Our Miniature Hobby Lifestyle
Are you trying to paint models for a diorama, a tabletop wargame? Military tank miniatures from wargames like Bolt Action, Flames of War, or even Warhammer 40K can be fun but challenging to paint well. For the scale modelers who aren’t sure where to start with the process, tanks are one of the best places …
If you’re a miniature painter, odds are you’ve heard of zenithal priming. This unique method of priming minis provides a great foundation for painting, and can really help bring out the details in your figure. In this article, I’ll walk you through the steps of zenithal priming and show you how to get the most …
Zenithal Priming and Painting Miniatures – A Tutorial Read More »
Are you ready for an adventure!? Miniature painting can be a fun and rewarding activity for both beginners and experienced artists alike. Of course, if you’re just starting out with the hobby, then it’s natural to have some questions about the best way to go about it. To help you get started, we’ve put together …
Stop giving 100%. Wait, what? Sometimes you don’t need to! The 80/20 Rule is a well-known principle in business that states that 80% of the results come from 20% of the effort. But you can apply this principle to all areas of life, including miniature painting and art. In this article, I’ll take a fascinating …
Painting Warhammer miniatures can seem daunting, but with a little know-how, you can speed up the process and create great looking miniatures! Are you painting Warhammer 40k models or other miniatures from Games Workshop? In this article, we will discuss some tips that will make Warhammer painting easier and faster. So let’s get started! Here …
Warhammer Painting Tips for Beginners (9 Easy Things to Do!) Read More »
Are you wondering if you need a lightbox for taking miniature photos? If you’re a hobby tabletop miniature gamer and want to take better photos of your models, a lightbox can help. But, studio photography setup also has drawbacks and may limit your ability to create unique images of your painted miniatures. The best photographic …
Pros and Cons of a Lightbox: Better Miniature Photos Without a Lightbox Read More »
Are you having trouble painting with your hobby metallic paints? Metallic paints are wonderful for adding a little accent or realism to your models and dioramas. But, they can be frustrating to work with. Luckily there are some simple things you can do that will help them go on smoothly and keep your sanity. In …
Why It’s Bad to Thin Metallic Paints, and Other Metallic Painting Tips Read More »
3D printing miniatures has come a long way. Resin 3D printers are able to produce miniature sculpts that are indistinguishable from plastic model kits. Resin 3D prints have almost no artifacts with even, smooth surfaces that make them ideal for painting. As someone who paints miniatures, as well as 3D prints, I’m always looking for …
How to Paint a 3D Printed Resin Miniature A-to-Z (Flesh, Cloth, and Metal) Read More »
What does Grimdark mean to you? Is it a genre of art, visual style, or something else entirely? Players and painters tossed around the term a lot in the miniature painting community. What does Grimdark describe in regards to miniatures painted for Warhammer 40k or other tabletop games, like Dungeons and Dragons? What are some …
What is Grimdark? Miniature Painting Dark Fantasy and Reality Read More »
Mold is a fungus that thrives in moist environments. If you are using a wet palette for painting miniatures, whether to mix or thin paints, it is important to take steps to prevent mold from growing on it. A wet palette with mold growing on it can be a safe place for bacteria to breed …
Did you know that your smartphone can take amazing photos of your painted miniatures? Compact camera technology has come a long way! The image quality gap has narrowed between smartphones and cameras. Under proper conditions, images taken on smartphones are indistinguishable from consumer grade cameras. These include DSLR, compact bridge cameras, and mirrorless systems. So, …
What is the difference between inks, washes, and shades for miniatures? How do you use them when you paint models? There are many types of inks and washes for miniature hobby painting. They all have different effects and behaviors when you apply them with a brush or airbrush. Most inks and washes for hobby painting …
Are you looking for a fast and easy way to paint a stone base? The base of a miniature adds a huge amount of atmosphere to a model. Stone or cracked rocky terrain is a common motif in a lot of fantasy miniatures, e.g., Warhammer Age of Sigmar, and other tabletop hobby games. A base …
How to Paint Stone Ruin Bases for Miniatures (Tutorial) Read More »
Are you wondering if you need to apply a clear coat to your miniatures? At first glance you may think that paint should be enough to endure gentle handling, even during gameplay. But, a layer of acrylic paint is thin and vulnerable to all sorts of environmental insults, e.g., sunlight, moisture, bumps, and movement during …
The Benefits of Clear Coating Your Painted Miniatures Read More »
The cracked earth effect is a great way to add some depth to your miniatures. It can be used for all sorts of ideas, from lava effects, ice and dried desert scenes. The base of a model adds key scenery and context for your painted models, which completes the overall look of a great paint …
How to Paint a Cracked Base in 5 Minutes (Tutorial) Read More »