Hey Game Fans, we’re back with another article in our series on hobby tools. Last time we did one of these, we went over the basic tools you’d need to get started in assembling your new miniatures for your favorite hobby pursuit. Today we’re going to take a closer look at the tools you’ll need to get started with painting your minis. Buckle in, it’s going to be a ride.
Item the First: Primer- Now you’ve got your models assembled and they’re ready to go to the paint shop. There are a wide variety of primers out there, and it’s a matter of finding the one you enjoy using. Primers traditionally come as aerosol (like spray paint) but you can find brush on primer if you go looking for it. Primer is essential for getting the best out of your paint, because it helps to create a functional canvas for the paint to stick to. Even with the wide range of acrylic paints on the market, a good primer is the best starting point you can get for your painting needs.
We have heard of folks having good luck with the Rustoleum Painter's Touch Paint and Primers such as these, and have used both Army Painter and Citadel spray primers to wonderful effect. The most important thing we look for in a primer application is the smoothness of the finish. A smooth finish on the primer layer will give you a smooth base to work with. A gritty finish will likewise carry forward into the paint job, and it may not be the result you want to work with. Make extra sure that you take the time to read the instructions on the primer, and that you are using it as intended.
Object the Second: Paint- Paint is a tricky thing for most hobbyists and we’ll spend hours agonizing over color choices before we ever pick up a brush. There are a ton of paint companies that cater to hobbyists, and someday we’ll finish our extensive list of cool paint companies. There are two primary kinds of paint you’ll encounter, and we relate them to the method of paint delivery. Airbrush paint is a little different from most of the acrylics we use, and it goes through an air brush applicator (sort of like a really tiny spray gun for painting a car). Most of the other paints we see daily are brush compatible and require nothing more than a brush to apply. Note: We use acrylic water soluble paints for most of our hobby work. I would avoid using enamel paints (like the Testors paints we used to use on model cars), they just aren’t the thing most of us are looking for.
Paint is a complicated topic and you will probably spend as much time sorting out a paint scheme as you did putting your minis together. That’s all right. Remember, these are your miniatures and you can paint them however you like. That’s one of the most personal choices you are going to make as a hobbyist, and it’s worth it to take the time to get it right. Conversely, if you find you don’t like the way something works, you can always try again with different colors, and don’t be afraid of trying different things until you feel comfortable with the colors (and the type of paint) you have selected. Paints vary by manufacturer, and it’s best to try out a few colors of a specific brand and see if you like those results before committing. Be wary of “All In One” sets, unless you are committing to painting a wide range of things, because you can probably get by with a specific selection of colors instead.
Object the Third: Paint Applicator- In most situations this refers to a paintbrush, (actually, a bunch of different brushes), but it can mean an airbrush or a paint pen. There are almost as many brushes on the market as there are paint suppliers, so shop around and find your ‘happy place’ with your gear. We encourage you to start with brushes and then, if you feel comfortable, try out an air brush. Paint Applicators come with two mandatory accessories, the palate and the cup of water (wishing we had a trademark). The palate allows you to control how much paint you are getting onto your brush, while the cup of water serves two purposes. You can use the water to either thin down your paint to ensure the flow, and you can use it to clean your brushes. Note: Be gentle with your brushes, they’re going to be going through a lot of stuff while you paint, and in most cases, gentle strokes work a lot better than hard ones that will end up destroying your brushes.
Most painters use a variety of brushes of varying sizes to go through their painting task. Brushes come in dozens of price points and quality, and it’s up to you to figure out what your sweet spot of paintbrush is. Some folks use nothing by Kolinsky-Sable brushes (which can be expensive) while others use simple craft store brushes. For a painter starting out, we would suggest the simple craft store brushes to hone your technique, and when you feel you’ve gone as far as you can with those, try upgrading your brushes.
Object the Fourth: Basing- Models for most games come with a plastic (or resin) base that serves as their footprint on the gaming table. If you’ve spent the time to paint your model, it makes sense to spend the extra time and base them. Texture bases come from a variety of companies, and you can use texture paint to create an interesting base. Static grass or flocking can also add a touch of interesting texture to your base. 2 part epoxy resin (Green stuff) can also create a layered base and there are dozens of rollers, stencils, and other shaping tools to form the greenstuff into the pattern you want to use.
Another consideration for this are texture paints. Special formulations of other paints, texture paints create a variety of effects from cracked earth, caking mud, and even snowy effects. You can even combine these techniques to create very impressive bases for your miniatures.
Object the Fifth: Varnish- Most of us want our paint to last, so sealing your minis with a thin coat of varnish will protect them from the hard wear and tear of a lifetime of gaming. We tend to prefer a dull finish to a shiny one, but your mileage may vary. Now if you’ve completed these steps, you have a hobbyist approved, fully painted army you can take to the table and enjoy the game. For getting started with the hobby side of things, we do like Army Painter a lot. They offer a lot of tips and tools for the new painter/modeller to get into the hobby.
What do you need to actually get started with this? Here’s our “Must Have” paint accessories for the starting miniature painter.
Rattlecan Primer (Rustoleum is a fine choice from the link above, and you should be able to find it at your local store. Make sure you get a Flat/Matte finish)
The Army Painter Hobby Brush Set (found Here)
Paint: This one is hard, because you can explore a lot of paint ranges and not find what you are looking for. One starter set is the Warpaints Starter Set from The Army Painter found here. If you have a local store, see if you can sit in on a hobby night and see what other people are using and see if you like the way the paint looks. (You can use a normal plate as a palette and a glass as a water cup).
These will get you started with painting, and you’ll eventually want to add more parts and tools to your toolbox as you get familiar with painting miniatures. We hope this gets you a good feel for the hobby, and We’ll see you next time when we are back with another exciting article, and Possibly giant news (subject to us making worksheets)
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