Our Miniature Hobby Lifestyle
What is the best way to smooth 3D printed miniatures made of PLA? PLA or Polylactic Acid is a very common 3D printing material for fused deposition modeling (FDM) printers. It is inexpensive, reliable, and biodegradable. There are so many positives with PLA FDM printing that it’s my recommended approach for those starting in the …
Smoothing PLA 3D Prints: How to Smooth 3D Printed Miniatures Read More »
So, you want to paint the color yellow? And, I mean bright yellow. Did you know yellow is one of the hardest colors to paint? In general, yellow acrylic paints have poor coverage and can often come out splotchy and uneven. If you’re looking to paint your wargaming miniatures with the color yellow, you’re in …
How to Paint Yellow Space Marines (Easy and Fast) Read More »
Do you want to apply decals to your miniatures or scale models? Decals add extra details to your wargaming miniatures. If you’re looking for realism, or a more immersive look for your Warhammer 40k vehicles, space marines, or historical wargaming pieces, learning how to use transfers can help. Many model kits come with water transfer …
How to Apply Warhammer Space Marine Decals (Tips) Read More »
What glue do you use when basing miniatures? The kind of glue you should use will depend on the material you’re using to flock or base your models. Whether you using sand, grass flock, resin, cork, or other material, you’ll want a strong and durable adhesive. In this article, I highlight the pros and cons …
What other things are airbrushes good for when painting miniatures? We already know that airbrushes are great for applying primer and speeding up base coat painting. But, airbrushes are so much more useful than that! You can use your airbrushes to apply freehand textures and design using stencils on your miniatures and models. In this …
11 Awesome Airbrush Stencils for Miniatures (Tips, Tricks) Read More »
Are you looking to make your own wargaming or scale model terrain features? Foam is the probably the most versatile building material for making DIY tabletop terrain. You’ll probably want a good hot wire foam knife. Cutting foam with a regular hobby knife (or utility knife) is messy. A hot wire cutter tool is a …
10 Great Hot Wire Cutters for Making Foam Model Terrain (Tips) Read More »
Are you looking for the best light for model building? As a scale modeler and painter, I rely on good lighting to see and work with small details. Assembling and painting scale miniatures and models requires visual acuity. Most household desk lamps are too dim, lack contrast, and can even hurt our eyes over when …
Lamp and Lighting Guide for Scale Modeling (8 Tips) Read More »
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 …
Immersive Ambient Lighting Guide for Tabletop RPG Games (5 Tips) Read More »
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 …
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, …
How to Paint Board Game Miniatures: Cthulhu Wars Read More »
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 …
How Does an Ultrasonic Cleaner Work? Best Practice and Use Read More »
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 …
“You’re unique, just like everyone else.” This oxymoron is a principle for why you will always be different than your neighbor. This includes painting miniatures and other art forms. But, what is fascinating is that you don’t actually know the particulars of your “uniqueness” until you express it. And, perhaps this is why discovering your …
5 Ways to Discover Your Miniature Painting Style Read More »
We are humans, and it is in our inherent nature to be creative. Creativity is embedded deep within our DNA, which is why we managed to build grand civilizations and make a technologically thriving society today. Is there something you love to do? Do you enjoy painting miniatures, photography, or other hobbies? Do you want …
Not sure if you have enough contrast on your painted miniature? A quick way to check if you have enough contrast on your miniature is to take a photo! Once you have the image, remove the color. You’ll see the dynamic range on your model a lot better, and painting with high contrast will become …
How to Paint High Contrast Miniatures with Photography (5 Steps) Read More »