What Tools Do Beginner Miniature Painters Need?

What Tools Do Beginner Miniature Painters Need?
If you’re new to miniature painting and wondering what tools you need to get started, we’ve got you covered! Even if you’re a veteran to the hobby, you can see that we have a list of tools below for you as well!
Beginner miniature painters should have the following essential items in their inventory: paintbrushes, acrylic paints, primer, a palette, a hobby knife, and a water pot.
Additionally, there are also many optional tools such as a cutting mat, miniature holder, glue, and varnish are invaluable for preparing, painting, and protecting your miniatures. With these basic tools, you’ll be ready to dive into the exciting world of miniature painting and create stunning pieces with ease.
Here’s a breakdown of everything you’ll need to start painting miniatures like a pro!
Essential Tools
What I would classify as “essential tools” are the tools that you cannot make due without. If you are going to be in the hobby of miniature painting, then these tools are going to be the first ones that you buy.
1. Paintbrushes
A good set of brushes is crucial for painting miniatures. Start with these basics:
- Detail Brush: For fine details like eyes and small designs.
- Basecoat Brush: For covering larger areas quickly.
- Dry Brush: Used for dry-brushing techniques to highlight raised areas. A makeup brush works very well for a dry brush.
2. Acrylic Paints
Acrylic paints are the most common choice for miniature painting due to their versatility and ease of use. Start with a basic set of model paints, such as those from Vallejo, Citadel, or Army Painter, and gradually add more colors as needed.
3. Primer
Using primer can be a topic of debate, but it’s generally considered “best practice” for miniature painting. While you can technically skip priming, applying primer ensures better paint adhesion and helps prevent chipping—a necessity back when most miniatures were metal. Priming creates a smooth, consistent surface, giving your paint job a solid foundation.
- Spray Primer: Fast and convenient, typically available in black, white, or gray.
- Brush-On Primer: Great for touch-ups or areas the spray missed.
4. Palette
A palette allows you to mix and thin your paints. You can have a fancy high end wet palette, a budget plastic paint palette or even use any type of hard material that doesn’t absorb the paint as a potential palette.
- Wet Palette: Keeps paints moist and workable for longer periods.
- Standard Palette: Works well for quick mixes and is easy to clean.
- Improvised Palette: Card stock, business cards or even thick paper can be used as makeshift palettes on the fly.
5. Water Pot
You’ll need a container for rinsing your brushes between colors. The water pot will also be necessary to thin your paints in order to get the best coverage and results. A sturdy, non-tippable cup works perfectly.
6. Glue
Even if you have your minis pre-assembled, you are going to eventually need glue. Depending on the material of your miniatures, you’ll need:
- Plastic Cement: For plastic models.
- Super Glue: For resin or metal miniatures.
7. Hobby Knife
A sharp hobby knife is invaluable for cleaning mold lines and flash (excess plastic or metal) from your miniatures. A hobby knife can also be used to remove plastic miniatures from their sprues in a pinch if you don’t have access to anything else. Exacto knives or even box cutters from the hardware store will work just fine as a hobby knife.
Optional Beginner Tools
The tools listed below are considered “optional beginner tools” because they aren’t essential, and you can often manage without them. These tools are more about enhancing your experience and improving efficiency as you progress in the hobby. While not required for miniature painting, they can make your workflow smoother and more enjoyable over time.
8. Cutting Mat
A cutting mat provides a safe surface for trimming miniatures and protects your workspace from scratches and cuts. You can use a thick piece of cardboard, a heavy piece of cloth or an actual arts and craft cutting mat to protect your workspace.
9. Files or Sanding Sticks
Use these to smooth rough edges and clean up seams or mold lines for a polished look before priming. You can use anything from sand paper, nail files or even a rotary tool like a Demel for sanding and filing down your miniatures.
10. Miniature Holder or Gripper
A miniature holder or gripper helps steady your hands while painting, giving you better control. If you don’t have one, you can use mounting putty with a bottle cap or even a wine cork as a makeshift holder. While not essential, many painters find it more comfortable and precise to work with a mounted miniature rather than holding it directly.
11. Lighting and Magnification
Good lighting is essential for seeing details. A daylight lamp or LED desk lamp is ideal. If needed, a magnifier can help with fine details.
12. Varnish
Seal your completed miniatures with a protective varnish to preserve your hard work. Choose between matte, satin, or gloss finishes based on your preference.
13. Paper Towels and Toothpicks
Simple, inexpensive tools for cleaning brushes, correcting mistakes, or mixing small amounts of paint. It’s always good to have a piece of paper towel to remove excess paint when you are dry brushing or highlighting your miniatures.
14. Sprue Cutter
A sprue cutter makes removing your models from the plastic sprues much easier. If you don’t have access to an actual hobby sprue cutter, you can use anything from nail clippers, to cutting plyers from the hardware store or even a pair of scissors if nothing else is available.
15. Paint Mixing Balls
Eventually, you might want to invest in paint mixing balls to keep your paints thoroughly blended. These small metal balls, similar in size to BBs, can be added to your paint pots. A quick shake efficiently mixes the paint without the need for manual stirring, saving time and effort.
16. Basing Materials
Decorating your bases is a great way to enhance your miniatures and tie them into your desired theme. Common basing materials include sand, flock, clay or green stuff (for sculpting designs like cobblestone onto your bases) and static grass, which can help you create realistic terrain effects.
17. Tweezers
Precision tweezers are perfect for handling tiny, hard-to-grasp items that your fingers can’t manage. They’re especially useful for intricate tasks like conversion work, applying basing materials, or gluing delicate parts with accuracy. If you don’t have access to actual hobby, then you can probably get away with using beauty tweezers or even needle nose pliers.
Advanced Hobby Tools
Advanced hobby tools are designed for dedicated hobbyists looking to expand their capabilities. These tools often require specialized skills and additional accessories, making them perfect for more ambitious endeavors. While they might feel overwhelming for beginners, understanding their potential can inspire you to expand your capabilities in the future. Over time, as your skills and confidence grow, you may want to explore these tools to achieve more customized results and push the boundaries of your creative projects.
18. Paint Retarder
While a wet palette will generally keep your paints moist enough to handle, if you find yourself needing more time for more advanced techniques such as glazing or wet blending, then you will need paint retarder to keep your paints from drying out too fast.
19. Craft Saw
Eventually you may want to get into conversions and kit bashing miniatures. In order to cut in deep and remove certain parts of a miniature, you may need a craft saw with serrated blades. The serrated blades of a craft saw will make cutting through metal, resin or plastic much easier. There are also electric versions too.
20. Hobby Drill (Pin Vise)
Often called a “pin vise,” a hobby drill can be manual or electric and is designed to create small, precise holes in your miniatures. This tool is invaluable for tasks like magnetizing minis for interchangeable parts or reinforcing fragile sections by pinning pieces together.
- Pinning: you’ll need materials such as paper clips, brass wire, or even craft wire (commonly used for Christmas ornaments) to pin the miniature.
- Magnetizing: You will need to purchase small hobby magnets or rare earth magnets for this.
21. Green Stuff
Green Stuff is an excellent tool for customizing or repairing miniatures. Whether you’re sculpting accessories for a conversion or fixing a damaged area, this versatile epoxy putty is a must-have for advanced miniature hobbyists. Keep in mind that using Green Stuff effectively may require some sculpting tools and a bit of practice to perfect your technique.
- Sculpting Tools: This can be a simple tooth pick, an hobby knife or even an actual set of clay sculpting tools. Having sculpting tools will be essential if you are working with green stuff.
22. Blue Stuff
Blue Stuff, sold by Green Stuff World, is a reusable thermoplastic ideal for mold making. Simply heat it to shape your mold, and once it cools, it’s ready for use. Blue Stuff is perfect for creating molds to replicate miniatures or parts. After crafting the mold, you can use epoxy putty, Milliput, or similar materials to produce your duplicate. Its reusability makes it a versatile and cost-effective tool for hobbyists.
23. 3D Printer
A 3D printer can be a game changer for hobbyists, offering the ability to create custom tools and parts like travel cases, paint racks, bases, movement trays, and even miniatures. For those who reach an advanced level, designing your own miniatures and accessories with software like Blender becomes an exciting possibility.
- Filament Printer: Great for creating custom bases and movement trays. You can also print out paint racks, and other awesome accessories to take your hobby to the next level.
- Resin Printer: The best for printing out highly detailed miniatures, conversion bits, and bases that have more intricate details that filament printers just can’t handle.
24. Air Brush
An airbrush is a powerful tool for miniature painters, offering smooth base coats, subtle gradients, and advanced effects like zenithal priming and glowing finishes. It saves time on large surfaces, ensures even coverage, and makes blending and shading easier. While there’s a learning curve, mastering an airbrush can elevate your painting to professional-quality results, making it a game-changer for serious hobbyists.
25. Plasticard (Styrene Sheet)
Plasticard is a versatile material used for scratch-building, conversions, and customizing miniatures. Ideal for creating custom pieces, adding detail to existing models, and building terrain, it can be easily cut, shaped, and glued to create walls, floors, vehicles, or extra elements like armor and pipes. Plasticard is also perfect for reinforcing larger structures and customizing bases. Its durability and ease of use make it an essential tool for hobbyists looking to enhance their miniatures and dioramas with personalized features and unique designs.
26. Photography Backdrop
A photography backdrop is a valuable tool for showcasing your finished miniatures on Instagram, Pinterest, or other social media platforms. It helps create a clean, professional background that highlights your work without distractions. Backdrops come in various styles, such as neutral gradients, themed scenes, or plain colors, depending on the effect you’re going for. Using a backdrop simplifies lighting adjustments and ensures your miniatures stand out, making it easier to share your hard work with the world.