specific one:
The Army Painter Dungeons and Dragons Official Paint Line Adventurer's Paint Set https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DWMTNDJ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_-QBDDbAFWJSHE
Or here is a generic fantasy one:
Reaper Miniatures 08906 Learn To Paint Bones Kit https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NTMC49G/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_z1BDDbC1DSWE1
I think I'd recommend the second one as it comes with a couple different figures and seems like it's ready to go right out of the box.
One cool thing about painting miniatures is that it is as complicated or as simple as you'd like. There are some great tutorial videos on YouTube to teach the basics. I learned from Sorastros painting tutorials. He does a good job of showing you the basics to get a decent looking figure and then gives you extra steps if you are extremely detailed or want to go to the next level.
As others have mentioned you can get sets of figures to paint from reapers miniatures website. Or if there is a board game out there with a theme your son likes, it may be a good place to start as most games come with 15-30 miniatures with different sizes. Including bigger monsters which can be really fun to paint. Plus you then have a fun game in which to use your art project.
Mice and mystics is a fun family cooperative game with tiny anthropomorphic mice fighting fantasy battles similar to the redwall books. I painted the figures from those and had a great time with the painting and the game.
Some other good ones are Descent 2nd edition and Starwars Imperial assault. Both come with great miniatures but are a little complex on rules and need one player to be the big bad overlord playing against the heroes.
There is also a series of dungeons and dragons board games that are cooperative and come with lots of miniatures. The quality of these isn't very high but those were my first figures.
If you want to go "whole hog" you could purchase one of the "Warhammer age of sigmar" starter boxes. These miniatures are extremely detailed and actually require you to assemble them from several pieces. They don't come with paint inused but there are entire paint kits to go along with them. Some folks really enjoy putting the GW models together, then priming and painting them. These aren't cheap so it might be best to start elsewhere but you get a lot of figures in the box. I will warn you the theme is fairly dark. Lots of blood and skulls.
Best of luck and I hope you guys enjoy!
>1: You say you use Vallejo paints, what is the reason for using that brand, Cost? Quality?
Boils down to really just two things.... the model air/game air paints are pre-thinned for airbrushing which is super handy, especially when starting out, and two, dropper bottles are infinitely better for airbrush work than those stupid-ass paint pots GW makes. I have LOTS of GW paints as they are amazing paints. (expensive, but amazing) Typically i brush paint with GW and airbrush with Vallejo.
>2: For some reason, that airbrush costs nearly 60 pounds :D (i live in the UK, if you hadnt guessed!) if i were to get that specific airbrush, what else would i need to make it work, you mention an Air Compressor (brand? type?) and a Water Trap (whats the purpose of that - as i say, bit of a noob here!), what else, some sort of Hose to connect the compressor to the brush i assume? any cleaning supplies? which specific paints do you use?
WTF?! That airbrush is 60 fuckin pounds in the UK. Shit. At any rate, ANY TANK compressor will work. A tank compressor compresses air into a giant tank that is THEN let out of the tank through the brush, which allows for smooth flow. If it were an air compressor without a tank then it would "putt, putt, putt air out." which is deadly for airbrush work. You want smooth constant air flow.
Airbrush to Compressor Hose
Water trap for air compressors Note: these aren't 100% necessary for a larger tank air compressor as the large tank somewhat does exactly what this little guy does. These are usually only necessary for a compressor that isn't a tank fed. Moisture through condensed air is a real problem and if it gets into your paint, it'll fuck up your smoothness of airbrushing.
My exact compressor, which can be used for LOTS of things, not just airbrushing. Note: the only downside to these types of compressor is how goddamned loud they are. Pretty much HAVE to be used outdoors.
I connect the airbrush to the hose i linked earlier. I connect that hose to the water trap i linked earlier. I connect the water trap to a standard thick cheap air compressor hose. I connect the cheap air compressor hose to the air compressor.
I assure you it's FAR less complicated than it seems. That masters brush i linked you earlier comes with a 'quick release' that is STUPID handy. It connects to the airbrush hose (the blue-ish one linked) really quickly.
I use pretty much exclusively Vallejo Air paints.
Model Air Standard Colors
Model Air Range
Game Air Range
Only difference between game and model air ranges is the color vibrance and ability to be touched repeatedly and not wear off. (should not be a problem at all if you varnish your models though). Game air colors are generally formulated to mimic the GW range as well.
The only difference between Game and Model vs Game Air/Model Air is that the Air versions of them are pre-thinned and ready to shoot through an airbrush straight outta the bottle. You can buy almost any of those colors individually from amazon.
Also, Airbrush Guru is THE best resource I've seen on the subject. TON of helpful tips and tricks. Great in-depth reviews of noob friendly airbrushes and how to clean them. Most of the things I've linked you to buy can be used for things OTHER than airbrushing. The reasons for that are they are cheap. Good airbrushes run for hundreds of dollars. Shitty ones that still work awesome are priced accordingly. Start small, then dive in from there.
Lastly but not in the very least... safety is king. DO NOT AIRBRUSH IN A CLOSED ROOM WITH NO VENTILATION.
Airbrushing acrylics is the safest of the paints to shoot through, but even they can get in your lungs and over time cause problems. If you are going to try to airbrush indoors make sure you setup a proper ventilation system or have in place a spray booth. Something like this would be fine.
P.S. This is incredibly handy as well, like, more handy than anything I've shown you so far. It is obviously NOT necessary, but once you start airbrushing I would guarantee you that it'll be the next thing you buy. Helps when you need to sit the airbrush down but you still have paint in the cup. Enjoy! Again, go to that website, The Airbrush Guru for the best information. It's fantastic, seriously.
I think it's cool you want to pick up a hobby your father had. It will be a nice reminder every time you pick up the gun.
I use this 100% for miniatures, and it works great!!
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Alright, here is the list I bought. It's a bit more than you want to spend, but this will ensure you can get going right away, and not be frustrated. I did a fair amount of research on different forums, sites, and youtube videos. If you want to know why I chose something, feel free to ask. I was going to bold the ones that you absolutely need, but I would say everything in the first set are a must.
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For the compressor, I keep mine at about 18-20 while doing miniatures and it's perfect.
I do 1 drop Improver, 5 drops thinner, and 6 drops primer and have perfect flow.
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Feel free to ask any questions! Good luck!
Hvstle
That link covers how you build armies to some degree. There are rules for what can go in. Each faction has both allowed units and units of various tiers of alliance. The link also covers army bonuses and alliances. To get the real details, you'll need either Armies of Lord of the Rings or Armies of the Hobbit. There's also a new Gondor at War book that I believe has some additional army information in it, but I haven't picked it up yet.
They have a lot of battle reports out there. If you have an hour, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eUQ9zT4Dd0 is a "how to play video." A shorter video (28 minutes) is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkgHoUIK4l4 which is a few years old, but much of the play sequence is the same. GBHL (Great British Hobbit League, can search GBHL on youtube) and STF both discuss things.
Best of luck and welcome to the community!
I'm in the USA, so these are more North America-centric, but I'm fairly certain you can find equivalents in Europe or Australia.
If you want to learn techniques before buying expensive minis, but a pack of cheap army men or dinosaurs:
https://www.dollartree.com/kids-military-action-figurines-50ct-packages/279838
https://www.dollartree.com/plastic-dinosaur-figurines-7-in/252377
In the store, these are $1.00 USD. great for learning to paint, and disposable if you mess up.
Primer: Painters Touch 2x - good primer, way less expensive than Citadel. Home Depot Link
Brushes: Painting, especially learning to paint will be rough on brushes. Cheap brushes that aren't garbage will work for you, I suggest these: Walmart Link
Paint: Don't use craft paints. They are super cheap, don't thin well, are well pigmented and are generally crap for actual mini painting. Vallejo has a starter kit that's great: Amazon Link
Army Painter has a very basic starter kit, I'm a fan of their range as well, Amazon Link
$3 USD will get you a ton of minis to learn on
$5 USD for primer
$4 USD for brushes
$30-50 USD for paints
Get a cheap hobby knife or x-acto knife and for less than $75 you're in a hobby that will keep you entertained for life.
If you really don't want to start on non-hobby minis, $10-25 USD will get you an EZ Build pack. Games Workshop Link
You may even want to just drop the $40 and get the basic starter for Warhammer AoS - LINK or WH40k - LINK. Each has 4 Easy Build packs in it, so basically, buy 3, get one free, plus you get the basic rules of the game as well.
Hope this helps.
You have three options for panel line;
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Some people use pencil, but I don't find that method to be efficient. You can also mix your own paint but why bother when there is already a pre-mixed solutions.
A friend bought me this set for my birthday: https://www.amazon.com/Citadel-Shade-Paint-Games-Workshop/dp/B00KOD3FM8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1537582745&sr=8-1&keywords=citadel+wash
I haven't found uses for all of the different colors yet, but I have used far more of them than I expected when I opened it. For example, I painted a zombie last night - I used my Vallejo buff to lay out a basic skin tone, then used the citadel flesh wash over it (which made it into a bronzed god!), then went over that with the green wash from that set. That turned the whole thing putrid, so I went back over the tops of the shoulders/head with the buff again to bring them back up to that original flesh tone, which worked out really well!
I'm starting to appreciate that investing in good paints is well worth it. I got some little eye-droppers so that I can pull out a tiny amount of paint onto my easel before painting (so that I don't waste a bunch of it), which has been pretty effective. I really like the bottles that the Vallejo paints come in, but I really like the colors of the Citadel washes.
While this is generally considered good advice given here for a true "no experience" beginner you can get away with cheaper brushes.
IMO these brushes work great and are an excellent value at 4 bucks. And you will get a variety of useful sizes. (If you look for them in store they now have black handles, not blue)
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Plaid-10-Piece-Detail-Round-Brush-Set/22086220
(And yes I know this isn't an amazon purchase like OP wanted but its a great value)
Its probably better to pick up primer and sealer locally too. You could probably get both at Walmart.. I use Krylon COVERMAXX Acrylic Crystal Clear Flat sealer. But I like to use Duplicolor Sandable Primer so I get that at the automotive store.
IMO I would not buy a palette either. It's really easy to make a wet palette out of things from the dollar store or from around the house that will serve you better then an artists palette.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96mjmqWTPfM
Reapers MSP and Citadel paints are not well represented on Amazon.. but Vallejo and Army Painter paints are..
Reaper does have their Learn to Paint kit on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Bones-Miniatures-Learn-Paint-Reaper/dp/B00NTMC49G/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top?ie=UTF8
If your not sure that mini painting is going to be your thing you may just want to start with (diluted) craft paint anyways... but purpose made miniature paint really does have its advantages.
Sorry I know I haven't been much help on what to buy on Amazon but hopefully this will give you an idea on what to avoid
So I'll give you a link to a list that you may find useful for checking all the boxes on what you may need. I'll post my opinions below on some of the stuff I have found is most important. (I went through this process about 2-3 months ago)
http://www.reapermini.com/Thecraft/32
I LOVE this hobby knife Very important for removing mold lines, cutting off flash, etc. Very important to get one that starts and stays sharp
Primer is incredibly important. You want to make a suitable surface for your paint to adhere to. I would also look up some articles about how to prime. Contrary to popular belief you don't want the entire model to be the color of your prime when you are done! You want it to look almost speckled and have about 80% coverage.
Paint Here is a decent starter box of citadel paint, with a box and some 1/2 decent brushes. Obviously this is a bit pricey, but you get 45 paints plus some helpful extras
Brush Cleaner VITALLY important. Keeps paint out of the ferrule and helps your brushes stay conditioned and pointed
Brushes I just got a Winsor and Newton Series 7 #00, #1 and #2....WOW the difference between these and synthetic brushes is night and day. Painting tasks that seemed to take forever or require too much of a steady hand are MUCH easier now
Dull Cote Matte Spray Essential for providing a matte finish and protection to be able to actually use your minis. This product is excellent for that
Obviously there are many more items that are important to have that are described in more detail in that link I provided. But the ones above are the ones I would consider most essential
I used the Pathfinder Battles Deep Cuts Female Dwarf Summoner mini because it was the only female dwarf at my FLGS and it was inexpensive. I will say if you've never bought this brand/type, the detail shown in the picture online is far above and beyond the actual mini, and I assume the pic is a computer render. This may already be obvious to y'all, I dunno!
Anyway, I sliced her hands/spell effects off at the wrist with a utility knife and sculpted new hands from Apoxie Sculpt, leaving a hole through one fist to fit the axe I sculpted. I also added a beard, because I love lady dwarfs with beards, and trimmed a little off her head as well so it could fit the dragon skull I sculpted too. Wasn't sure what to put in her other hand but ended up cutting off a generic monster head from one of many cheap baddie minis I had, just so she'd look extra badass, I suppose. (I think I should not have used generic super glue to attach the monster head though, as it left a white film and ended up falling off anyway.) I also trimmed a little away of the base so she could sit on her new mount, a huge polar bear (for the Mammoth Rider Pathfinder prestige class).
I painted everything with this super basic starter set of Army Painter paints. I intended the colors to be pretty neutral and natural, because the character makes a lot of her own gear from animal hides, bones, etc. Didn't really know what I was doing, so tips are appreciated, but be gentle :) I used almost the cheapest mini and paints I could find because I was afraid I would be terrible and end up wasting money on a hobby that I would suck at. It turned out better than I expected though, and inspired me to want to paint my Heroforge mini too. Any suggestion for the next (not too expensive) tool/paint/whatever I should get?
This Army Painter starter set is your best bet. It has Black, White, 3 primary colors, green, a flesh tone, a good brown, steel metallic(you can add colors to it of you want the metal to look a different color), and Strong tone wash(actually my favorite wash, period). Even comes with an okay detail brush.
If you want purple and orange. You can pick up any brand you want and it'll work just fine with these paints. Citadel is usually the easiest to find if you have gaming shop nearby. Or if you have a hobby lobby, they sell Vallejo model paints. They're good. Other brands that come to mind. Reaper, P3, Secret Weapon, and Scale 75. All good.
So all you'd need to get is a primer of your choice. And a decent brush, here's a decent brush set. And probably want to get a good matte varnish. Most people recommend Testors dull coat. But if you want brush on. Vallejo matte varnish is a good alternative. All in all you could easily be under $50.
Miniac's video on how to take care of your brushes
Not sure your price points but looking on Amazon this Army painter set is a great start to get a quantity of colors you would need and can add colors when you need to, there's also a $25usd kit with less paints but enough to get started.
For brushes I get this from Michaels as it had a lot of brush sizes for different things and starting out you don't need to buy expensive brushes.
This is a great brush cleaner and depending on the figures you decide to paint you need some tools so something like this kit would be easy to have everything in one go.
Did you have any minis in mind you were wanting to get started with? And welcome, I use painting for stress relief as well and it's easy when you have a figure and are just making them look good
Stuff that you need:
I use gw paints, mainly because I just always have, and I'm used to them, but if you wanna use some better quality, most people recommend vallejo or army painter. You can get a pretty good start with a variety of colors for army painter on Amazon for a pretty good price.
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B01MTXRUUT/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_B706BbA6TT14G
And I know you didn't, but I use their brushes, this set is a good starting point.
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00HC8H4EI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_F806BbW819S9Q
I use a Badger Patriot 105 along with a Super Fine Conversion Kit. I use a Badger Aspire TC910 compressor, but I also used a variant of this little mini air compressor for about a year which worked great.
For paints I used Citadel; what you see here is Incubi Darkness, followed by Kabalite Green and then Sybarite Green. I did a final brush edge highlight with Gauss Blaster Green. I get these at my FLGS.
I recently got the the Vallejo GameAir set for my birthday, and the paint is great. I didn't use it here though, this is all Citadel paint.
As for technique, I based the whole model black (with the riders separate) and then applied a fairly broad highlight of Incubi Darkness on the higher (where the light hitting the model was more prevalent) spots, then moved the brush a bit closer to catch the inner parts with Kabalite Green, then a bit closer using the same technique with Sybarite green. As for the edges I just purposefully over-sprayed so only half the paint hit the model, giving it a sharp edge.
The GameAir set from Vallejo comes with a color conversion chart but doesnt cover most of the "Dark Eldar" colors, only the basics. You can thin down Citadel paints with water, but the pigment in them is thicker than actual air brush paint, so your brush will clog, and paint drying on the air brush needle is a real annoyance. Other than that, I'd recommend watching a few videos on airbrushing 101, this effect was really not hard to apply at all once you get a gist for trigger control and aiming.
Other than that, the Wyches were painted following pretty much every Dark Eldar armor/flesh painting video you can find, haha.
Ok. Gonna throw out a couple of suggestions to get you started.
First get a starter paint set.
You can get them from the local hobby shops
A few of them come with the basic supplies you need to get started.
The following ones come with a small set of paints, a brush and a miniature to paint. Often they also come with step by step instructions or online videos to watch
Dungeons and Dragons Official Paint Line Adventurer's Paint Set https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DWMTNDJ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_kTC0Db25P03XH
Dungeons and Dragons Official Paint Line Monsters Paint Set https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DWL5JZZ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_VVC0Db4FCQTAM
Reaper Miniatures 08906 Learn To Paint Bones Kit https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NTMC49G/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_vWC0DbVBYBCNP
Reaper Miniatures Master Series Paints #09970 Starter Set for Mini Figures https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07664WJ3H/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_RXC0DbPXRB07Z
The Army Painter Kings of War Undead Miniatures Paint Set - Highly Pigmented Acrylic Model Paint Set - 10 Miniature Paints in 18ml Dropper Bottles https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MRYAY5R/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_FYC0Db3QD8HJT
The above links are only there to show you what to look for.
Citadel also has a great range of paints but they are generally more expensive and don’t come with brushes or models to paint
Please. Buy local and support our FLGS (Friendly Local Game Stores) They are the reason why so many people are into these hobby’s.
Take a little while and find a couple of Nolzurs or Reaper miniatures you like to paint. They are inexpensive and will be great pieces to start with.
However if your gonna look online Miniature Market currently is having their Black Friday sale
https://www.miniaturemarket.com/searchresults?q=black+friday+sale#/?_=1&sort.ga_unique_purchases=desc&page=1&filter.product_tag=Black%20Friday&filter.manufacturer=Army%20Painter
What ever route you’re choose let us know what you did and show us your completed work. There are a lot of super helpful people here
The Army Painter Miniature Painting Kit with Bonus Wargamer Regiment Miniature Paint Brush - Acrylic Model Paint Set with 50 Bottles of Non Toxic Model Paints - Mega Paint Set 3 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MTXRUUT/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_A9jWCbSM25CCW
Is a great set that I purchased when I got into 40k. It has a great selection of colors and washes so you’ll have everything you need to get started. Plus with all the options the set will grow with you as a painter. As you get more comfortable you can use what’s in there to expand into adding more advanced shades and highlights. As long as you remember to “thin your paints” it should last you awhile. If you want to get the most out of these or any paints I’d also recommend looking up how to make a wet pallet. It’s easy and makes a little paint go along way. Hope this helps.
Hey Time-killing, thank you for the advice. I have one more question if you don't mind. I think I'm going to get started by going with the basic Reaper Learn to paint Bones kit to get my feet wet and see how that feels.
You recommended some Space Marines earlier to practice on and while I think that's a cool idea, I'm more into fantasy stuff. Can you recommend anything like that but more on the fantasy side?
Edit: Maybe something like this? Black Ark Corsairs? These minis have armor, weapons and different material types. Is that what you were going for with your original example?
Bonus question from someone who can't stop sweating the details: Do you think the Reaper paints would be "wasted" on those GW minis? Should I try to acquire some Vallejo and Citadel paints to make the most out of painting GW minis?
And I hope you're having a happy new year as well. :D
I use mostly Warcolours paints, which are listed on their website as "designed for use with paint brush and/or airbrush", but you need to thin them out quite a bit. I use Vallejo Airbrush Flow Improver to thin them down.
Don't use any Citadel paints in an airbrush, besides their new Air paints. The pigment particles in their regular paints are too large, and will clog up your airbrush no matter how much you thin them.
I've never tried any Vallejo paint of any kind, so I have no opinion on them. I just back in to the hobby with 8th Edition, and read nothing but good things about Warcolours paints, so I bought the full line (literally). All base coats, all layers, all metallics, something like 140 paints. Last time I played, I never used anything but Citadel, and I remember them being such a pain to use because they are so thick, and seem to dry out extremely quickly. The Warcolours paints have the awesome dropper bottles like Vallejo, which makes it super easy mix, and keep them air tight.
I still use Citadel for washes and shades, and some metallics, they probably have the best metallics.
Once you get past assembly (the advice here already is great!), you'll want to look at paints. Do yourself a favor and get a good primer (around $15, I use Army Painter flat black primer), and then 3 brushes (kolinsky sable is the best, but regular sable works fine too). Get a size 0, 1, and 2. Do not get super cheap brushes, but you don't need way out expensive brushes either. $8-12 a brush should be your target.
Then you've got to choose paints, and this will boil down to personal preference. Vallejo makes great paints, as does P3 and Army Painter. I'm not wild about Games Workshop's paints.
This is a great value, if you decide you like their paints.
Here's a quick list of goodies to consider:
Testor's Model Master Glue - works on all of the kit's plastics except clear glass (use Elmer's glue for that). Be sure he scrapes any paint or chrome plating off the parts before gluing.
Tamiya Fine Surface Primer - painting is much easier with a primer coat. It gives the paint something to bite into. This can be used on the body and really any other parts that get paint. Makes it much easier to brush paint on smaller parts, too.
Model Master Black Lacquer - this will give him the base for a great matte black finish.
Model Master Flat Clear - this is a clear, non-shiny protective top coat that will take the shine off the black paint and give him a nice, matte finish.
Here is a build guide - much more than he needs, but the painting process is the same, except he'll be using a flat clear instead of gloss.
Feel free to ask any questions or send him over to /r/modelcars when he gets the kit. Have fun!
For paints you can use citadel which they have a painting app (Citadel app) which gives you instructions on what colors to use and in what order ect for a certain look and also for different colors as well. But you can get a bundle of paints from Amazon that are small to get you started and then a larger bundle with more paints and shades which is a better price for essential paints you would want/need. There's also vallejo, P3, and scale 75 which I wouldn't recommend for a beginner. For brushes just the bundle from a craft store is a great start to get a lot of brushes to start with, no need to buy expensive stuff until you feel more comfortable. [Warhammer TV](https://www.youtube.com/user/Games Workshop Want) has great tutorials on YouTube and you can search "painting insert model" and you'll get lots of tutorials. Miniac is also a great channel for beginners as well
I bought one of the Reaper learn to paint sets (link below). I never painted the minis that came with it, but know people who have. The colors work well for beginners. Thee is a decent mix and a full spectrum. Supplement that with a few other reaper bottles and you have a good start collection of paints for like $50.
From there, I kept on buying one or two bottles at a time and now own a bunch of paints. I stopped for a whole but starting painting again just last night! It's fun and relaxing. My Saturday shift at my local game store is coming to a close in the next month, so with more time I hope to paint some more coming up!
https://www.amazon.com/Reaper-Miniatures-08906-Learn-Paint/dp/B00NTMC49G
It's a little bit of an extra expense up front, but just this past week I bought this kit from Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00NTMC49G/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?qid=1451310598&sr=8-2&pi=SX200_QL40&keywords=reaper+bones+miniatures&dpPl=1&dpID=51DZMCGMRCL&ref=plSrch
It came with 9-10 bottles of paint, 2 brushes, 3 miniatures, and a great guide/tutorial for getting started. It gives very good step by step instructions with details on all the various painting techniques for the first miniature, then recommended paints and techniques for the other two in the box. Worked really well for me for an introduction!
Now the next step is to work up the courage to apply those techniques to Mice and Mystics and Sentinel Tactics...
I've plugged it before and I'll plug it again - Reaper's Learn to Paint kit is probably the most budget-friendly way to dive into mini painting. It comes with a set of paints, some brushes, three minis to practice on, and a handbook that introduces you to painting techniques that get progressively more complex on each mini. Plus, it's easy to add paints to the kit's storage case if you end up enjoying the hobby.
If you go that route, I also recommend adding a bottle of red paint and a few better brushes, because the kit doesn't come with any shades of red and the two included brushes are just average. Otherwise, it's got everything you need to get started and the practice minis are a godsend (I didn't want to touch my Gloomhaven minis until I had a couple less important ones under my belt).
Edit: Just saw that the kit is a little pricier on Amazon CA. If you can find the kit on another site or at a local game store for under $45 USD or so I would still recommend it, otherwise it's worth hitting up the minipainting sub and seeing what other options they recommend for beginners.
Looks like everything you would need! Good choices :-)
While you don't need this right away, you may want to consider it:
http://www.amazon.com/Vallejo-Airbrush-Improver-200ml-Paint/dp/B00QD780G0?ie=UTF8&keywords=flow%20improver%20airbrush&qid=1463514084&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1
It really helps to let the paint run in the airbrush and doesn't "Gob up" on the tip of the needle. It's not mandatory while you're learning how to use the airbrush (It's not mandatory at all actually) but it helps to improve the quality of what you're painting.
I hope to see some pics of your finished work soon! :-D
I usually paint reaper minis, but for him you could honestly just get a bag of green army men and prime them grey, then move on to more intricate minis (and expensive) minis when he learns the basics (and doesn't lose patience.)
As for paints, a normal acrylic set should work out, you could also look into a paint kit. I would honestly recommend the Reaper Bones Learn-to-Paint Kit as it was my first, comes with a decent selection of colors that don't require thinning for regular painting, as well as a couple brushes and 3 minis.
Hope this helps! :)
Looks good! That's a great setup, better than what I am working with.
I'd suggest adding a few things before ordering:
http://www.amazon.com/Vallejo-Airbrush-Improver-200ml-Paint/dp/B00QD780G0 (Buy it!! Trust me)
http://www.amazon.com/Yueton-Nylon-Nozzle-Brush-Handle/dp/B010NDQWLE (Will need for cleaning)
http://www.amazon.com/Plaid-44250-30-Piece-Craft-Brush/dp/B003ZZ3PHW (Cheap, disposable and super useful for mixing in bowl, won't scar the sides.... Cheaper at Wal-Mart)
Well, depending on the level of newbness the following might be helpful:
Use Tamiya Extra Thin Plastic Cement (green cap) instead of super glue for the grey plastic stuff. It won't work on Resin though. Buy it at a Hobbytown USA or off Amazon.
Use wire cutters to remove stuff from the sprues, don't twist. Even a cheap $4 pair of Hakko cutters works fine. I use a small Gerber pocket knife to scrape off mold lines.
Don't get caught caught up into magnetizing stuff. Just glue it and be done. Nobody is going to care if you say a Carnosaur counts as a Troglodon for a game, or if your Saurus Knights are not really using the lances they are modeled with.
Apparently massive amounts of Skinks are a good investment for current Seraphon. I'd not buy more than 2 boxes while waiting for a new battletome though.
If you REALLY screw up a model, you can fix it with green stuff 99% of the time.
Army Painter sells a 50 paint set that I fully endorse. Drip bottles that won't dry out quickly like GW paints.
Ebay is a good resource. You'll have to click worldwide on the left.
Sometimes you can get stuff you can't find on Amazon at your local independent hobbystores or official GW stores that keep old stock, like unsold copies of Carrion Empire. One example, Chaos Lord on foot is a website exclusive, but you can have it shipped to a store for free instead of $10 to your home. You have to place the order in person with the store staff for that specific shop to get credit for the sale though.
Same here. Zero experience and no artistic ability to this point, but I was interested in fixing up Scythe and Mansions of Madness specifically. I saw this one referenced on /r/minipainting and gave it a try. I also picked up some duplicate minis from Amazon and had a "mini painting bootcamp" one Saturday with me and my three kids. Instructions were spelled out step by step, easy to follow and they actually turned out pretty well. We'll be doing a follow-up or two before diving into my actual games, but I thought it was a great way to test the waters before diving in.
Good luck finding a group!
Emerald Tavern and Dragon's Lair both carry a couple of lines of paint (I'd personally avoid Games Workshop paints, they're overpriced and the pots will help your paint dry out).
King's Hobby has a great selection of paints from companies you won't find elsewhere in town.
If you're just starting, brushes from craft stores or great.
A great way to get all the paints you'd need to really get started is the Army Painter Set, which has 50 paints, a guide, and a brush to get started with:
https://www.amazon.com/Miniature-Painting-Bonus-Wargamer-Regiment/dp/B01MTXRUUT/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=army+painter+set&qid=1554409358&s=gateway&sr=8-3
Does he use miniatures in his games? You could pick him up a random booster pack of D&D minis- new monsters to use can be inspiration for encounters.
EDIT: This would most likely be on budget and these are new figures! Came out in late July.
https://www.miniaturemarket.com/wzk72871-pack.html
If he plays 5e there are new books coming out still- you could look at what he has or order something upcoming for him to lean his campaign toward.
EDIT: Make sure you check his shelf/bin if you don't want to get something he has already!
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=5e+books
Maybe he is a fan of fantasy books/movies? You might have some luck picking something he would like- that could bleed through for inspiration.
Also, tabletop players always enjoy a new set of dice, if they are a shiny new color or something.
I suggest these!
https://www.amazon.com/Wiz-Dice-Pack-Random-Polyhedral/dp/B01KN7REWQ/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1502128441&sr=8-1-fkmr1&keywords=alchemical+oddities+dice
EDIT:
This is kind of a stretch probably- but consider steering him toward something like https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1513061270/reaper-miniatures-bones-4-mr-bones-epic-adventure/comments which can be a near endless source of materials/resources.
You could try picking up one of the starter sets to see if he would like painting!
https://www.amazon.com/Reaper-Miniatures-08906-Learn-Paint/dp/B00NTMC49G/ref=sr_1_2?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1502128215&sr=1-2&keywords=reaper+bones+paints
https://www.amazon.com/Layer-Bones-Miniatures-Learn-Reaper/dp/B01N458GBK/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1502128232&sr=1-1&keywords=reaper+bones+paints
A great place to start is the mini painting starter sets by Reaper:
https://www.amazon.com/Reaper-Miniatures-08906-Learn-Paint/dp/B00NTMC49G
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N458GBK/
They're not too expensive, and they are a great intro to mini painting. They also come with pieces to practice techniques on, and a lot of paints to work with as well. I'd get those, and maybe some brushes.
I also would recommend a wet palette to keep paints wet between painting sessions, magnifying glasses to help see, and a mini holder.
I also got these brushes, which seem to be working well for me, and have a mix of useful ones.
Thanks! I was overwhelmed too, so I started by watching some videos on YouTube and whatnot. I ended up getting this set:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MTXRUUT/
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This feels like pretty good value to me, and has a ton of colors to pick from. It also has premade washes for shading, metallic paint, and blood/dirt effect paint so it has worked super well for Gloomhaven stuff.
I like these. http://www.amazon.com/Games-Workshop-Citadel-Shade-Paint/dp/B00KOD3FM8 but always with the knowledge that I can make my own with about a 1:8 ratio of any paints that I have. Use the color wheel as your guide. Cool colors recede while warm colors pop out. Try experimenting with different colors and see what effects you get, and what makes you happy. On faces I use a bit of blue in the shadows to help them recess, while using red in other places to help it come out.
Also, I typically repeat 3 and 4 multiple times.
The only basic supplies you will need are paint brushes and acrylic model paints. A starter set like this for you would be perfect, if you're in Taiwan you can probably find something local for much cheaper.
https://www.amazon.com/Miniatures-Highlighting-Miniature-Army-Painter/dp/B01MTXRU2L/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1525546731&sr=8-4&keywords=army+painter
If you want more videos on how to get started, the basics are covered very well in my opinion by Games Workshop videos. They sell models for a science fiction miniatures game but the ideas of painting models are universal and this will really help you!
Basic painting of a military vehicle:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ig_gKQAgBKY
Another basic military vehicle tutorial:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74p9eGwRAog
Adding weathering and battle damage:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyuPxJG5kFc
And the great thing about acrylic hobby paints is that they can be easily removed from the model, so if you don't like what you did you can remove it all and start again fresh!
http://www.instructables.com/id/Take-Paint-Off-of-Models/
I have been looking into panel lining lately as I want to move from strait assembly into lining and matte coating.
The general thought seems to be that if you are working with unpainted plastic you can just panel line on the plastic as it is already relatively smooth and gloss.
The reason for gloss coating before panel lining a painted kit is two fold.
First it protects your paint job you just finished.
Then possibly more importantly, thinned washes don't flow over matte finish paints well, so if you are lining with a thin wash you're going to go nowhere very slowly.
.
.
A Matte look is achieved by having a rougher surface, all those tiny little scratches/particles absorb the light causing it to look matte.
A Gloss look is achieved by having a smoother surface with much finer scratches creating the mirror like effect by reflecting it away from the surface rather then into the crevices of the surface.
Think of it like pouring muddy water on a piece of glass vs lets say cement.
It will flow right down the glass and wipe off easily but it will get stuck on the ridges and even after you wipe it clean there will still be mud stuck in the little grooves where you don't want it.
That is a very simple way of explaining it, might not be the best either.
Still, it should demonstrate well enough.
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For panel lining you can do either acrylic or enamel.
It is suggested to not use lacquer for panel lining as it will not work well on top of anything except lacquer and can eat into plastic causing it to break if you use to much, it does however make a fantastic primer because of its strength.
Enamel paints can do this as well but not unless you use way to much.
The general rule of thumb for mixing paint types is this.
Lacquer can paint over other Lacquer paints but will eat into enamel and acrylic paints.
Enamel can paint over Lacquer and other Enamels just fine but can cause problems with some acrylics so you should test the combination before hand.
Acrylics can paint over anything.
https://www.amazon.com/TAMIYA-Panel-Accent-Color-3-colors/dp/B00M58FWVC
I settled on these myself, as it is already thinned to the correct amount for panel lining and comes with a small brush attached to the lid.
It's an enamel so if I want to weather over it with acrylics it will not be cleaned away with acrylic thinner.
The only downside is that being an enamel it can cause your plastic to break if you go heavy with it.
I was interested in just painting up a few of my plastic miniatures for fun, and to make them a bit more interesting.
Got this as a starter kit, even comes with a few minis to paint so you can practice before you get started on the ones you care about: https://www.amazon.com/Reaper-Miniatures-08906-Learn-Paint/dp/B00NTMC49G
I immediately bought a couple of extra colours, but it seemed like a pretty cost effective way to get started, and it comes with some instructions around technique, using the included miniatures as examples.
Not from Canada, so I can't help you on the ordering stuff, but you can always check local brick and mortar gaming shops. If you find one that sells miniatures etc. not only can you buy your stuff there, they are probably also happy to help give you recommendations / stuff to practice with if they can gain you as a customer.
Oh and I would start with a starter set, not a mega set \^\^
(something like this but not completely overpricesed...)
not sure if there are special considerations for a zaku, but a huge step up from markers are these tamiya panel line accent colors. These look like other paint bottles, but actually they're much easier to use. They come with a sort of brush tip on the other side of the lid, and all you need to do is just to 'touch' the wet tip into a panel line, and the paint will just 'fill' the gaps in the panel through gravity. Look up videos if you're not familiar with panel washing.
You can see it comes in a variety of different colours, you should get 2 different ones and see which one works better, but 1 of them should be the black as it works quite well on most panel lines
I would advise against re-buying the black edition. It is nicer, but the quality is still a bit lacking. For the figures, I know people have gone to using the old micro machine models. I'm not sure how available they are/how bad shipping would be to Portugal.
For painting, I highly recommend getting this kit from Reaper. The instructions are easy to follow and it comes with everything needed to get started. Once you've painted the three included figures I would look into ordering the colors you want to use. Generally speaking, you would need to:
I'd skip doing highlights for that many figures, and I wouldn't bother sealing them either. I'd also paint one figure of each type first, then do batch runs in series (prime everything, base coat everything, wash everything..)
Hopefully this can get you started improving your set. :)
Thanks! Honestly I just kind of winged it. The parts that are rusty were done with the Sophisticated Finishes rust set. It's a 2 step process. You paint the area you want rusted with an iron solution, then paint it with a bluish watery substance that actually rusts it.
Everything else was done with these. Most of what you see is the orange rust. The seats have the gray, which I think does a good job replicating aged vinyl. All off the engine parts are covered in the oil stain, along with the inside of the windows.
And, of course, a good old brown/black wash on everything.
For Vallejo, you should consider getting some flow improver (their version of paint retarder.). See: https://www.amazon.com/Vallejo-Airbrush-Improver-200ml-Paint/dp/B00QD780G0
Vallejo has a bad tendency to dry tip the brush. Water does work as a thinner.
Tamiya thins with alcohol. It's dead simple to work with by comparison, and works even better with lacquer thinner that they make (referred to as X-20 thinner; X-20A is specifically for the acrylics, but frankly, it works better with the lacquer thinner). The branded acrylic thinner is largely alcohol with some additional additives. They also make a standalone paint retarder, for brush painting and if you need longer working time.
There is no fixed PSI setting that works perfectly every time, nor is there a permanently fixed ratio. It's a ballpark figure. Spray to clear between colors or as it starts to jam up, then finally, spray clear with thinner, clean with cotton swabs the nozzle, needle, and paint cup when done.
It's not as complicated a process that you're making it out to be.
I'd highly recommend this kit if you can buy it:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NTMC49G/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_KDOgAbJ2VC8V6
It's a kit that comes with paint, 3 minis, a couple brushes, and some instructions.
My wife and I had never painted minis before, and we bought this and have been painting like mad since. It teaches some really great basic techniques and gives you the basics of what you need to get started. Then, it's just all about practice. Take your time painting, learn as you go, and you'll get better and better!
Also, using double sided tape on an old pill bottle is a great way to manipulate your mini while painting it!
Reaper Learn To Paint Bones Kit is a solid place to begin.
Miniature Painting Kit is a really solid pack of colors for a beginner as well. Good quality miniature paints, with a decent brush and most of the colors, washes, and metallics you'll need to get going. Plus it comes with the army painter getting started guide on how to paint tabletop quality models efficiently.
After that it's all preference and practicing more advanced techniques. But it is easier just to start by grabbing some cheap acrylic colors, a cheap pack of synthetic brushes from a hobby store, and begin painting a miniature.
You can read all the guides you want. Application of the techniques takes practical practice plain and simple. You can mentally know how to layer or glaze all day long. If you don't have the brush control that comes from actually painting, or know how much paint to load on your specific brush to achieve the effects then knowing the technique won't make your painting better.
Start painting!
>black is fine I use citadels shade "nuln oil" this can make any paint job look 2x better
Can a black wash be used on any color? How do you use a black wash on a light-colored figure?
I see that the Citadel Shade Nuln Oil is $8.60, but I could get a batch of 8 Citadel washes for $34.50. Would you recommend the batch of washes, or is the black all I need for a beginner.
I also have the Army Painter Strong Tone Quick Shade that I have been using, but it is a pretty dirty shader, only good for all my zombies I think.
I’m an amateur as well. I bought this and a nice set of brushes but really just YouTube video. I’m lucky to have a friend who is really talented at painting minis so he has given me a lot of pointers
Try to get some of those https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07H5SB4HB to fix the miniature on a champagne cork. Works perfect. Then use some grounding like https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07T2H1SBR.
Then paint the miniature and finish with some Nuln Oil like https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0189BIERC
That should help. Have fun!
I started with the army painter set on Amazon. Was like $80 but came with 50 colors some washes and a few metallic paints. They are fairly easy to use because they come in dropper bottles and are pretty thin on their own. I'll try to find the Amazon link if possible.
https://www.amazon.com/Miniature-Painting-Bonus-Wargamer-Regiment/dp/B01MTXRUUT/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1550464178&sr=8-2-spons&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=army+painter&psc=1&smid=AU
A little more expensive then I thought but is good bang for your buck. It is less then $2 per paint. That is very cheap for the quality and amount you get.
Check with your local game store(s) or Meetup to see if they have scheduled painting nights. You can get instant feedback/tips and most people are willing to share paints so you can get a better idea of what brands you prefer.
No single paint company is hands-down better than the others right now. You're starting the hobby at an excellent time - while you may seem overwhelmed by options right now, you'll soon realize that all that competition has led to some incredible paints and supplies at decent prices.
That said, the Reaper learning to paint kits that have already been mentioned are a great starting point. I still have paints from my first Reaper kit from over 10 years ago and almost all of them are still usable.
Another option is Army Painter's newer line of color sets. $100 will get you a very comprehensive range of colors, metallics, and washes.
The 3-pack of markers for bold lines:
https://www.amazon.com/GSI-Creos-Gundam-Marker-Value/dp/B00HY93GHY/ref=sxts_sxwds-bia?crid=3GTR0RXGUXX4H&keywords=gundam+marker+set&pd_rd_i=B00HY93GHY&pd_rd_r=3b3b062e-d90d-495a-8e52-176ed31b8ba1&pd_rd_w=RRUZa&pd_rd_wg=sdCxW&pf_rd_p=a5491838-6a74-484e-8787-eb44c8f3b7ff&pf_rd_r=9A24ZX8C18EJZBXABCXP&psc=1&qid=1571687311&sprefix=gundam+marker%2Caps%2C152
Tamiya ink works differently, it will spread down the lines: (Comes in a variety of colors)
https://www.amazon.com/TAMIYA-87131-Panel-Accent-Plastic/dp/B01HDJ7BR0/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=tamiya+ink&qid=1571687349&s=toys-and-games&sr=1-1
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And I like to use this for fine details, it is thinner than the Gundam markers:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002UCSNQY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
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These I use for cleaning, the middle grit will take off ink, then the fine will buff the marks:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00R34AE66/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
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Hope this is helpful, good luck!
tamiya ts 80
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https://www.amazon.com/Tamiya-TS-80-Clear-Spray-100ml/dp/B000ZVO3YS/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=tamiya+top+coat&qid=1568355627&s=gateway&sr=8-1
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is that a good alternate top coat? mr top coat is nowhere in stock... and apparently the super clear is lacquer based and no good over decals and panel liners? so that leaves me the taimya one? is that ok to use?
If you’re talking about the Reaper Learn to Paint kits they’re pretty awesome. I didn’t find out about them until I had already been painting a while too, but some friends and coworkers have picked them up and seem to love them.
For those that haven’t heard of them, with each set you get a few minis, a brush, some paints and a guide to walk you through some basic techniques that’ll get you painting at least tabletop quality.
thinner makes it dry faster. so i agree with the other commenter its drying too fast. if you want to make it thinner to spray just use a flow improver - which slows down drying. i use liquitex flow aid (its like a 20:1 ratio of water to flowaid so it lasts forever). I've heard good things about vallejo flow improver as well.
i use tamiya paints often. i don't use thinner often... really only with clear coats. most tamiya just need a flow improver
Ooooh thanks! I'll have to watch that video! I just ordered the Citadel set as well. I'll do a couple of side-by-sides and post the results. Hopefully this weekend, since I'm still waiting for them to come in the mail.
Thanks for giving me the motivation!
So is this I prefer the latter because I would suggest starting with other than the preset minis in the box. I have both I recommend both but I think starting you should find more stuff yourself. Like pathfinder deep cuts or nolzurs marvelous miniatures. Bones are great don’t get me wrong I have thousands but they paint they come with isn’t the easiest to learn on.
If you're not into painting - the first bundle is fine if you're willing to put the money into it, the other bundles are too much for a beginner IMO
Something like:
https://www.amazon.com/Miniatures-Highlighting-Miniature-Army-Painter/dp/B01MTXRU2L/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1518146756&sr=8-4&keywords=army+painter+kit
Is a cheaper entry point - look for something in the same category as this, the primary colours + a few extras, a shade and a standard sized paint brush
This way you can try out painting and if you enjoy it, you can add to it from there, while not investing as heavily as the suggested bundles in the link are asking
Another option ~
https://www.amazon.com/Games-Workshop-60-22-Base-Paint/dp/B00KOCXDT4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1518147023&sr=8-2&keywords=citadel+paint+kit
Any paints from Army painter/Citadel/Vallejo are great places to start, just get whatever's got the best deal on at the time.
Only other suggestion would be to get a spray undercoat such as
https://www.amazon.com/Army-Painter-CP3001-Base-Primer/dp/B005WH3LVG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1518147186&sr=8-1&keywords=miniature+undercoat+spray
Undercoat sprays make painting a mini MUCH easier and MUCH quicker, however, if you are only painting the bases and not any detail on the mini, you can get away with no undercoat spray
(You can get cheaper sprays but I find when you're new, picking one model paint brand and sticking to it to start with makes things easier to manage)
I've just grabbed links from Amazon, but you can find these products all over the place
Yeah. Here's an Amazon link to the basic games workshop set.
Amazon
Essentially the paint is super watery and will suck itself down into the crevices of a model. It's nicknamed liquid talent because it just instantly and drastically improves your model.
I've used shades on a 0.1mm layer height print before. It's usually fine, any bigger layer height and it starts getting wonky because if the nature of 3d printing. It makes rings around the model. It looks like you should be fine though.
Dude, if I get those fans, I think I'll pick this paint up, too and Holo up my case https://www.amazon.com/Color-Change-Holographic-Paint-Aerosol/dp/B0015H1FG0
Just to give that extra magical look.
Granted I'd have to completely disassemble it, remove my Mobo and all the components before painting my case BUT... HOLO will be worth it. Especially since it's a holo clear coat, it'll look super awesome over the black parts of my case.
Hey, I’m also pretty new to the hobby. I picked up one of these https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07DWMTNDJ/ref=sspa_mw_detail_0?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=AU2FNATHSFHNB. And I have been pretty happy with it. For some reason my local hobby shop had it a little cheaper than amazon so if you have a store around you that might sell this stuff I would check it out. It comes with a decent selection of good paint, #1 brush and a miniature for you to get started.
I really like this kit.
The brushes are decent.
The paint selection is nice, although there is no red and the yellow is kinda meh. So you'll want to buy those two colors individually.
The best part for beginners, in my opinion, is that it includes 3 minis and a guidebook for how to paint them.
If you need help beyond that, YouTube is filled with tips, tutorials, etc. I like The Miniac and Tabletop Minions personally.
You should really give it a shot! It's not that hard once you get into it, and it feels really good once you get your first model finished.
I have zero artistic talent, but started out with the Reaper Bones Learn to Paint Kit, and that worked out pretty well. You could also check out the G&S series Painter's Guild for tips as well.
A few particular items of interest from Amazon :
A few items & vendors from Etsy :
Thanks so much for the reply again!
I had no clue that Stynylrez is airbrush friendly and also acrylic based, that's pretty awesome to hear and great for my purposes. :) Have you ever used Tamiya? If you have, would you say Stynylrez is generally the same in quality as that? My main purpose for using Tamiya was how nicely and smoothly it would spray out of the can. I wasn't quite happy with the fumes, as you say the smell is...overpowering, to say the least, but I put up with it mainly to get that super soft, smooth surface finish on my kits.
Also, forgive the dumb newbie question, but are Tamiya acrylics "actual" acrylics? I know they're alcohol based so they've got a unique scent to them, but I was wondering if they're any more dangerous to be spraying than water based acrylics. The main things I'm thinking of would be these paints, which I tend to use for places that need glossy surface effects like eyeballs, blood, that sort of thing.
Looks fantastic. I'd throw a matte varnish on there though to reduce the glossiness and help protect your hard work against damage.
I've had good results with Dull Cote in the past. Of course feel free to use whatever brand you can get a hold of or prefer, it will protect your paint job just the same.
Also about primer, you don't even need it an spray cans you can buy a 200ml bottle of it for like 16 USD on amazon. That should last you a long freaking time and is more than thin enough that you can apply the primer directly to the model(as long as you don't way overdue it)
Here is a link to what I have: http://www.amazon.com/Vallejo-Game-Colors-Bottle-Acrylicos/dp/B004BMZVMK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1452099033&sr=8-2&keywords=vallejo+paint+primer.
The other benefit of not using spray is it can allow you to practice brush control, try painting fine detail areas with the primer and seeing how (within the lines you will stay) since it is rather watery it can help with this. Also don't be discouraged by your fist attempts, I'm also just starting out as well and the painting of it is definitely a learning process.
I'm planning on top coating some HGs. I'm also using gundam markers for small details and the pour type markers for panel lines. Which top coat would be better: tamiya, mr. hobby top coat, mr. premium top coat spray, or mr. super clear, or maybe anyone have other recommendations?
Best starter paint set. The brush has lasted me ~3 years of regular use. Vallejo for any other color you might want. I'd stay away from Citadel and P3, it's overpriced and in paint pots that tend to dry out easier than bottles.
I'd get a cheap set of brushes for a few bucks from amazon/walmart, something like this. You can do 80% of painting with them, like your dry brushing and washes. All your details you can do with the brush from the starter set.
If you want to splurge I also used this set for ~3 years before I needed to replace the biggest brush, still use the other two. The smallest brush really comes in hand on minis.
I figured this had been answered before, just wasn't sure where to look. Thanks for the response!
Would this kit be a good place to start? I'm hoping to have it by Friday because I've got all weekend free. So I want to order something today.
What is the best set of things to start out with weathering? For instance, is this a good set? https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00M66FM86/_encoding=UTF8?coliid=I1XI8QH3DQRFDA&colid=3BT0B9K6OKTMQ
What are good brushes or other items I would need to weather my sets? Thanks a lot!
The model is of Minsc and Boo, and it comes with the Nolzur's Marvelous Pigments Adventurer's Set. It's like a D&D/Army Painter colab for newbies (like me!).
The model is pretty cool tho.
getting a lot of mixed answers about this, but if I'm not painting my kit and want to panel line, should I bother with a clear coat beforehand? I'm planning on using a fine tip Gundam Marker and some Tamiya panel line accent color (this one). from what I've read, I don't need to bother with a base clear coat if I'm not painting.
and if I do need a base clear coat, is this the right one?
Anyone have experience with Tamiya Panel Line Accent? I've been using it to do panel washes on my most recent kits, but I'm actually less satisfied with it than just using Gundam markers. It usually flows pretty well, but I'm having a lot of trouble removing the excess. I'm using a cotton bud dipped in lighter fluid, but it often seems to remove too much, which results in me having to reapply the wash, which you really don't want to have to do with enamels. Any other panel washing tips are appreciated.
Here is the product I'm referring to: http://www.amazon.com/TAMIYA-Panel-Accent-Color-3-colors/dp/B00M58FWVC
As far as weathering goes, these will do wonders: https://www.amazon.com/TAMIYA-Weathering-Master-6-Sets-Japan/dp/B00M66FM86
Super easy to use and look great.
Quick question, as a complete noobie to Gunpla, I was wondering if these would be the appropriate sprays to use for top coating, both for the gloss, so I could pannel line, and then do the decaling and weathering and obviously then the matte coat.
So would these work for the gloss and matte coats, or are there better options out there. Obviously price isnt to much of an option, as long as its the best bang for the buck.
The first one I've found is the gloss its by Mr.Hobby, called Mr.Super Clear Gloss and the second one was the matte final coat by Tamyia Color called Tamiya Color TS80 Flat Clear
So this:
https://smile.amazon.com/Citadel-Shade-Paint-Games-Workshop/dp/B00KOD3FM8/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1519681521&sr=8-4&keywords=paint+wash
or this?:
https://smile.amazon.com/Nontoxic-Miniature-Washes-Dropper-Bottles/dp/B0714QL55V/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1519681988&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=army+painter+wash&psc=1
For primer is there a benefit to using paint on, vs spray? I think the bases will be separate from my pieces. So I would think a spray can of like, white, grey, and black would be my best bet?
If you want to learn the basics Reaper has a good basic set that comes with 3 minis, paints, 2 brushes and instructions. They also sell it on their website but they are currently N/A for some reason.
https://www.amazon.com/Reaper-Miniatures-08906-Learn-Paint/dp/B00NTMC49G/ref=sr_1_1?crid=17PWIEKV7K90U&keywords=reaper+learn+to+paint+kit&qid=1571500156&sprefix=reaper+le%2Caps%2C177&sr=8-1
If you have a basic grasp of everything and need some good paint Vallejo has a nice starter set. Only paints
https://www.amazon.com/Game-Color-Intro-Set-16/dp/B000PHCTRK/ref=sr_1_4?crid=2HJ4CKX87RZT1&keywords=vallejo+paint+set&qid=1571500291&sprefix=valle%2Caps%2C177&sr=8-4
Army Painter has some that is bit more costy but gets you some paints, brush and one Owl Bear mini.
https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Official-Paint-Monsters/dp/B07DWL5JZZ/ref=sr_1_31?crid=2HJ4CKX87RZT1&keywords=vallejo+paint+set&qid=1571500291&sprefix=valle%2Caps%2C177&sr=8-31
I also endorse the Reaper Learn To Paint Kit (https://www.amazon.com/Reaper-Miniatures-08906-Learn-Paint/dp/B00NTMC49G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1485879238&sr=8-1&keywords=reaper+bones+learn+to+paint+kit). You can be up and painting immediately, or at least after some prep work. You'll also want some brush soap/Masters Brush Cleaner and a hobby knife (for removing mold lines from the Reaper Bones minis).
Give the minis a good scrub with some dish soap to get all of the mold-release agent off, as it can prevent paint from sticking to the mini. If a Reaper Bones mini has bent limb/weapon/accessory, you can drop it in some boiling (or at least very-hot) water to get it to snap back into shape. Submerge it in some ice water after that and it should hold in its correct position. It sounds like a lot of prep work, but it makes a huge difference in your final product.
Follow the included guide, and you'll have three good baseline minis to start your collection, and start developing your skills. If you want to keep practicing the skills, Reaper's just introduced their Stage 2 kit (https://www.amazon.com/Reaper-Bones-Learn-Paint-Layer/dp/B01N458GBK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1485879238&sr=8-2&keywords=reaper+bones+learn+to+paint+kit). Don't be surprised if you get addicted very quickly.
Hahaha. No problem
(Hobby Link Japan Marker Black)
https://hlj.com/gundam-marker-black-fine-tip-for-panel-lines-gnzgm01
(Hobby Link Japan marker Grey)
https://hlj.com/gundam-marker-gray-fine-tip-for-panel-lines-gnzgm02
(Amazon set of 3) https://www.amazon.com/GSI-Creos-Gundam-Marker-Value/dp/B00HY93GHY/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?keywords=panel+line&qid=1569935250&sr=8-2
(Amazon Tamiya Panel Wash Black)
https://www.amazon.com/TAMIYA-87131-Panel-Accent-Plastic/dp/B01HDJ7BR0/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?keywords=panel+line&qid=1569935250&sr=8-4
(Amazon Tamiya Panel Wash Grey)
https://www.amazon.com/Panel-Line-Accent-Color-Light/dp/B07CMSBDCB/ref=mp_s_a_1_8?keywords=panel+line&qid=1569935250&sr=8-8
I put links from Hobby link Japan because thats what people here recommend using, bit I also put Amazon because it might be easier for you. Unfortunately I couldn't find the wash on Hobby link. Happy Building 😁
Good luck!
As someone who loves to weather (helps hide imperfections, especially at your scale), nothing can go wrong with some Tamiya Weathering powders..
I used these when I started getting into weathering and they really help add dust to your models.
Washes can be complicated, and expensive, so stay away from those as of now. As someone with years of experience with them, I still have trouble with them.
I think you should learn to get a good finish and all that before weathering. Take into account what /u/windupmonkeys beautifully said.
If you're painting a model kit, try your best to acquire paints and topcoats specifically for plastic/plastic models. If you're in the US, Testors, Tamiya, and even Krylon can work as good flat coats and each brand has a respective gloss and semigloss spray.
To get started, I recommend getting these two kits to practice.
Reaper Getting Started
Reaper Layers Kit
Whatever miniatures you use, make sure you wash them in warm water and Dove dishwashing liquid.
Those miniatures above DO NOT need primer, but for practice, get some Vallejo, Game Workshop or Army Painter Primer. Whatever you can find locally. Get a gray primer.
Practice on these miniatures. If you do not like them you can try painting them again.
If you want some more practice miniatures find whatever is on clearance at Miniature Market or CoolStuffInc or the unpainted D&D line.
How to start all over again, just soak your painted miniatures in simple green overnight. The next day use some elbow grease, old tooth brush, rinse in clean water and let dry. You are good to give them a second try.
I just used the Tamiya weathering master C kit (link). It was actually fairly easy to apply with the little sponge brush thing -- I'd just rub it in the silver pigment and then brush it over corners. I think it turned out pretty well for a first attempt :)
Thank you! To make the clear coat finish would I use a clear acrylic like this one: https://www.amazon.com/Tamiya-Acrylic-X22-Gloss-Clear/dp/B0006O523U/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1484747292&sr=8-2&keywords=tamiya+clear+acrylic
Since this is my first model I want to keep it cheap. I was wondering if you have anything to say about either of these models: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000DEWA6/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER
lastly: the Revell 302 Mustang Boss
or the Tamiya #24090 Skyline
Highly recommend getting this to get started: Reaper Bones Learn to Paint Kit
Also, if you want to make your life a little easier, consider making or buying a wet palette, a nice Sable brush, and definitely some Master's Brush Cleaner.
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If you're just painting the one mini, you can get Reaper paints and use their online tool to decide which colors to get.
The starter paint sets Reaper puts out are solid. Comes with 3 minis and teaches you the basics with step by step instructions for each mini. Coupling that with some yt videos on how to use a good wash you can learn quickly. I was surprised how good some of mine look after just doing a few. I expected to be terrible but there's a lot of good stuff out there to help.
I purchased this set a while ago: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00M66FM86/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I've been very happy with them and the results I get from them. It's also a nice selection of colors/tones, though of course you can just buy one of the cases instead of this entire set to save money.
For example, this box set contains almost all the colors you will ever need (other than specific ones). https://www.amazon.com/Miniature-Painting-Bonus-Wargamer-Regiment/dp/B01MTXRUUT/ref=sr_1_4?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1524496671&sr=1-4&keywords=army+painter
Obvious colors for these models - army green for the green armor, necrotic flesh for highlighting the armor, skeleton bone probably for the pants (may need to add a little brown depending on the color you like), and one of the flesh tones for the skin. They primarily used the dark tone (black) wash on the basically the entire model, I think we could do better. Recommend, flesh wash for skin, dark tone for weapon and armor crevices, and soft tone (brown) for the paints. Khaki pants and black detailing is just too much contrast for my taste.
Side note, Army painter's paint brushes are decent but there are other options. I recommend the Virtuoso paint brush set, that will give you every kind of brush you would need. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M3PSN8T/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Thin your citadel paints with some flow improver and a little water and they'll work great with an airbrush. I personally use vallejo flow improver: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Vallejo-Improver-Airbrush-Model-Bottle/dp/B00QD780G0
That's what they tend to cost. I've recently been buying Vallejo acrylics because they're cheaper and they seem to do the job just as well (for my purposes anyway).
Here are a couple of options on Amazon that are a much better value than single pot Citadel purchases.
https://www.amazon.com/Vallejo-Basic-Colors-Paint-17ml/dp/B009162PWU
https://www.amazon.com/Army-Painter-Miniature-Painting-Warpaints/dp/B01MTXRUUT/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1510174105&sr=1-1-spons&keywords=citadel+paint&psc=1&smid=AU2FNATHSFHNB
Plus, I actually like the squeeze bottles more than the pots because I don't have to dedicate a brush to getting paint out and I also tend to use less from the squeeze bottles.
Here are some Bloodbowl minis I painted using Vallejo paint.
https://imgur.com/a/svAco
Can anyone tell me if this top coat would be the appropriate kind to use for a gunpla? This would be my first time top-coating and want to make sure I get the right stuff! Wanting to find a good "matte" top coat as been recommended on this sub to me.
Your advice was welcomed. I ordered this kit...
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MTXRU2L/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
...along with some primer, brushes, palette, and a head mounted light with magnifier. I'm sure I'll need more paints and washes, but figured I'll see what I can do with that kit before trying to get more so I can see exactly what I need and why. And yes, I plan to watch a lot of Youtube stuff. It's so handy for learning. Thank you. I'll try to remember to post a picture after I complete my first one.
I've also never painted before, can you recommend a good...starting place? Beginning kit, tutorial you found helpful? I've looked into kits like this one.
I've also considered getting into painting, and this might help me with that as well.
I recommend the Army Painter Wargames Starter Paint Set. It has all the basic colors you need anyway plus an excellent metallic and a very nice wash. There's also a brush included that's not complete rubbish. Later you can add more colors to your collection as you need them.
Thank you!! I got Tamiya weathering kits off Amazon. They're like little makeup applicators, they make a bunch of different ones and they come with 3 colors per pack. Then I hit it with a coat of Tamiya Flat Clear to lock it all in and make it look more realistic.
https://www.amazon.com/Tamiya-87085-Weathering-Master-Set/dp/B000FODYHW/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=tamiya+weathering&qid=1570843885&sr=8-2
I recommend any of these 2 alternatives, very cheap and you will enjoy the quick and effective results:
Gundam marker:
Gundam Marker
Accent Color
If you want to start painting minis, check out r/minipainting for some resources and inspiration.
I started by watching youtube videos to see how the techniques were used and I picked up the Learn to Paint kits from Reaper Miniatures. #1 and #2 are currently available on Amazon for about $30 each. They come with 11 paints each, a couple brushes, and 3 minis each to get you started, plus a guide to paint the included minis.
Once you've practiced on a couple minis, I'd also recommend picking up a "flesh wash" if you'll be painting light-skinned characters. It makes the shading on light skin much easier. You might also want to get a black and brown wash for shading just because those are the most commonly used ones and it'll make your life easier. (A "wash" is a thin, watery paint that's used to make the crevices of the mini darker, like they're in shadow.)
Total startup cost if you get both paint kits and a bottle each of flesh, black, and brown washes: about $70. Additional bottles of paint will run you $3-4 each, and more Reaper Bones minis (the most economical but still well-detailed minis I've found) are around $2-4 for medium sized minis.
I started recently and did a lot of research.
I like Vallejo paints. Something like a set from Amazon is $40 and you get 16 colors. Depending on your paint color needs you can get game colors or a normal set.
Game Color Intro Set (16) https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B000PHCTRK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_k97VCbDME38CK
Vallejo Basic USA Colors Paint Set, 17ml https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B009162PWU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_I-7VCbD1ETA5H
That is unless you're painting terrain. Use craft store paint on terrain. You can paint with craft store paints if your on a real tight budget. But I think it's significantly more challenging.
Also I recommend getting a nul shade from citidel. Don't get any of their paint pots, they are a pain.
I got this set and found it very handy to have all s
The washes I could want. Used some odd colors on my dragon and fire fox.
Games Workshop Citadel Shade Paint Set https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00KOD3FM8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_lc8VCbEMS1X69
Hope that helps!
IIRCC, Tamiya has only a glossy clear spray. The only ones I know are these:
I've used Tamiya rattle cans in the past, and they are pretty fool-proof. And the Testors products are used by a lot of people, so I doubt they're much harder to use.
What you're noticing is oxidation from the ambient air. It may give it a bit more sheen, but you could use a clear flat spray lacquer such as this to minimize the erosion over time.
As far as bringing it back - You could tumble polish the brass, but that would more or less restore it to it's unfired state, not fired. As such, leaving it as is would be my recommendation.
They look 10 times better than most of mine.. that are still on the sprue and in a box.
Also as far as paint goes. Find a local game shop if you can and see if they have a beginner set. I know Reaper has one that comes with a few minatures. GW also had something at one point. Also Army Painter had one that went with Zombicide.
Edit: links
Reaper Miniatures 08906 Learn To Paint Bones Kit https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NTMC49G/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_jQQJzbKXD9NDN
Games Workshop. Some of them have minis and some do not. If you do choose one without they have some great start collecting boxes.
https://www.games-workshop.com/en-US/searchResults?N=1088720681+3815114983
Army painter Zombicide sets
https://shop.thearmypainter.com/products.php?ProductGroupId=17
The Reaper kit here
https://www.amazon.com/Reaper-Miniatures-08906-Learn-Paint/dp/B00NTMC49G
Is from what im aware of, the best mini painting starter set you can get, price effective too.
You're probably looking for PS-55 or TS-80 from Tamiya as well. I personally never used these but I asked a mate I know and he said they're great
Army painter is likely your best bet, and they have a relatively large kit (link below) and you're not going to get better than $2 per pot. Really as far as I know, the big names are really what you're looking at, and probably expect to pay between $2.50 and $5 a color. You can by other brands, but miniature paint is made for miniatures, and will turn out better than a store bought acrylic at michaels. P3, Vallejo, Citadel, Army painter, those are you big names.
https://www.amazon.com/Miniature-Painting-Wargamer-Regiment-Miniatures/dp/B01MTXRUUT/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1517982587&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=army+painter&psc=1&smid=AU2FNATHSFHNB
A few things are going sideways here.
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First of all, you don't need every paint. You just don't. Even if you want all the colors, there are other paint companies, I'll link a few. Everyone has their own opinons, of course, on the quality of the various paints. These still range from 1-200 dollars for the paints, but still, a far cry less then you must be paying GW.
​
https://www.amazon.com/Miniature-Painting-Bonus-Wargamer-Regiment/dp/B01MTXRUUT?ref_=bl_dp_s_web_7513501011
​
https://www.amazon.com/Reaper-Master-Bones-Paint-Complete/dp/B01NAEA1YC/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1540331060&sr=8-5&keywords=reaper+paint+set&dpID=51wdGAzIDyL&preST=_SX300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch
​
https://www.amazon.com/Vallejo-Game-Color-Basic-Paint/dp/B009LH0YTA/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1540331110&sr=8-8&keywords=reaper+paint+set
​
In addition, you can get all the brushes you'll need, in good quality, here
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HC8H4EI/ref=sxts_kp_tr_2?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=8778bc68-27e7-403f-8460-de48b6e788fb&pd_rd_wg=hHPTk&pf_rd_r=0GT4KSMPYRA7JT2FMDYE&pf_rd_s=desktop-sx-top-slot&pf_rd_t=301&pd_rd_i=B00HC8H4EI&pd_rd_w=fbRI0&pf_rd_i=army+painter+brush+set&pd_rd_r=52c35bd8-add2-476d-9143-b6dcc068755e&ie=UTF8&qid=1540331250&sr=2
​
If you go for the Army Painter large Paint set, the Army Painter Brush Set, and get Dark Imperium for around 135.00 on Ebay or Amazon, you are looking at 270.00. You can find pretty much every tool that Citadel sells much cheaper elsewhere in the off brand. I don't even use a scraper for example, I use files and cheap craft knife.
If you’re planning on painting becoming something you do, I think the best value is this set of 50 paints for $94: https://www.amazon.com/Miniature-Painting-Bonus-Wargamer-Regiment/dp/B01MTXRUUT . The paint quality is similar to GW’s paints but you get a LOT more for your money (the dropper bottles hold almost twice as much paint as a GW paint pot, and cost about 1/3 as much). And it’s half the price of Vallejo’s mega paint set.
For a cheaper option, https://www.amazon.com/Miniatures-Highlighting-Miniature-Army-Painter/dp/B01MTXRU2L is less than $30, but you only get 10 paints. But again, a better deal than GW’s paints - GW has a deal for $40 for 11 small paint pots versus $28 for 10 larger dropper bottles from army painter.
But if you can afford to get the 50 paint set from Army Painter, I’d spring for that - the paints cover a wide variety of colors and options (including washes and metallics) and will last you for years.
I definitely recommend getting one of the many miniatures boardgames out now (if you tell me what kind of minis you are looking for, I can recommend a few).
For paint, you don't have to start with miniatures paints, but it might be easier if you do. There are learn to paint kits that have a brush, some basic paint colors, and even a couple minis to get you started. Most of the major paint brands have some kind of kit like that (Vallejo, Games Workshop, Reaper).
Also, check out /r/minipainting.
After you finish building and doing the primary paint, put on a coat of Future (that is the brand)- it will be shiny, but this will help protect the model and let you decal and weather it easier. After you get the decals on and your weathering (including panel lines), you can go shiny with another coat of Future, or go matte (normal) with a spray matte finish ($few at your local model store, or here is the one I like).
https://www.amazon.com/Reaper-Miniatures-08906-Learn-Paint/dp/B00NTMC49G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1483116351&sr=8-1&keywords=Reaper+learn+to+paint
For 35 bucks you get everything he will need in his very own kit.
You might be able to go cheaper at like 25 bucks buying Apple barrel and some cheapo brushes and a few cheap models but might as well spend the extra 10 and get paint that is intended for the hobby and a nice little carry case.
Nothin to it but to do it! Seriously, there is so much pride that comes from playing a game with minis that you painted. Even a poor paint job is usually better than NO paint. I'd recommend buying one of the "learn to paint" kits from Reaper or the like. It's pretty cheap to get started and find out if it is for you.
Anyone looking to learn should try the Reaper learn to paint kits.
They'll teach you a ton, and are really fun. I'm just finishing up the second set and really proud of all of the minis I've done.
Nice work, if you are planning on doing more of these I would give one small recommendation. Try and find some acrylic model paint and thin it down with some water. If you use multiple thin coats you will end up with a much smoother finish. You can go over that with a gloss clear coat like this: https://www.amazon.com/Tamiya-Acrylic-X22-Gloss-Clear/dp/B0006O523U
The fourth attempt was worth it. Eyes look great!
Testor's / Model Master matte varnish. - Hit 'em with summa dat!!
This set of shaders right here is the most important thing you can buy. If you don't want to invest that much you can just buy Nuln Oil and Agrax Earthshade individually and be fine.
If you already have acrylic paints you can just use what you have - just make sure to thin them until they are almost as thin as milk. Thick paint will cover up detail.
You will also want Krylon Matte finish or Testor's Dullcote matte finish to seal the mini.
I recommend watching Sorastro's painting guides, his Zombicide series starts from the most basic techniques.
I know we all have our own preferences but I still think Lusterless Flat Lacquer is the best matte finish out there.
This is what I bought when I got started. It is a pretty good starter and comes with 3 minis. Not terrible depending on your budget only $30
https://www.amazon.com/Reaper-Miniatures-08906-Learn-Paint/dp/B00NTMC49G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1487900672&sr=8-1&keywords=reaper+learn+to+paint+kit
Yes I did post to Facebook.
Like any hobby you can spend a little or spend a lot. I always recommend this starter kit to new painters https://www.amazon.com/Reaper-Miniatures-08906-Learn-Paint/dp/B00NTMC49G it gives you everything you need to get started, even some minis to practice on.
reaper starter kit.
If you buy from reaper (more than on amazon) then for every $40 spent free shipping and a free mini (changes monthly)
I use Tamiya TS-13 spray cans. Had some very good results over time. 1 coat is ok, 2-3 thin, light coats are ideal.
Future/Pledge Floor Shine Stuff Whatever It's Called Now works fine too, I'm just a snob with materials.
That's nice. Didn't even know this existed. How much? Do you know what scale it is or how tall?
I just bought the Bandai 1/48 scale model kit and will be putting it together this weekend. I want to apply something like the Tamiya 87085 weathering set but I havent done my research yet to know what type of paint it even is or how to properly seal it.
I'm curious about this 1/50 from Sega also.
I honestly just bought this and started by following the written instructions: https://www.amazon.com/Reaper-Miniatures-08906-Learn-Paint/dp/B00NTMC49G
After I painted the minis, I just went to my FLGS and grabbed a handful of cheap minis to practice on and a few paint brushes from Michaels. The basic techniques you learn from that book are like 80% of painting a mini. The rest comes with experience and playing around with techniques, colors, layers, etc
Also, I am the least artistic person and I feel mine arent terrible.
Edit: As for the issue with time, whenever I want to watch a show, I setup my stuff and paint while I watch. It passes the time and I get two things done at once. I would recommend no distractions for the first minis you paint though to get a feel for how it works.
Reaper has a Learn to Paint kit which may interest you. For brushes I just use cheap $2 brushes from my local hobby store, theyre imitation sable (which means fake hair, so not expensive) in sizes from 2 down to 000.
I would also strongly recommend looking into wet palettes if you get started- you can home make one insanely easy using some wet tissue and baking paper to keep paints from drying out.
There's this stuff called Tamiya panel line accent color that's great for this. It naturally flows into casting lines. It's also less dark even in black and also pretty forgiving. If it goes wrong you can wipe it away.
The other option is the super fine Gundam markers. You can use them to draw in the lines but unlike the stuff above they're really unforgiving. If you go outside the lines you can't really correct it.
TAMIYA 87131 Panel Line Accent Color Black For Plastic Model Kit https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01HDJ7BR0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_HAokDb9EX3F7Z
https://www.amazon.com/Reaper-Miniatures-08906-Learn-Paint/dp/B00NTMC49G
Got it for Christmas, was pretty easy to follow!
I still have non... except painting minis for some reason.
people have confused my drawings with my 3 year olds. (he asks me to draw a horse in his coloring book and then later someone says 'thats not bad for a 3 year old')
Reaper sells a painting tutorial kit, different levels that include minis, instructions, paints and brushes and i got good at it, so look into them if you had fun! (amazon link, much different than the ones i got years ago)
p.s. Is your enchanter named Tim?
Reaper's Learn to Paint Kit is pretty popular.
I like them, the red and gold is a nice theme. I can't wait to get home and work on my 5th border legion some more >:)
On another note, do they look as glossy in person as they do in this picture? If so then when you are finished with them, you may want to use a matte varnish that reduces the shine. I believe this is the one.
Being a noob to painting prints, this is what I plan to do as a start. I'm printing a lot of miniatures and terrain for table top RPG's. However, it depends what you want to print and paint I suppose. I've been known to use a rattle can with basic success.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NTMC49G/?coliid=I2XLJWT8929NO3&colid=AFMF9PQZP81Y&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it
I’ve used cheap paints and they range in usability. The folk art paints at Walmart are not too bad as long as your willing to do 3 or 4 coats. Those ones you’ve got there look like the ultra cheap stuff which I couldn’t even to get to show up on the models.
My recommendation is just buy the good paint, your spending 60+ usd on models. I just buy a few paints at a time as I need them. Go buy 3 colors you want for your army and go from there. Those cheap paints are just going to frustrate you.
Edit: go with something like this
I got back into painting after about a 25 year hiatus, and got the following:
this primer,
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002BWORRW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
this paint kit
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07DWMTNDJ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
And this wash:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0189BIERC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Really happy with all these products.
Amazon if I'm not in Pasadena or Baldwin Park: https://www.amazon.com/Tamiya-TS-13-Clear-Spray-Lacquer/dp/B000BMV0II/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1502141914&sr=8-1&keywords=Tamiya+TS-13
Tony's Hobbies if I'm in Baldwin Park: https://www.yelp.com/biz/tonys-hobbies-and-toys-baldwin-park
Custom RC if I'm in Pasadena:
https://www.yelp.com/biz/custom-rc-hobby-pasadena?osq=Hobby+Shops
Just look for stores that sell trains, RC or planes, and chances are that they stock 'em :)
Spray primer is great for priming lots of minis really quickly, so you are doing it right! For small touch-ups, people usually use brush on primer, or sometimes airbrush primers.
I use the Vallejo black primer, which also comes in smaller sizes as well as other colors. It works both with a brush or an airbrush. You just need to put a drop of two of the primer on a paint palette, and then use a brush to apply it on a specific spot. There's a whole bunch of videos on Youtube of people using brush on primers if you want to take a look.
Do keep in mind that if you ever decide to remove supports or mold lines that you missed and didn't notice until after painting (I've done that several times before), the paint will also scraped off and may leave a small sort of "paint crater" if the layer of paint was a bit thick. You'd just need to fill it back in with some equally thick paint to smooth it back out afterwards.
You can pick up a relatively inexpensive starter painting kit from Reaper Minis. You get a good base of colors, 3 minis, and some basic instructions.
If you decide to follow through, you can check out some tutorial videos on YouTube. I'm a big fan of Dr. Faust's Painting Clinic . Don't worry about the paints he uses, just focus on the techniques.