Our Miniature Hobby Lifestyle
Explore a full spectrum of creative hobby articles, including tabletop miniature games, visual art and crafts, literature, photography, and much more.
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
“Spoon Theory”: Are You Often Exhausted by Tabletop Gaming? Read More »
A tongue-in-cheek defense of the regular paintbrush, with 25 reasons to keep painting miniatures by hand and a practical look at when I use an airbrush.
25 Reasons Why Regular Brush Miniature Painting is Always Better Than Airbrushing 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 »
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
Top 10 Recommended Model Paint Mixers and Shakers (2026) 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
Painting with Coffee: Miniatures! Read More »
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 »
Chess is an ancient game of tactical strategy. It is one of the oldest and most revered board games you can play. Even in this modern, digital age of video games, chess remains as popular and relevant as ever. I’ve been trying to teach my daughter how to play chess. As a result several questions
Chess: A “Gateway Drug” into Miniature Wargaming? Read More »
Are you looking for a better way to organize your paint brushes? Maybe you have high-end kolinsky sables and are looking for a horizontal paint brush holder to keep the bristles safe and the tips sharp. For a great paint brush rack, you’ll want something that is both functional and fun for your desk. Sure,
10 Fun Paint Brush Holders for Hobby Painters (2026) 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 went to the gaming convention at PAX Unplugged? What cool swag did you find? Well, I’m here to tell you about my adventures in shopping the vendor hall at the 2019 PAX Unplugged tabletop gaming convention. In this article, I (Eleni Stamos) highlight 7 cool products and accessories shown at the best tabletop
7 Unique Tabletop RPG Gaming Accessories 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
How-To Paint a 3D Printed Miniature with OSL Read More »
Are you going to your first tabletop gaming convention? Intimidated? Tabletop gaming conventions are huge events and can be overwhelming for first-time attendees. You never know what to expect! Tabletop gaming conventions pull you from reality, surrounding you with exciting gaming events, cosplay, celebrities, artists, and designers. Many vendors from big and small companies attend
Behold, a Guide to Attending a Tabletop Gaming Convention Read More »
3D printing is a legal morass, according to WIRED magazine. If you’re wondering where 3D printing technology will take us in the future, look no further than the miniature gaming industry. 3D printers are getting less expensive, and easier to use. The printers will soon fill every household, becoming commonplace as computers did back in
3D Printing Can Replace These 10 Games Workshop Products Read More »
Are you looking for ideas for a Seraphon army color scheme? The Seraphon are a race of reptilian warriors in the Warhammer Age of Sigmar world (Games Workshop). The Seraphon miniature range from hulking scaled warriors and lizard beasts, to smaller, more agile troops. The models are gorgeous and, of course, deserve a good paint
Seraphon Color Schemes: 9 Motifs with Ideas Read More »