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Hobby Supplies
37
items This is a list of some of my favorite tools of the trade. Take a look through - everything you need to get started is right here. If you've been in the hobby for a while, I'm sure you'll recognize a lot of the stuff here.
Sections
7
Where to Start?
Paints
Brush Lyfe
Mini Basing
Terrain Building
Workstation
Where to Start?
New to painting miniatures and don't want to overspend? Here's some great options to dip your toes into the paint pot.
Get started with the basics! Fantastic if you already have a bunch of miniatures for D&D or some other TTRPG that you're ready to start painting.
Comes with a brush!
Comes with a brush!
The Army Painter Miniatures Paint Set, 10 Paints
Bigger paint selection and a free model to boot! Recommended to me by a friend who got started with this.
Comes with a brush!
Comes with a brush!
Army Painter Gamemaster Wandering Monsters Set
Another fantastic option for getting started. Good variety, comes with some miniatures to practice on. If you're getting started, the most important step to take is starting.
Don't agonize over the tools, the paints, the miniatures, etc. Put paint to plastic and get started! Over time you'll learn more and more about the craft and develop your own preferences and tastes. But you can't do that until you start, so hop to it...
Comes with a brush!
Don't agonize over the tools, the paints, the miniatures, etc. Put paint to plastic and get started! Over time you'll learn more and more about the craft and develop your own preferences and tastes. But you can't do that until you start, so hop to it...
Comes with a brush!
The Army Painter - DnD Miniatures Paint Set
Paints
Okay, you're into this. What paints should you buy?
Paints that shade while you drop a base coat. Saves time painting and the pigments are fantastic.
DO NOT BUY THE 1.0 series of Speed Paints. There's an issue with the formulation where they will reactivate when they get wet which can create all sorts of problems around blending colors, highlighting, washes, etc. This was fixed in the 2.0 series.
DO NOT BUY THE 1.0 series of Speed Paints. There's an issue with the formulation where they will reactivate when they get wet which can create all sorts of problems around blending colors, highlighting, washes, etc. This was fixed in the 2.0 series.
Speedpaint 2.0 Starter Set - 10x18ml Paint Kit
For when you're ready to dive in.
The Army Painter Miniature Painting Kit - 60 Paints
Make your own glazes with this! Add a bit of water as needed to get the right consistency. Matte mediums vary in viscosity, so play a bit to get it where you need it.
WAAAAY cheaper than buying a glaze medium - just make your own. You ARE an artist after all.
WAAAAY cheaper than buying a glaze medium - just make your own. You ARE an artist after all.
Liquitex Professional Matte Medium, 237ml (8-oz)
This is what I use. In the world of miniature painting, you'll find a ton of art supplies and paints that are all marketed to miniatures painting. You don't need to buy [insert brand] products to paint great miniatures.
When you hit an upper level of artistic skill, you'll develop a feel for the nuances of various products and you'll naturally pick certain primers over others for a variety of reasons. But if you just need that model to be black so you can drybrush i...
As always, if you're trying something new be sure to try it out on a test model.
When you hit an upper level of artistic skill, you'll develop a feel for the nuances of various products and you'll naturally pick certain primers over others for a variety of reasons. But if you just need that model to be black so you can drybrush i...
As always, if you're trying something new be sure to try it out on a test model.
Rust-Oleum Flat Black Primer 2X Ultra Cover, 12oz
It's just one of those colors you'll go through like crazy. Save the money and buy something bigger than those tiny droppers. You can always refill your dropper when that empties out.
Liquitex BASICS Acrylic Paint, 250ml, Titanium White
Same as white, this is gonna come up quite a bit. Painting rims on bases, adding to modpodge to make a black sealer/base coat a la Black Magic Craft. You can always refill your paint droppers - save the money on the paints you're going to use a lot o...
Liquitex BASICS Acrylic Paint, 250ml, Ivory Black
Brush Lyfe
Brushes and brush accessories for your consideration.
LOVE this brush
Winsor & Newton Series 7 Kolinsky Sable #1
Take care of your tools - this is so important.
B & J Original Brush Cleaner - 2.5 Oz/12ct Display
Great starter set of brushes. Start here if you don't know where to begin.
The Army Painter Mega Brush Set - 10 Brushes
Mini Basing
Painting a miniature is cool, but the base really brings the whole piece together.
Great for a variety of uses. Awesome for jungle environments. Adds color and texture to the base. You'll use tiny bits of it, not a ton, so the bag will stretch for a long time.
Moss Mix - Best Sellers, 80.75 Cubic Inch Bag
Awesome for Noble Bright fantasy miniatures. I use them for my 40k orks like they're stomping through a meadow. IDK, it's art do whatever you want.
60 Pcs DIY Miniature Colorful Flower Clusters
Flowers, but like, super cool looking. They definitely add visual variety to the bases.
40 Pcs Flower Cluster Grass Tufts Model (Purple)
Shrubs! Great to add a little bit of variety. Flowers don't fit everywhere, ya know?
50pcs Green Shrubs Bush Model, 3.5cm HO Scenery
Great for basing miniatures. Buy this and you'll have cork for life.
You can also tear up corks from wine bottles - once you get into basing and terrain building you'll start seeing materials everywhere. You might get in trouble with your S/O for hoarding trash, so IDK be mindful of that. Don't be a trash dragon.
You can also tear up corks from wine bottles - once you get into basing and terrain building you'll start seeing materials everywhere. You might get in trouble with your S/O for hoarding trash, so IDK be mindful of that. Don't be a trash dragon.
Quartet Cork Tiles, 12" x 12", 4 count
This is going to last you for a very long time. Very recommend, so value, much grass.
Hobby City fine Turf Green Grass T1345
Terrain Building
Bits and bobs to bring your larger landscapes to life.
DO NOT BUY THIS. Dirt is free outside. When you're creating terrain pieces, or basing miniatures, you're most interested in creating interesting textures. You'll paint over it anyways. Natural dirt works very well for this purpose, just make sure tha...
If you keep houseplants this stuff works great. You can also create your own potting soil. I've never done that, but it's a really interesting rabbit hole. Essentially you're creating the right kind of texture of soil that facilitates a certain level...
If you keep houseplants this stuff works great. You can also create your own potting soil. I've never done that, but it's a really interesting rabbit hole. Essentially you're creating the right kind of texture of soil that facilitates a certain level...
Miracle-Gro Potting Mix, 8 qt. (2 Pack)
Creates tall grass, like in Pokemon or fields of wheat. Or lawns that haven't been mown in a decade. Tall grass, what's what you get here. Works in swamps too. Really, just, like, if you need tall grass this is what you're gonna use.
It's applied by using static electricity to pull the fibers up to stand vertically over an area covered in glue. The end result looks fantastic. Great for larger swathes of land, but also works well for centerpiece bases.
It's applied by using static electricity to pull the fibers up to stand vertically over an area covered in glue. The end result looks fantastic. Great for larger swathes of land, but also works well for centerpiece bases.
Mini Static Grass Flocking, 4 Colors 8 Grass Applicator
Molds are interesting because you're after the texture. You can position them at an angle to create a rockface based on how you pour the plaster. Great for larger set pieces. Using molds creates a different vibe then carving foam or cork.
Woodland Scenics Mold RCK, Random Rock
Same concept, but these are skinny rock bois.
Woodland Scenics C1233 Rock Mold-Embankments
I LOVE this stuff because it cures FAST. It's lightweight too, so it won't weight down anything you're working on. The material is fairly soft, so you can carve or etch into it. If there's any bubbles or flaws, you can sculpt them out.
I've used this to replicate a special board game piece after I cast a mold. Pieces are all light weight and fairly fragile, but work just fine, especially after they're sealed with a modpodge protective coat. I'd suggest sticking to using this for la...
I've used this to replicate a special board game piece after I cast a mold. Pieces are all light weight and fairly fragile, but work just fine, especially after they're sealed with a modpodge protective coat. I'd suggest sticking to using this for la...
Lightweight Hydrocal,C1201, 2 lbs.
This stuff is incredible and I go through it regularly. Useful for sealing foam/cardboard terrain you've hacked together and are getting ready for the paint job. It can add stability to weak terrain and molds. You can also mix it with a soil/gravel t...
Mod Podge Waterbase Sealer, Glue & Finish, 16oz
If you want to get weird and creative, you need to get into sculpting. It's cheap and fun. You'll have a great time, I promise.
DAS Air-Hardening Modeling Clay - White 2.2lb
Oven Bake Clay is great for quick projects. I've used this for terrain pieces and also for sculpting little critters for my D&D game.
Original Sculpey® White, Non Toxic, 1 pound
Workstation
Must have additions to your arts and crafts workstation.
The concept is genius. Clean water every time!
Masterson Rinse Well for Cleaning Paintbrushes
This is the one I use. Evenly mixes the paints quicker and faster than shaking.
INTLLAB Lab Vortex Mixer, Touch Function Vortexer
This is my work station - it's tight, portable, and fits all the tools, brushes, paints, and miniatures I'm actively working on. I live in NYC and have very little space.
Helps me stay focused on my current projects. It also folds down to give me a workspace so I don't spill paint all over my living room table. I absolutely love this thing and have told all of my friends to buy it. I can't praise this thing enough I l...
Helps me stay focused on my current projects. It also folds down to give me a workspace so I don't spill paint all over my living room table. I absolutely love this thing and have told all of my friends to buy it. I can't praise this thing enough I l...
The Paint Case 2.0 | Frontier Wargaming
Why do you need to buy a wet pallet when you can make one?
Great question - for convenience. But more specifically, because you're going to turn the top part of the clamshell into a texture pallet for superior dry brushing.
It's got just enough space for it and it allows you to create a superior pallet that isn't on the market. Often times some of the best tools are the ones you create. You know what you need best.
Using a paper towel will wick away more moisture than you want and using a texture pallet will remove the paint, but not excess moisture resulting in a smoother dry brush.
Great question - for convenience. But more specifically, because you're going to turn the top part of the clamshell into a texture pallet for superior dry brushing.
It's got just enough space for it and it allows you to create a superior pallet that isn't on the market. Often times some of the best tools are the ones you create. You know what you need best.
Using a paper towel will wick away more moisture than you want and using a texture pallet will remove the paint, but not excess moisture resulting in a smoother dry brush.
Wet Palette for Acrylic Paints & Miniatures
Hobby Tools
Everything from Glue to Snippers. Don't glue your fingers together like I have.
Great glue for your plastic models
Tamiya Extra Thin Cement Glue Fine Tip 40ml
Love this glue. Thick gel, doesn't run or drip. Works on metal and plastic.
Gorilla Super Glue Gel XL, 25g, Clear, 1 Pack
Everything you need to clean up your models. Great value!
BXQINLENX 8 PCS Gundam Model Tools Kit
Fill gaps in your models or sculpt accessories, fur, etc. BTW - this is an epoxy mix and there's a bunch of versions out there. You don't need to spend a lot of money on a branded version - this is an affordable product I use, but if you're doing hug...
Green Stuff (4"Strip) RPR 75006
Green Stuff firms up as it dries, so it needs firmer tools to sculpt as it hardens. These metal ones will work great. Save the silicone for clay.
5 Pieces Miniature Sculpting Tools Set
These are so cheap and I love them. Perfect for removing mold lines, etc. The weird shapes help you reach those odd spots on some of the more complicated models. These work great for getting your models ready for priming.
KALIONE 10Pcs Assorted Mini Diamond File Set
If you're going to be working with clay having a basic toolset is going to make all of the difference. They'll help you cut pieces, add texture, shape sections of it, etc.
This is the set that I use and I pull it out every time I'm doing anything with clay.
This is the set that I use and I pull it out every time I'm doing anything with clay.
Clay Tools Kit, 25PCS Polymer Clay Tools Set