Recommended Materials

To get a nice finish, it’s important to use the right materials. Here I share what I use and recommend!

I use materials from The Army Painter, which are very good quality within a reasonable price and made specifically for (plastic) miniature painting. They have several bundles for beginners with all the basics you need to get started, and they also provide painting manuals and tutorials to help. You can buy their products at Amazon.

Primer

A good primer will make painting much easier, requiring less layers and giving you a smoother finish. It is the most important preparation step before painting - it will make the print surface more porous so the paint will adhere more easily. Make sure the primer you get is appropriate for plastic surfaces.

Choosing the color

The color of the primer can facilitate the painting process: if you’re painting with dark colors, it is better to use a darker tone so when painting you need less layers. It is also a good idea to use a filament of a different color than the primer, to be able to see more easily any missing parts on the model while applying the primer.

I use these two for everything: white for most models and a green-ish color for darker paint work.

Paints

I use paints from the “Warpaints Fanatic” set. There are dozens of colors to choose from, but you can get started with a basic set like this one. These are concentrated acrylic paints ideal for painting miniatures.

These paint bottles come with a small metal ball inside to facilitate shaking / mixing. Always do a good shake before using, and keep it closed so it doesn’t dry out.

A more generic option would be acrylic paints or pens - they tend to be less concentrated and require more layers, though. A primer specific for plastic is still highly recommended for better results, no matter what kind of paints you choose!

Wet Palette

I got this wet palette that makes the paint last for longer without drying, I really like it! It’s basically a little portable paintbrush case with a sort of foam that you soak in water, then add a thin sheet of the paper that comes with it, so you can add the paints to the paper and keep the foam clean. The paper absorbs a bit of the water, keeping the paints fresh for longer.

Paint Brushes

Although prints can be of any size, there are typically many details (especially for painting characters), so you’ll want to make sure you have adequate brushes for details. These are the ones I use the most (all from The Army Painter):

Take good care of your paint brushes and they will last for a very long time! Never let them dry with paint on, and also don’t let it soaking in a water cup as this will make it lose its form (especially important for fine-detail brushes). Clean after use and let it stay out of the water.

Varnish

To protect your painted model and make it more resistant to fading / staining / scratching, it’s important to seal the paint with a varnish. I typically use a matte / no-shine varnish for a more natural finish.