Currently, I’ve been painting miniatures for about 6 years. I started off with Warhammer Age of Sigmar as it just had a revamp of basically everything (this period is also known as the Great Warhammer Fantasy Army Barbeque).

It was easier to get into, so I took the plunge after discovering video games weren’t actually helping me relax (sue me, I’m 35 now. I can’t take on the sweaty kids).

After about 3 years, a friend asked me if I would be willing to paint his miniatures. And thus, the first of many commissions was started.

In those 6 years, I’ve painted many miniatures, and during my livestream on TikTok, I regularly get the question, “Which miniatures are your favorite?” which isn’t an easy question to answer; there are so many awesome brands and designers (I see you 3D printers!).

So, I decided to make a list of which miniature-producers’ products are awesome to paint and why because, to me, great design leads to great opportunities!

1.    Warhammer 40.000 and Warhammer Age of Sigmar (basically everything produced by Games Workshop).

There is a reason why they are leading the market. These miniatures, especially these last few years, are so well designed and such a joy to paint. Due to the immense range of miniatures, there is something for everyone. Not to mention that they have a ton of lore from which you can pick any paint scheme to start your miniature-painting adventures.

2.    High-end 3D prints

This is actually a 2-in-1. You’ll need an amazingly designed model and a 3D printer that knows what it is doing. A great design doesn’t necessarily equal an awesome print. So get the combo, and there are some amazing works out there. Some great designs: Archvillain Games, Cast’ n Play, and Lord of the Print. Check out. And if you’re Dutch, I have worked with Hoardmimic.com in the past. You can’t go wrong with him.

3.    Star Wars: Legion

I’ve only painted one of their miniatures but had fun doing so. If I had the time to paint a set for myself, I would’ve gotten one. Though I hear they are difficult to get a hold of.

4.    Dungeons and Dragons Miniatures (Wizkids, Reaper Miniatures)

I have painted a few of these now, and there’s a HUGE variety of them. If you are into DND and you want to paint a mini, your best bet is to find your to-be-painted miniature in this range. There’s a big chance your local or national hobby shop has this range, and there’s more choice. Be on the lookout tho; the material can be a bit bendy. So crooked swords abound, and not a lot of building.  

There are a bunch of other producers out there. Some of which I hope to get to work on someday. Among these are:

•       Privateer Press’ Warmachine and Hordes.
•       Corvus Belli’s Infinity
•       Wyrd Miniatures’ Malifaux

Do you know any great designers or producers? Please let me know; I am always looking to expand my knowledge of the miniatures in need of paint!

Now that you are familiar with the basics of the major Warhammer armies and factions let’s discuss some general tips and techniques that I find extremely useful in painting miniatures.

Pick the Right Paint

One of the easiest ways of speeding up the painting process is to use the right kind of paint for your miniature. Games Workshop has a large collection of paints that are meant for Warhammer models. Such paints can easily adhere to plastic and resin surfaces. Moreover, you can get in various colors to paint your miniature as per your specific requirements.

Prime the Model

Another useful tip to successfully paint your miniature is that you should always prime your model because a primed model is significantly easier to paint than an unprimed one. Primers are also available in various types and sizes to make sure you can prime your particular Warhammer model in an efficient manner.

Ultimately, priming is useful to adhere to the paint and minimize the number of coats of paint required to fully color a model.

Choose a Suitable Paint Scheme

The kind of paint scheme you choose to paint your miniature has a significant impact on the overall process and the final output. If you are aiming to get an attractive uniform look, you should consider using the same color and the same techniques on all parts of the miniature.

However, if you want to give a unique look to the miniature, you can use different colors for the skin, wood, metal, and other parts of the miniature. Make sure that you are picking colors that go well with each other.

The primary method involved in painting miniatures is through a basecoat and shade/wash. Pick colors that look good even without highlighting the shaded miniature.

Paint in Layers

There are various painting techniques and methods that you can use to paint the miniatures. But the best way to do it is by painting the model in thin layers instead of applying one thick coat of paint directly on the miniature.

Painting in layers is useful to avoid brushstrokes and provide a smoother finish to the miniature. Moreover, it will prevent bubbles or cracks being formed on the paint. Using the right brush is important to ensure consistency while you are painting in layers.

Use the Dry Brushing Technique

Adding highlights and details to a Warhammer miniature is an important part of the entire experience. You should use a dry brush to add highlights and details to the model. All you have to do is dip the brush into the paint and wipe the excessive paint using a paper towel. Then, lightly brush over the area that you want to highlight. It will ultimately help you in adding details to your model without using too much paint.

Alternatively, you can also use a paint marker to add details to a miniature. Paint markers are available in various colors, so you can easily find the one that suits your requirements and use the marker to add highlights.

Conclusion

Overall, I’ve found these tips and techniques useful in painting miniatures, especially in the beginning stages. If you have any other tricks or any specific miniature that you would like me to discuss, do let me know!

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