Help with mini's, never painted one before

[wolfric]

Ok, so I got a few reaper minis to go along with my D and D minis. I have a few questions for anyone that would like to lend a helping hand since I've never done this before. Ok here goes:

 

1) I noticed that the bases dont really "fit" into the minis. i.e I assumed that they would "snap" into the base. Do you simply glue them onto the base?

2) A few of the minis came with separate parts (one of them was a dragonborn without his head!) now I guess this was to make it easier to paint, but do you simply glue the separate pieces on or is there some kind or sodering involved?

3) In reguards to 2, when I attempted to use standard crazy glue to glue a part on it didnt hold, also, there is a shield for one of the characters and there really doesn't seem to be a way to glue it, so I refer back to the sodering question.

4) Whats the best/cheapest paints and brushes for a beginner and are there any "tutorials" anywhere about painting for beginners?

[Valloa]

Ok, so I got a few reaper minis to go along with my D and D minis. I have a few questions for anyone that would like to lend a helping hand since I've never done this before. Ok here goes:

 

1) I noticed that the bases dont really "fit" into the minis. i.e I assumed that they would "snap" into the base. Do you simply glue them onto the base?

2) A few of the minis came with separate parts (one of them was a dragonborn without his head!) now I guess this was to make it easier to paint, but do you simply glue the separate pieces on or is there some kind or sodering involved?

3) In reguards to 2, when I attempted to use standard crazy glue to glue a part on it didnt hold, also, there is a shield for one of the characters and there really doesn't seem to be a way to glue it, so I refer back to the sodering question.

4) Whats the best/cheapest paints and brushes for a beginner and are there any "tutorials" anywhere about painting for beginners?

 

 

1). If you are basing for gaming you can simply glue the miniature to the base, then cover over the ground with flocking, sand, or leave it bare. Or if the minis are from Reaper's Dark Heaven line, you don't even need to add a base they can be used as is if you like.

2). Most of the local gamers here simply glue. However, if you are going to handle it a lot I would suggest a method of attaching called "pinning" in addition to the glue. This involves using a pin vise to drill a small hole in both parts, inserting a small pin and then gluing them together. Again depends on what you prefer as I know local gamers here who abuse the heck out of their minis without pinning and they still hold up. You can also use putty to hold the pieces together, but if you are just starting I'd stick with gluing for now.

3). I use Loctite glue, I used to use Zap-a-gap but found it didn't hold as well for me. I've heard of some using Gorrilla glue as well. So I'd suggest picking up one of those to try.

There are several articles here on this site under "The Craft" tab on the front page, and many many articles and helpful threads here on the forums. It's well worth the time to look or use the search function on the boards here. There is also a very long list of articles here to look through too.

4). If you have a local Michael's, Hobby Lobby or art store I'd go check those out for brushes. You can usually find something on sale that would work. Or if you don't, the brushes Reaper sells on the web site here work really well. I'd suggest at least one size 0 brush to start with. Paint wise, well everyone has their own type of paint preferences. If you want it fast, single color not really heavily involved with the painting aspect then Craft Paints like Apple Barrel or Deco Art are pretty cheap and you can get them at some Wal-marts, and craft stores. If you want to do more with your painting, I'd suggest trying either Reaper's Master Series Paint or Pro Paint lines. Both cover really well and are far superior quality to craft paints. (Personally I'd skip craft paints and go for a few bottles of the Reaper paints). There are plenty of painting tutorials out there, many on these boards. Give a scroll through the Painting Tips & Advice as well as the WIP forums here and use the search function too if you are looking for specifics. There is also at least one in "The Craft" tab on the front page and the link previously posted to CMoN has tons.

 

I don't know if you know to use primer before painting or not, but you can get brush on with Reaper's Master Series paint or Krylon floral primer (craft stores/wal-mart) spray cans are also pretty good. You'll also want to pick up a can of dullcoat spray from the hobby section to spray your finished painted miniature with to keep the paint from rubbing off when you handle it.

 

Maya~

[wolfric]

Ok, so I got a few reaper minis to go along with my D and D minis. I have a few questions for anyone that would like to lend a helping hand since I've never done this before. Ok here goes:

 

1) I noticed that the bases dont really "fit" into the minis. i.e I assumed that they would "snap" into the base. Do you simply glue them onto the base?

2) A few of the minis came with separate parts (one of them was a dragonborn without his head!) now I guess this was to make it easier to paint, but do you simply glue the separate pieces on or is there some kind or sodering involved?

3) In reguards to 2, when I attempted to use standard crazy glue to glue a part on it didnt hold, also, there is a shield for one of the characters and there really doesn't seem to be a way to glue it, so I refer back to the sodering question.

4) Whats the best/cheapest paints and brushes for a beginner and are there any "tutorials" anywhere about painting for beginners?

 

 

1). If you are basing for gaming you can simply glue the miniature to the base, then cover over the ground with flocking, sand, or leave it bare. Or if the minis are from Reaper's Dark Heaven line, you don't even need to add a base they can be used as is if you like.

2). Most of the local gamers here simply glue. However, if you are going to handle it a lot I would suggest a method of attaching called "pinning" in addition to the glue. This involves using a pin vise to drill a small hole in both parts, inserting a small pin and then gluing them together. Again depends on what you prefer as I know local gamers here who abuse the heck out of their minis without pinning and they still hold up. You can also use putty to hold the pieces together, but if you are just starting I'd stick with gluing for now.

3). I use Loctite glue, I used to use Zap-a-gap but found it didn't hold as well for me. I've heard of some using Gorrilla glue as well. So I'd suggest picking up one of those to try.

There are several articles here on this site under "The Craft" tab on the front page, and many many articles and helpful threads here on the forums. It's well worth the time to look or use the search function on the boards here. There is also a very long list of articles here to look through too.

4). If you have a local Michael's, Hobby Lobby or art store I'd go check those out for brushes. You can usually find something on sale that would work. Or if you don't, the brushes Reaper sells on the web site here work really well. I'd suggest at least one size 0 brush to start with. Paint wise, well everyone has their own type of paint preferences. If you want it fast, single color not really heavily involved with the painting aspect then Craft Paints like Apple Barrel or Deco Art are pretty cheap and you can get them at some Wal-marts, and craft stores. If you want to do more with your painting, I'd suggest trying either Reaper's Master Series Paint or Pro Paint lines. Both cover really well and are far superior quality to craft paints. (Personally I'd skip craft paints and go for a few bottles of the Reaper paints). There are plenty of painting tutorials out there, many on these boards. Give a scroll through the Painting Tips & Advice as well as the WIP forums here and use the search function too if you are looking for specifics. There is also at least one in "The Craft" tab on the front page and the link previously posted to CMoN has tons.

 

I don't know if you know to use primer before painting or not, but you can get brush on with Reaper's Master Series paint or Krylon floral primer (craft stores/wal-mart) spray cans are also pretty good. You'll also want to pick up a can of dullcoat spray from the hobby section to spray your finished painted miniature with to keep the paint from rubbing off when you handle it.

 

Maya~

Maya you're awesome, thx very much

[yani]

ooooooo.... new blood. Welcome!

 

1) I can only assume you have Warlord minis that come with a base that has a slot, and the mini has a tab that fits in the slot. If that is the case, yes! All you need to do is superglue the tab into the slot. Sometimes, however, the tab may be too big or too small. If it's too big, use a fine file or a hobby knife to scrape the tab down. Pewter is quite soft and quite easy to thin down. If the tab is too small, there is a product known as "Green stuff" - it's a two-part epoxy putty, typically coming in tape of blue and yellow. THe product name is "Kneadatite". One needs to mix the yellow and the blue in roughly equal amounts to create green. It's quite sticky at this stage, but water or saliva can prevent it from sticking to fingers, etc. Use that in the gap made by the tab. It will cure hard and prevent the mini from wobbling around. I like to use a combination of green stuff with superglue.

If you're not using the slotted bases and minis with a tab, they should come with their own base. Sometimes the base is a little flimsy and the mini may have a tendency to fall over all the time. Use anything that is solid and superglue it to the base, and that will make it more stable. Pennies are actually pretty good a this.

 

2) Separate pieces for minis are typically for the casting process, but yes, it can make things easier for painting. There is no soldering involved. You can superglue the pieces together; however, if it's being used on a regular basis, the join may not be strong enough. What a lot of people do is create a better join between the two pieces - this is known as "pinning". Essentially, one drills a hole in one side using a very small drill bit or a pin vise, place a small metal rod (I like paper clips) in the hole, drill a hole in the other piece, and put the pieces together. The pin between the two pieces creates a greater bond, which will support the superglue that is used to keep the pieces together.

Here is an excellent article explaining how to do it: http://www.coolminiornot.com/article/aid/589

 

4) Reaper has two lines of paint - Pro Paints and Master Series. I would recommend the Pro Paints, as they've got good coverage and very reasonably priced.

 

There's a little more to plopping a mini down and slapping some paint on it. Paint & pewter do not make a good combination. The mini will have residual oils left from the casting process, some from your fingers, and other things. Paint can't really bond to it that well. Scrub the mini with some dishwashing liquid and water first. There's a few other things you can do - outlined in this article: http://www.coolminiornot.com/article/aid/28

 

Then it needs primer. Choose your colour - black, white, grey, orange, etc. I like grey - it's easy to work with. Krylon makes a cheap primer found at Hobby Lobby, but any primer will do. Reaper has a brush-on primer in the Master Series line. Primer is needed in order for the paint to stay on the mini - it provides a uniform surface for the paint to adhere to. So, it's pretty important.

 

A small brush is needed. If you want to get really serious, a Windsor & Newton Series 7 brush in size 0 is the best way to go, but any size 0 brush will do fine. They can be found in art stores, hobby stores, and if your FLGS is a big Games Workshop provider, there too.

If you have some time and want to really get into painting, I would highly recommend the Reaper Learn to Paint series. These are packages at about $20-$25 that contain paint, two minis, brush, and instructions on how to get certain effects. REALLY good value when just starting out, as the paint and the brushes are invaluable, as is the booklet.

Otherwise, the website I've been referencing in this post - coolminiornot.com - has a LOT of articles that can help you out.

[wolfric]

ooooooo.... new blood. Welcome!

 

1) I can only assume you have Warlord minis that come with a base that has a slot, and the mini has a tab that fits in the slot. If that is the case, yes! All you need to do is superglue the tab into the slot. Sometimes, however, the tab may be too big or too small. If it's too big, use a fine file or a hobby knife to scrape the tab down. Pewter is quite soft and quite easy to thin down. If the tab is too small, there is a product known as "Green stuff" - it's a two-part epoxy putty, typically coming in tape of blue and yellow. THe product name is "Kneadatite". One needs to mix the yellow and the blue in roughly equal amounts to create green. It's quite sticky at this stage, but water or saliva can prevent it from sticking to fingers, etc. Use that in the gap made by the tab. It will cure hard and prevent the mini from wobbling around. I like to use a combination of green stuff with superglue.

If you're not using the slotted bases and minis with a tab, they should come with their own base. Sometimes the base is a little flimsy and the mini may have a tendency to fall over all the time. Use anything that is solid and superglue it to the base, and that will make it more stable. Pennies are actually pretty good a this.

 

2) Separate pieces for minis are typically for the casting process, but yes, it can make things easier for painting. There is no soldering involved. You can superglue the pieces together; however, if it's being used on a regular basis, the join may not be strong enough. What a lot of people do is create a better join between the two pieces - this is known as "pinning". Essentially, one drills a hole in one side using a very small drill bit or a pin vise, place a small metal rod (I like paper clips) in the hole, drill a hole in the other piece, and put the pieces together. The pin between the two pieces creates a greater bond, which will support the superglue that is used to keep the pieces together.

Here is an excellent article explaining how to do it: http://www.coolminiornot.com/article/aid/589

 

4) Reaper has two lines of paint - Pro Paints and Master Series. I would recommend the Pro Paints, as they've got good coverage and very reasonably priced.

 

There's a little more to plopping a mini down and slapping some paint on it. Paint & pewter do not make a good combination. The mini will have residual oils left from the casting process, some from your fingers, and other things. Paint can't really bond to it that well. Scrub the mini with some dishwashing liquid and water first. There's a few other things you can do - outlined in this article: http://www.coolminiornot.com/article/aid/28

 

Then it needs primer. Choose your colour - black, white, grey, orange, etc. I like grey - it's easy to work with. Krylon makes a cheap primer found at Hobby Lobby, but any primer will do. Reaper has a brush-on primer in the Master Series line. Primer is needed in order for the paint to stay on the mini - it provides a uniform surface for the paint to adhere to. So, it's pretty important.

 

A small brush is needed. If you want to get really serious, a Windsor & Newton Series 7 brush in size 0 is the best way to go, but any size 0 brush will do fine. They can be found in art stores, hobby stores, and if your FLGS is a big Games Workshop provider, there too.

If you have some time and want to really get into painting, I would highly recommend the Reaper Learn to Paint series. These are packages at about $20-$25 that contain paint, two minis, brush, and instructions on how to get certain effects. REALLY good value when just starting out, as the paint and the brushes are invaluable, as is the booklet.

Otherwise, the website I've been referencing in this post - coolminiornot.com - has a LOT of articles that can help you out.

 

wow, thanks so much. great info.

[Valloa]

As you can see there are lots of helpful people on this forum. If you need paint help as you go painting your first mini, post the mini in the WIP forum and you'll get lots of advice.

 

 

Maya~

[Stink]

Hello! I just started a week or two ago myself.

 

 

 

These guys covered most of your questions already though, but welcome to the hobby! I had some similar questions myself since I just bought a couple warlord figures, so thanks for getting those questions answered for me. ;)

 

 

 

I can help a little with 4.

 

 

My PERSONAL recommendation :

 

1 stop shop for paints and brushes : Wal-Mart (I know, I know...big bad evil corporation....grrrr)

 

As said by Maya, Wal-Mart has a brand called Apple Barrel that is perfect for someone new to the hobby. They are like 88c each so you can stock up on quite a few colors for very little money. I've also seen some really well painted minis that use this brand of paint. I, personally, would wait until you're sure you like the hobby and dropping the money for the nicer paints is worth it to you. (Actually, thats my wifes recommendation....if I would have had it MY way, I would have started with the entire RMS line......but she is correct, usually.)

 

They also sell 5 packs of brushes that work well for like $3. I went and bought a red sable brush (~$10) and some of the sable/synthetic mix brushes (~$3 each) and, honestly, I kind of like the cheaper brushes better. Anyways, like yani said, the Winsor & Newton Series 7 are the go to brushes for high end products. The also have a cheaper Sceptre Golden line that isn't pure kolinsky sable....but its easier on the wallet.

 

You can get all of that in the craft section.

 

In the actual home paint section of the store, you can get Krylon spray primer and sealer.

 

 

You'll want to avoid any paints and sealants that are "gloss" as this will make your minis shiny and plastic looking. (Unless thats the look you're going for). Matte or Flat is what the sealer will be called and the paints won't be labeled at all. It'll just list the color.

 

 

If you want to spend money on nicer brushes and get some flow improver or other supplies, I'm no expert, but I bought mine from :

 

http://www.dickblick.com

 

I hear (actually I think I read in one of the tutorials in the craft) they are pretty cheap. They beat amazon for the brushes I was looking for, so thats good enough for me.

 

 

 

 

Here are some of the sites I used while I was researching :

 

http://www.reapermini.com/TheCraft

http://hot-lead.org/start/paint_guide_main.htm

http://coolminiornot.com/article

http://blog.brushthralls.com/

http://www.how-to-paint-miniatures.com/

 

 

I'm sure there are plenty of other places....these are just the sites I have in my "Bookmarks" in IE.

 

Check Youtube as well. Just search for "painting miniatures".

 

 

You can also buy books and DVDs. I haven't gotten this far yet. Privateer press, Games Workshop, Coolminiornot, Reaoer all have their own versions....theres also one by a french guy that looks pretty nice (saw a preview of it on Youtube)....Jeremie or something.

 

 

 

Good luck and make sure to show us how it goes when you get started! ;)

[All-Terrain Monkey]

Looks like you already have enough links to keep you busy for a long, long time wolfric. Dive in, test the waters, and let us know when you have more questions/ideas/etc.

[murakumo]

One thing I would recommend... coming form someone who started out using apple barrel and folk art paints... You will need to thin these paints much more then usual... about four to five drops of water per "squirt" of paint (figuring a smallish squirt form the bottle not a huge glob). This is because the paints are usually used over a much wider surface. I still keep my apple barrel and folk art metallic(s) around for scenery since their exceedingly cheap and they also work really well for large areas.

 

Also while at walmart you can often find packages of detail brushes there... they contain a 0 and a 1 brush... both of which will work for miniatures... and sometimes you can even find packages with a 5/0 or 10/0 brush included for fine detailing. Check in both their "paint" aisle and the next aisle over on either side... they tend to hide the smaller brushes.

 

As someone previously said I would recommend Loctite brand super glue... also remember to use a small amount of glue... if you use too much it won;t form a good seal and will actually fall apart more easily. Also for the shield... if you need to temporarily hold it onto an unpainted mini (to see where you will eventually attach it/ paint it separately) I'd suggest getting something called "blue tac" form your local Lowes store. Its an extremely tough and sticky poster putty.

 

Hope that helps. Also if you need more colors I would suggest looking at your local Michals or "Jo-Annes" store since they both stock apple barrel and folk art en mass.

 

Wes.

[Doug Sundseth]

Quick point:

 

That cheap first brush will probably last you about 1-4 miniatures before it starts to hook or spread. When that happens, if you still like painting, don't buy another cheap brush; they're too expensive. Buy an expensive brush to save money.

 

That might sound insane, but a good brush (Winsor & Newton Series 7, Da Vinci Maestro, or the like) is only about $10-12 if you buy online (www.dickblick.com is a good choice). And a good brush will last for a year or more with even minimal care. During that same period, you would probably go through half a dozen or more cheap $3 brushes.

 

And a good brush also makes it easier to paint well.

 

(For reference, I'm giving you the advice I ignored for years and now wish I hadn't.)

[All-Terrain Monkey]

Yep; there's a definite dancing act between getting supplies to paint up a couple of figures for a game and then not painting and expanding those supplies into a robust toolkit to support a full-fledged hobby. Depending on your personal income situation and how much you (and/or your significant other) are willing to spend changes the possible recommendations quite a bit.

 

Cheap brushes and cheap paint are great for getting your feet wet (or the miniatures') and to see if you think it's A) an enjoyable hobby or B) a teeth-pulling experience. Better brushes definitely last much, much longer and allow for better results for a small jump in price, but paint is also a big factor as well. Craft paints are great for getting your feet wet, but the ease of use of paints designed for miniatures can eliminate a lot of frustration if you're having problems with paint behaving the way you want it to (and I'd say are a must-have if you find you really enjoy the process and want to look at doing more complicated/advanced techniques).

[tanker22]

Welcome!

 

You have a lot on your plate starting from scratch with all the information being thrown at you. Your talking years of expereince in a wide range of stuff so just be patient and take things one step at a time.

 

A comment in regards to the apple barrel and another brand called folk art that wally world sells. I have used them for years and still have a large collection on hand but have gradually started shifting over to better quality paints, ie. Reaper and a few others. Not a bad idea to start with some of the cheap stuff just to get the feel for it but you tend to sacrafic quality for price in regards to the paint pigment and consistancy. Some times multiple layers are involved using this stuff and you start to loose detail if your not careful. Just a work of caution using them is all.

 

As far as the brushes the Wal mart ones work well until your ready to throw down $10 a brush or more on the really high quality ones. Your going to mess them up being new to the art, its a given so I wouldnt blow a lot of cash on expesive ones yet.

 

With the plastic bases another trick is to get a pair of pliers and bend the end of the miniatures metal part that fits into the slot just a bit. Bend one end one direction the other end in the opposite direction. It will make it fit snuggly, wedging it in place then throw some glue and filler around it. That mini isnt going anywhere no matter what you do handeling it.

 

Hope that helps some.

[Ol'Timer]

Welcome.

 

There's already lots of help from people who are much more gifted at this than I. But, I'll add that another thing you probably want is a worklamp. I'm not talking anything fancy - a cheap adjustable desklamp (the kind with the articulated metal arm you can position) does wonders. I'm getting old, and my eyesight was never that great anyway, so having the extra light over ambient makes a huge difference. While the lamp can be cheap, I might spend a bit extra on the bulb - get something full spectrum with good color purity - alot of lightbulbs are really yellow or orange, and halogen bulbs tend to be really blue. This will help you see the tiny bits as your painting, and also give you a good feel for how the colors work together. One other thing: CFL bulbs are probably better than incandescents - all that heat as your working will make the top of your head sweat and your paint dry too fast, hehe.

 

~Ol'Timer

[Stink]

One other thing: CFL bulbs are probably better than incandescents - all that heat as your working will make the top of your head sweat and your paint dry too fast, hehe.

 

~Ol'Timer

 

 

I hear you there. I need new bulbs. I feel like I'm cooking my minis as I paint them.

[l33t ninj4]

In regards to #1 I'm not sure what you mean.

 

But as for #2, best thing is to "pin the model using a pin drill and a paper clip and then super glue the model together.

#3: NEVER SODER!!!! Pewter has a really low melting temperature and you WILL ruin it. (personal experience there)

And finally #4: just ask here for tips and they will come. As for paints and whatnot, this isn't really a cheap hobbie. So just look around hobby shops in your area. And brushes it's better to spend a bit more. But Games Workshop makes a 3 brush set for $15 and it comes with a standard brush, detail brush and a drybrush.