Painting Tiny 40K Figures: Tips For Perfect Precision

Painting Warhammer 40k miniatures can be a challenging but rewarding task. The small size of the figures requires careful application and a steady hand, but with practice, anyone can achieve impressive results. Before beginning, it is essential to prime your figures with a spray-on primer to ensure the paint adheres well. Once primed, you can apply a base coat of paint, carefully covering the main areas of the miniature, such as skin, clothing, and hair. After the base coat has dried, you can add intricate details using small brushes. Techniques like thinning your paint, washing, dry brushing, and blending can create realistic effects and add depth to your miniatures. Online resources, such as YouTube tutorials and the Citadel Color app, can provide valuable guidance and inspiration for beginners. Remember to take your time and enjoy the process of bringing your Warhammer 40k figures to life.

Thinning paints

Thinning your paints is crucial when painting 40k miniatures. The main reason is to give you more control over paint flow and smoother, more even paint application without obscuring fine details. Thick paint is one of the biggest mistakes beginners make, and it can ruin a miniature, requiring you to strip it and start over.

The best universal thinner for acrylic paints is water. All model paints are water-based, so water is the natural solvent. It is abundant, non-toxic, and free. However, water evaporates quickly, which can be a disadvantage during long painting sessions as it may cause changes in paint consistency. To avoid this, you can use filtered water to remove mineral contaminants that may interfere with the paint's chemistry.

Other thinning options include "flow improver," which has less surface tension than water and can help minimize pooling. You can also use a medium, which is often made from the same material as the paint, so it keeps the velocity of the paint while thinning it. However, never use alcohol, as it will completely dissolve acrylic paint.

When thinning your paints, the goal is to achieve a consistency where the paint neither pools nor runs. Some people suggest thinning to the consistency of milk. You want to avoid having too much paint on your brush, which can flood the miniature. The paint should be thin enough that you barely see any colour on the bristles.

In addition to thinning with water, you can also use inks to thin acrylic paints. Inks have a much lower viscosity than regular acrylic paint, allowing for increased paint flow without sacrificing coverage. However, thinning with inks will distort the hue and value of your colours, resulting in a darker shade.

Priming

There are different types of primers available, such as spray primers and brush-on primers. Rattle cans are the most common and easiest option for priming miniatures. They are available in a range of colours, including classic matte black and matte white, and a line of colour primers that match their Warpaints line. When using a rattle can, ensure that you are in a well-ventilated area, preferably outdoors, and that the weather is dry and mild. Shake the can thoroughly and move it continually while you spray, applying thin coats to capture all the intricacies of the miniature with a smooth finish.

Brush-on primers can also be used, applied with a large brush and in multiple thin layers to prevent the loss of fine details and the formation of bubbles.

Airbrushes can be used for priming but are not recommended for beginners as they require experience and proper ventilation.

When choosing a primer colour, consider the final colour of your miniature. Using a primer that is similar to your final colour will save you time and ensure a high-quality finish. For example, if you are painting a model with white or grey armour plating, prime it with a light colour rather than black, as you will need many layers of white to mask a black undercoat.

Some popular brands of primer include Army Painter, Citadel, and hardware store brands such as Krylon and Rustoleum.

Base coats

Once your figures are primed and ready to paint, it's time to apply the base coat. The base coat is the first layer of paint on your figure and will be the foundation for your shading and highlights later on.

Select the colours you want to use for the base coat. Choose colours that will make up the major parts of your figure, like the skin, clothes, and hair. Don't worry about any small details yet. For example, if your figure has a blue body and a brown cape, start by painting the body blue, leaving the cape unpainted.

When you have decided on your colours, use a small brush to carefully apply the paint. Try to be as precise as possible so you don't have to go back and fix any mistakes later. It's okay to cover detailed areas like eyes, lips, and accessories with the base coat colours, as you'll be able to paint over them once the base coat is dry.

Let the base coat dry for at least 30 minutes. After this time, touch the figure with your finger. If it's dry, you can move on to the next step. If not, give it a little more time to dry.

If you want to create a blending effect with your base coat, you'll need to thin your paint. Add very thin layers of highlighting and shadowing tones over a mid-tone base coat. Make sure you get almost all of the paint off your brush so that it doesn't pool in unwanted areas.

Fine detailing

Painting 40k miniatures is a fun and rewarding hobby, but it can be challenging when it comes to fine detailing. Here are some detailed instructions and tips to help you master the art of fine detailing on your 40k figures:

Thin Your Paints

Thinning your paint is essential when working on small details. By adding a small amount of water to your paint, you can reduce its thickness, allowing you to apply it more precisely without obscuring the intricate features of the miniature. This technique is highly recommended by experienced painters and can make a significant difference in your results.

Practice Fine-lining

Before you start painting your miniature, it's a good idea to practice your fine-lining skills. You can use plastic sprues or other unused materials as practice palettes to test different brush techniques and colour combinations. This way, you can get a feel for the brush and paint consistency before you begin working on the actual miniature.

Choose the Right Brushes

Selecting the appropriate brushes for fine detailing is crucial. Look for fine-tipped brushes with small sizes, such as a size 00 brush. These smaller brushes offer better control when painting tiny details. Additionally, take care of your brushes by avoiding messy techniques that can damage them, as replacing them can be costly.

Take Your Time

Advanced Techniques

Once you've mastered the basics of fine detailing, you can explore more advanced techniques to add even more realism to your 40k figures. These techniques include colour blending, where you use multiple shades to create smooth transitions and shine effects. You can also try freehand painting to create realistic features like faces and eyes. Additionally, weathering techniques can be used to show wear and tear, adding a sense of realism and environmental storytelling to your miniatures.

Remember, fine detailing is an advanced aspect of miniature painting, so don't be too hard on yourself if your first attempts don't match your expectations. With practice, patience, and a willingness to learn, you'll be able to create stunningly detailed 40k figures that you can proudly display.

Blending

Dry brushing is a simple and effective method for beginners. First, wipe the loaded brush on a paper towel or your fingernail to remove excess paint, leaving only a small amount of thicker pigment on the bristles. Then, lightly sweep the brush over the raised areas you wish to highlight, allowing the paint to be pulled onto edges and textures through capillary action. Gradually build up colour intensity and create smooth transitions by applying multiple light layers, starting with focused brushstrokes and gradually broadening your strokes for wider coverage.

Wet blending is considered one of the most advanced blending techniques, requiring careful control. It involves mixing two paint colours directly on the model while they are still wet. To achieve this, apply one colour to the desired area and then quickly apply the second colour, working in small sections to manage the drying time. Use long brushstrokes to blend the colours together, wiping off any excess paint before transitioning between colours.

Layering is another popular technique where you build up layers of paint, leaving a bit of the previous layer visible along a predetermined edge. Start with a darker basecoat shade and gradually apply thinner layers of a lighter colour, allowing the underlying base coat to show through. Repeat this process with your highlight shade to complete the blend. Layering gives you more control compared to wet blending, but it can be more time-consuming.

Glazing is similar to layering in that it relies on thin, translucent layers of paint. Mix your paint with water to create a diluted glaze, which will allow the underlying colours to show through. Apply the glaze in thin layers, gradually building up the colour intensity while maintaining smooth transitions between shades.

By mastering these blending techniques and experimenting with different methods, you can achieve smooth and flawless gradients on your 40k miniatures, bringing your models to life with realistic colour transitions.

Frequently asked questions