A is for The Army Painter

For the A-to-Z Blogging Challenge this month, I'm going to be tackling topics relating to the wild world of miniature painting - by that I mean tiny models used in board games, tabletop roleplaying games and wargames. Stop by every day to learn a little about my newest hobby and obsession!

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The Army Painter is a manufacturer of wargaming/modeling supplies and paint based out of Denmark. It’s a great beginner’s line because their products tend to be a little cheaper than others, and while they're not the top quality, they are perfectly functional and they make a little bit of everything (paint, brushes, modelling tools, decorative materials, glue, etc) so they're a handy one-stop brand. 

Source: The Army Painter

I started with AP paints because their line is carried at my local Gaming Store and, personally, I find their paints mostly easy to work with. They come a little thinner than other model paints, and thinning is one of the first and most important techniques you need to learn in painting minis, so I appreciated the head-start. That said, their pigments aren’t as rich as some thicker paints, so they wash out quickly. When you know what you’re doing, you’ll want to thin your paints yourself the exact amount you need, so you’ll need the colour of the paint to be more flexible. Another drawback of Army Painter is the consistency across the colours. For instance their Matte Black is superb—smooth, glossy, covers well—while their Matte White is terrible—lumpy and grainy. Over time, you will come to know your preferred colours in different lines.

Source: Spikey Bits

Army Painter also makes the “Gamemaster” line of terrain building kits, which are an awesome way to get into another facet of the hobby. Terrain building (building the forests, dungeons, villages, etc where your games take place) is a whole other complicated discussion that I’ll touch on in later posts.

Bonus "A": Airbrush

Airbrushing is a HUGELY important part of miniature painting but it's one I don't know as much about because I don't actually own an airbrush. Ergo, it's not the headline topic for today.

Source: Sergio Calvo Miniatures, Youtube

Airbrushing is using pressurized air to spray paint onto your surface. The advantage of course is that it covers much smoother than a brush, without leaving any brush marks. It’s commonly used in things like the automotive industry and bodypainting, but it can also be used for a variety of techniques in miniature painting, too. Priming is a great example (laying an undercoat on the surface that will take paint better), but you can use it for fine shading and highlighting. It all depends on the quality of your tools and the skill of the user.

I don’t have an airbrush but I hope to get into it someday. One thing at a time (this hobby is getting expensive!)

I got to the end and realized I hadn't shared any good pics on the main theme: Minis! So here's a batch of recent ones painted by me. These were done mostly with Army Painter paints so it fits today's topic. Stay tuned for more blurry photos of inch-tall people!

See y'all tomorrow!

Hugs & Kisses,

-CDGK