The Comprehensive Guide to Miniature Painting: D&D, Warhammer, and Others

In the realm of tabletop gaming, miniature painting is both an art and a craft that transforms your gaming pieces into works of art. Welcome to sominibricks.com, where we bring you a guide on how get started with painting miniatures. Our aim is to help you with the basic skills and knowledge needed to create captivating miniatures that not only shine on your tabletop adventures and look great on your display shelf.

The Artistry of Miniature Painting

Miniature painting goes beyond being a hobby; it's an art form that allows you to breathe life into your gaming pieces. Figure painting is a relaxing pass time and lets you get deep into your chosen game like HeroQuest, D&D, Star Wars: Legion, Flames of War and many others. Whatever your interest, figure painting is a great activity for young and old alike. If your new to the art, start off small and build up your tools and figures over time. The biggest mistake is to buy too much too fast because your excited in about your new hobby. We will let you know some of the best tools and processes to help you succeed in painting minifigures.

Gathering the Essential Tools

To embark on your miniature painting journey, you must first assemble the necessary tools. It will cost you a few dollars in the start, but it will be money well spent. It is best if you can get a dedicated work area where you can focus on you craft and have your figures out. This is why we created the MocTray. You can buy a lot more items but below are a few necessary tools for you to get started:

• High-quality brushes- Amazon for about $15

• A variety of acrylic paints- multiple brands that are $2-3 a color or you can buy a started kit for about $20

• A paint station, we recommend the rotating model painting stand from sominibricks

• Primer- use basic flat primer from the hardware store $6

• A palette to mix paints- use a plastic lid to start

• A container for water

• A hobby knife- about $5

• Super glue or model adhesive

• A dedicated workspace with excellent lighting- The best tool for this is a MocTray hobby tray as it will give you a lifetime of use and is portable and very spacious.

Preparing Your Miniatures

If your just starting out with miniature painting, skip metal and resin figures for your first try and stick to one piece plastic figures. The others are more expensive and a bit harder to work with. Proper preparation is the foundation of a successful painting project. Begin by meticulously cleaning and assembling your miniatures. Eliminate any imperfections or mold lines using a hobby knife to shave down the mold lines. To make a plastic miniature, two halves of a metal mold are brought together and hot plastic is pressed in between them. Once your miniatures are cleaned, they are ready for a basecoat.

The Minfigure Painting Process

A Dedicated Work Area

Before you start painting your miniatures, you need a place to work. Not everyone is blessed with a huge work table in a dedicated room where they can leave their figures and materials out in the open. It is a select few who have these types of spaces. Most of us have to work in a corner, a coffee table or on the kitchen table. This is where an investment in a MocTray will benefit you the most. These hobby trays are made of solid wood, have large work areas and movable parts bins. They also have moveable tool trays for your paints,brushes and tools. You can take the MocTray most anywhere and when the time comes to move your work, you just pick it up and take it to a new location. It is one of the best investments you can make in your figure painting and model building.

Basecoating: Laying the Groundwork

The painting journey starts with the basecoat, where you apply primary colors to your miniatures. This foundational step sets the stage for your masterpiece by making the bare plastic have a surface that your model paints will stick to. You can use a flat black or grey spray paint from the big box store. Do not use an enamel paint as it will be glossy and take a long time to dry. Achieve even coverage, allowing each layer to dry before advancing to the next. It should only take 1-2 sprays per figure. Layering and Highlights: Adding Depth

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Details and Fine Brushwork: Adding Character

The true magic lies in the details. Employ fine brushes and a steady hand to paint intricate features, such as facial expressions, weapons, and intricate clothing patterns. This step breathes life and character into your miniatures. Use acrylic paints as they are easy to apply and clean up wit water. These paints also dry quickly and come in any color you need. Use a simple set of brushes from Amazon for about $15 and you will be ready to go. Remember that it is better to apply 2-3 thin coats vs one heavy coat.

Washes and Shades: Enhancing Depth

Washes and shades amplify depth and contrast in your miniatures. Apply washes to recessed areas to craft shadows, and employ shades to accentuate contours. This step adds dimension to your creations and will provide depth. The best way is to watch one of the many Youtube videos on the subject as it is pretty easy to do. Then you will want to add some drybrushing. Drybrushing is a common technique used in layer painting alongside edge highlighting, and in that context it’s not much of a big deal. Just get a brush, put some paint on it, then wipe nearly all of that paint off. Drag that dry brush against the sharper details on your miniature and voila, off comes the paint. It’s like edge highlighting, but a bit softer and over a larger area.

Basing: Completing the Look of Your Figure

The final touch involves basing your miniatures or adding some elements to the base that they stand on to give them some interest. Create thematic bases using materials like sand, rocks, or static grass. A well-crafted base complements your painted miniatures, adding an extra layer of immersion to your tabletop adventures. Again the best place to see this in Action is on Youtube.

Non-Metallic Metal (NMM)

NMM replicates the appearance of metal without using metallic pigments. It's a favored technique among professional miniature painters for its stunning realism. This is a great way to use your drybrush techniques.

Troubleshooting Tips

Even experienced painters encounter challenges. Here are some basic troubleshooting tips:

• Paint Thinning: If your paint is too thick, dilute it with water or acrylic medium for smoother application.

• Brush Care: Maintain clean brushes in excellent condition to prevent bristle damage.

• Patience: Take your time with each step; don't rush the process. Miniature painting is a labor of love.

• Invest in a few good tools like a paint tray and a hobby work tray to make your process easier.

Just remember, mastering the art of miniature painting is a journey filled with practice and dedication. Your fist few figures will not be the best, but they will get better with time. Armed with the right tools, techniques, and a touch of patience, you can create captivating miniatures that will be fun to use and very exciting to use in your adventures.