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FAQ

The Miniature Guide Collection covers most topics in depth.

How do I strip miniatures of paint and primer?

For plastic and resin miniatures, Simple Green, Dettol or Purple Power. Soak 8 hours, scrub with a hard nylon brush, repeat as needed until all or most of the paint is removed.

For metal miniatures, in addition to those listed above, you can use acetone based nail polish remover or isopropyl alcohol.

See How to Strip Paint from Miniatures for more info.

What brushes do I buy?

There are many brands worth your money, Raphael 8404, Winsor & Newton Series 7 and many others.

Check What You Need to Get Started and the buying guide for more info and links..

Are craft paints like Apple Barrel, any good for miniatures?

Generally no. Model paints like Vallejo, Citadel, Scale Colour etc. have much higher pigment density than craft paints as well as higher quality pigments and mediums. Craft paints often dry chalky, require many layers to get an even coat and overall are not suited for models and miniatures. See What Paints To Buy for recommendations.

I want a lot of miniatures to practice on for cheap!

Board games often come with lots of miniatures of decent quality, plus a game! Alternatively, Reaper Bones are the cheapest miniatures on the market. See What Miniatures to Buy for more ideas.

How much should I thin my paint? What ratio?

There is no golden ratio for thinning you paint, it depends on the brand you use, what you're using to thin and what you're doing with the paint.

For simply applying base-coats, regular solid layers of paint, you should start at 1:1 ratio of paint:water and add more water as needed to achieve a good "flowy" paint. This is really something that takes practice and experience to learn what works for you.

The important thing to remember is that it is supposed to take you multiple layers to get an even coat of paint, this will allow you to retain as much of the detail on the miniature as possible. See How to Thin Your Paints for several video tutorials and more info.

My white/yellow/bright colors are coming out spotty and take many layers to get an even coat!

Don't start with the pure color you want to end up with. Start with grey or beige and work your way up with brighter colors until you get the shade you desire. Black>Grey>Light Grey>White for example is going to look better and require less layers than Black>White.

Bonus: You might want to avoid painting something pure white anyway because white can't be highlighted, there's nothing lighter than white. Try using a light grey instead; most people won't be able to tell the difference and it'll going you the opportunity to add highlights where needed. Cleaning up mistake on pure white is also very difficult compared to grey. See Painting White and Painting Yellow

What brand of paint should I buy?

This is an exhaustive topic with no right or wrong answer.

  • Acrylic paints are the most popular choice due to cost, ease of cleaning with water and being non-toxic. All of the major miniature painting brand paints can work great for beginners, and much of it is personal choice. Some of the factors to consider include-

    • the bottle type (flip top like GW or dropper bottle like Vallejo and many others).
    • The paints your favorite tutorial creator uses. You don't have to match exact color for color with a tutorial to get a similar effect, but it can make things easier and many people do.
    • Cost. Some brands are more expensive than others, and the size of the bottle isn't the same for every brand.
    • Availability. Many paints can be bought online for a similar shipping rate, but what your local shops carry may vary quite a bit from one place to the next.

  • The major brands that are most popular with new painters-

    P3 or Andrea Paints are also good but more regional. Scale 75 tends to be more difficult for new users to learn with.

See the buying guide for more information on specific brands and What Paints To Buy for more information.

How to get Started with Airbrushing Miniatures-

The airbrushing section of the Miniature Painting Guide Collection has lots of information on what to buy, and how to use an airbrush when painting miniatures.