Our Miniature Hobby Lifestyle
You spend a lot of time on your hobbies. Ever wonder if you could monetize them? I don’t mean “make a living“. That would be work! No, I mean wouldn’t it be cool to recoup some of your expenses with your fun activities. I’ve painted miniatures on commission, because I enjoy painting. Plain and simple. […]
5 Tips for a Successful Hobby Side-Hustle Read More »
Do you want a fast and easy way to paint highlights on miniatures? Zenithal highlighting is a technique that quickly reproduces the light and shadows produced by an imaginary light source directly over the subject. Using a spray can or airbrush with a bright color, usually white, you spray directly downward onto a dark-colored model.
How to Airbrush Zenithal Highlights (Fast & Easy) Read More »
Think before you act. It’s always a good idea to go into a painting project with a plan. A great way to remember things is to use a mnemonic, which is a device of patterned letters that you can associate with something. For example, we know that “USA” stands for the United States of America.
“C.R.A.P.” for Better Miniature Painting Read More »
It’s simple, really. When you start taking day-to-day life too seriously, even when things go bad, there is a part of you that can still do things. I’m not talking about watching TV or seeing a movie. I mean hobbies where you make stuff from nothing. You take a part of you and inject it
Why You Need Hobbies, Seriously Read More »
Are you looking for a cheap alternative to Winsor & Newton Series 7 brushes for painting miniatures and models? For the mini painter, the Winsor & Newton Series 7 line of paint brushes are the gold standard. However, the Series 7 line of kolinsky sable paint brushes are expensive, often more than $20-30, per brush.
Best Alternative to Winsor & Newton Series 7 Brushes for Painting Miniatures? Read More »
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 »
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
Best Glue for Basing Miniatures? Read More »
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 »
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
Airbrushing Vs. Regular Brushing for Miniatures and Models Read More »
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
25 Reasons Why Regular Brush Miniature Painting is Always Better Than Airbrushing 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 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 »
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 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 »
Sometimes you need a hand when you assemble models and miniatures. Are you trying to glue small parts together in your scale model or miniature kit, and wished you had an extra hand? Do you need to airbrush a subassembly? A helping hand holder stand can go a long way to help. In this article,
10 Helping Hands for Assembling and Painting Models Read More »