Our Miniature Hobby Lifestyle
If you’ve ever stared at a wall of metallic paints and wondered which ones actually perform well on miniatures, you’re not alone. Metallics behave differently from regular acrylics, and choosing the right one can change the entire look of your model. Some metallics are bright and reflective, others lean dark and gritty, and a few […]
Best Metallic Paints for Miniatures—My 5 Go-To Colors and Why Read More »
Are you looking for paint scheme ideas for an Ork army? The Orks are one of Warhammer 40K’s most iconic factions—loud, brutal, and wildly unpredictable. They’re a tide of green muscle and scrap-armor ingenuity, held together by the sheer force of their own belief that bigger and louder always wins. They’re fun, messy, and endlessly
Ork Paint Schemes (9 Color Motifs and Ideas) Read More »
I grew up playing the original StarCraft until my computer fans screamed for mercy. Long nights on Battle.net, LAN parties packed with half-empty Dorito bags, too much soda, and custom-map tournaments where I was convinced my APM (actions per minute) was essential to glory (I used to “practice” improving my “micro”). When I heard a
Why the StarCraft Miniatures Game Is Exciting for Painters and Tabletop Gamers Read More »
Ever spend an evening chasing highlights with a tired brush? Drybrushing brings textures to life fast, yet the wrong tool frays, sheds, and ruins details. I’m always on the lookout for cool toys to experiment with in the miniature hobby sphere; these brushes look super affordable right now and have, in my view, the ideal
Transon Miniature Painting Drybrush Set: First Look, Expectations, and Testing Plan Read More »
Have you ever wondered if investing in a high-end paintbrush could actually improve your miniature painting? I asked myself the same question when I first bought the Winsor & Newton Series 7 Kolinsky Sable size 1 brush. It’s legendary among miniature painters for its precision and performance, but at over $20 a brush, I had
Are Winsor & Newton Series 7 Brushes Worth It for Miniature Painting? Read More »
Ever want a miniature sword to look like it’s glowing with energy? A lightsaber or lightning power sword of some sort, perhaps. Or maybe you want understand how to paint an object glow effects but don’t know where to start. This practice drill teaches you the object source lighting (OSL) technique on a flat surface
How to Paint a Glowing Lightning Effect (OSL Practice Drill for Miniatures) Read More »
Are you looking for a custom dice tray? A custom dice box or tray turns your experience of an ordinary board game or RPG session into something new. In this article, I show you 10 great examples of custom dice trays for tabletop gaming. Whether you’re playing an RPG, miniature wargames or board games, like
Custom Dice Trays for Tabletop Gamers (10 Unique Finds) Read More »
Magnetic carry cases make taking your miniatures and models a “snap”. You literally plug your models into the case and go. Over the years, magnetic carrying cases have become more popular because of their simplicity and ease-of-use. No hassling with pluck foam, prickly bits getting stuck (and breaking), and oddly-shaped models not fitting into your
Top 10 Best Magnetic Miniature Army Transport Cases Read More »
What are the best gap fillers for miniatures and models? Miniature and model assembly is fun. Scratch builders love making things from…well, scratch. Filling gaps is an important step in preparing your models for primer and paint. Gap fillers are useful for whether you are assembling plastic model kits for Warhammer 40k or Age of
Top 12 Gap Fillers for Miniatures (What Works and When) Read More »
You’ve spent hours, perhaps days, meticulously painting your miniature models. They’re tiny works of art, deserving of more than a blurry, poorly-lit photo snapped in haste. So, you reach for your smartphone. After all, smartphone cameras have come a long way, right? Well, you’re not wrong. Despite what the DSLR purists might preach, your smartphone
Best Camera for Miniature Photography? Try Your Smartphone Read More »
What is the best primer for painting plastic or metal miniatures? It depends! Some primers work best on plastic, whereas other primers work best on metals. In principle all primers act as a preparatory coat to prevent the absorption of overlying layers of model paint. The ideal miniature primers are spray or brush-on primers that
Best 10 Primers for Miniatures (Reviews) Read More »
Ever spent hours painting a miniature, only to watch the paint chip away after a few gaming sessions? Frustrating, right? One of the biggest reasons this happens is skipping an essential first step—priming. You might wonder: Can’t I just use regular hobby paint to get started? It’s a common question, and the answer lies in
What’s the Difference Between Hobby Paint and a Primer for Miniatures? Read More »
Do you airbrush miniatures? If so, there’s a new twist on the block. For those who’ve explored airbrushing, you likely know how different airbrushes excel at specific tasks. For example, base coating requires an airbrush with a larger nozzle—like a 0.3 mm or larger—to efficiently spray thicker hobby acrylics onto your models. Similarly, priming models
The Gaahleri Mobius Airbrush: A Powerfully Reliable Tool for Miniature Painters Read More »
How do you thin your paint when working on miniatures and models? Most hobby acrylics—Citadel, The Army Painter, Vallejo, and others—perform better when they flow smoothly and don’t bury the tiny details. Thinning helps you control the paint on your brush, spread it evenly, and build clean layers on any surface. Each thinning method has
How to Thin Hobby Paints for Miniatures (10 Useful Ways) Read More »
This year, after much hesitation, I finally felt ready to take the plunge and test my skills at Gen Con, one of the world’s largest gaming conventions. It was both nerve-wracking and exciting—a mix of anticipation, doubt, and curiosity. In this article, I’m going to talk about my first-ever in-person painting competition. I’ll highlight the
Facing the Judge: Lessons From My First Painting Competition Read More »