Andrew M. Tan

Andrew M. Tan is a commissioned miniature painter, photographer, and writer with more than 20 years of hands-on hobby experience. He founded and edits Tangible Day, drawing on a PhD in neuroscience and peer-reviewed research to write about attention, learning, and the craft of making things by hand. Full bio: https://tangibleday.com/andrew-m-tan/

11 Airbrush Stencils for Miniatures and Models (Tips for Clean Results)

Awesome airbrush stencils for painting miniatures and tabletop wargame models - airbrush RC cars, warhammer 40k vehicles, tanks and historical models - freehand logos and add custom decals with an airbrush easy - Check out some of the mini stencils! - stencil banner airbrush

A stencil can turn a flat armor panel into hex camouflage, worn metal, circuitry, or a clean insignia. On a miniature, the hard part is getting the stencil close enough to the surface to keep the edges sharp. This guide covers 11 stencil designs for miniatures and models, along with practical tips for getting clean […]

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Airbrushing Vs. Regular Brushing for Miniatures and Models

What's better for painting miniatures, airbrushing or regular brushwork? - why paint with an airbrush for miniatures and models - regular brush blending versus airbrush

What’s better for painting miniatures, airbrushing or regular brushwork? The best answer for this question is that it depends on what you’re trying to do with your miniature painting project. Airbrushing is a powerful tool and adds other more technical options for miniature painters. For best results, regular brushing will always be useful for finishing

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10 Hot Wire Foam Cutters for Foam Terrain That Are Worth Buying

Banner image 10 best hot wire foam cutters with text and underlying image of foam DIY terrain

Are you looking to make your own wargaming or scale model terrain features? The first time I tried cutting foam with a utility knife, I made a blizzard. Static-charged beads stuck to my sleeves, my desk, and somehow my coffee cup. A hot wire cutter changed the whole experience. The cut is quiet, the mess

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“Spoon Theory”: Are You Often Exhausted by Tabletop Gaming?

How does spoon theory affect tabletop gamers? What is spoon theory? Competitive tabletop gaming performance and spoon theory

Do you ever get tired of playing tabletop games? Not bored, tired and exhausted. “Spoon theory” describes the energy depletion you may feel due to underlying chronic illness or other underlying issues. But, spoon theory may also be a useful way to describe why intense gaming situations may drain a player’s ability to perform over

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25 Reasons Why Regular Brush Miniature Painting is Always Better Than Airbrushing

25 reasons not to airbrush - why regular miniature brush painting is always better than airbrushing - airbrush vs hand painting miniatures and models - advantages of regular brush painting compared to airbrushing

You feel the urge to paint minis, perhaps in the morning, or in the late evening after the day’s duties are done. It’s a weekday, or a Saturday, who cares. You’ve got the itch to pick up a brush. You hobble to your desk, littered with art supplies; oh, so messy. But, beautiful because you

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Top 10 Recommended Model Paint Mixers and Shakers

best model paint shaker and mixer for miniatures and models - hobby paint shakers and mixers - recommended alternatives to DIY paint shakers

Are you looking for a model paint mixer machine? Some of the best model paint shakers and mixers are simple devices with light-duty motors. Others are more powerful, industrial sized mixers. If you’re looking for help to shake up your Army Painter dropper bottles, Citadel pots, or other brands of highly-pigmented model paints, check out

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Immersive Ambient Lighting Guide for Tabletop RPG Games (5 Tips)

Ambient lighting for tabletop rpg gaming - Best ambient lights and lamps for gaming - immersive lights for dungeon and dragons D&D

So, you are hosting a role-playing gaming (RPG) gaming event, like Dungeon and Dragons (D&D)? Sometimes you just want to throw a party. Whether you’re hosting a RPG campaign, a birthday party, or an anniversary, you know having the right ambient lighting is an absolute must. Ambient lighting for tabletop gaming or other event not

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Painting with Coffee: Miniatures!

How to paint with coffee - painting miniatures with coffee - coffee miniature and model workshop

Do you get bored painting miniatures? Do you want to experiment with new, exciting ways to paint miniatures and models? A great way to overcome painting block is to experiment! Try a new technique. How about painting with coffee? Yes, I do mean paint miniatures with a do-it-yourself (DIY) coffee paint mixture. Board games, miniature

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How to Paint Board Game Miniatures: Cthulhu Wars

Do you play board games with miniatures? Tabletop games with miniatures are especially fun because they add an extra level of tactile immersion. Even better, of course, are board games with painted miniatures. Of all the games that you can enhance with painted miniatures, Cthulhu Wars (Peterson Games) is a particular stand-out! In this article,

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How Does an Ultrasonic Cleaner Work? Best Practice and Use

How does an ultrasonic cleaner work? Best practice and use for hobby miniatures and models

Can you use an ultrasonic cleaner to clean or strip paint off miniatures or models? How does an ultrasonic cleaner work? Ultrasonic cleaners use sonic waves transmitted through a liquid (usually water) that rapidly “scrubs” dirt or other unwanted particles from object surfaces. In this article, I explain how an ultrasonic cleaner works and why

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How-To Paint a 3D Printed Miniature with OSL

So, you’re looking to paint your 3D printed miniature. Painting 3D printed miniatures and figures is similar to painting other types of kit-type miniatures and models. This is especially true if you’re using model acrylic paints, such as Citadel or Army Painter model paints. In this article, I show you how I painted a 3D

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