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Looking to try some new brushes, and in reading various forums I see good things about these. I went to http://www.aswexpress.com/discount-art-supplies/online/696/art-supplies/5 to see about buying some. Now my question is, what is the difference between the series 7 miniature brushes on that page, and the series 7 standard brushes. Both sets have the same size range.

What brush sizes do I get for basecoat, touch up coat, detail, and fine detail?

First, get on the ASW mailing list and wait for the next brush sale. They have good ones at least once a month and really good ones every few months.
I personally prefer the standard size. The mini size are too stuby and I could never get used to the way they hold paint (note I've found them to be awesome at FIMO sculpting however).

Oh and the tips are so nice that you will likely only need the 0 or 1 for most of your work, even the 2 will have such a nice tip that you'll find it useful all around. I'm not sure what you are used to, some folks use really big brushes for base coating. I still use the 1 or 2, and for all of my detail and in between I use the 0. I own the 2x0 and the 3x0 but I never touch them.

I agree completely with gunzhard, i bought a 000 a 0 a 1 and a 2 and I do 90% of my painting with the 1 2 and occasionally 0.

You can also check out Dickblick.com, that's where I got mine and there was a substantial discount.

Series 7 miniature brushes have a smaller hair length. Both are equal size tips, the series 7 have shorter hairs.

Good for more control but the longer hairs give you more paint at one time for longer pulls.

Yeah, size 0,1 and 2 is pretty much all you need for basecoats and highlights. Grab some cheapo 3 dollar brushes for dry-brushing.

Thanks guys.

Does this mailing list you are talking about sell the brushes for 8$ a pop? ASW has them for about 8 to 11 a pop instead of 20+
And I think I'll go with the standard size. I'm used to the Vallejo KS's, and lateley I'm finding they are not holding enough paint for me.

When I bought mine, I got them from amazon an bought a 00, 0 and a 1. I use mostly the 1 and 0 for everything. I use gakky brushes for everything like basecoats and whatnot. They were about ~8 bucks / per when I bought them a year and 1/2 ago. They are still going strong.

I also recommend you buy some pink soap to keep them nice.

Don't buy them unless...

1. You do stuff like blending. Paint crazy detail and spend a good time making your mini actually look good. If you're someone who paints really quick to get an army then the brush is too good for you.

2. You need to look after your brush. Buy some brush cleaner. Love your brush, clean your brush and it will love you back. I have brush soap and a liquid soap to clean mine. Love em.

I love my Kolinsky Sable brush's.

I'm a semi pro painter. I don't just whip out armies. And I know how to take care of brushes.

It's just recently my skills have surpassed my Valejo KS's abilities.

But heck for $8 dollars a pop (when on sale), even if you don't do all that they would be worth getting over a GW/Reaper/Valejo.

I've seen what a good brush can do for even a speed painters abilities. I have a speed painter in my group that I have painting way better just for getting him off of crap brushes.

Here is the thing: Series 7 is more expensive, yes, but if you treat them properly, they'll actually last longer and be a better deal than your cheapo brushes, in my experience. They hook less, splay less, flow easier (so they clean easier), and are just better.

Just don't ever use them with metallics: I still use cheapo brushes for that, because metallics tend to screw up brushes incredibly fast (damn flakes).

http://www.amazon.com/Winsor-Newton-Kolinsky-Sable-Brush/dp/B00251AAE8/ref=pd_sim_k_1
and
http://www.amazon.com/Winsor-Newton-Kolinsky-Sable-Brush/dp/B00251AAJS/ref=pd_sim_k_1
and perhaps some
http://www.amazon.com/Mona-Lisa-Pink-Soap-Ounces/dp/B001QWUHOU/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1272986773&sr=1-2

We are talking ~$8-9 a piece. These keep points longer, don't streak as much and are over all worth the 3-4x more you spend on them.

Kilazar wrote:Thanks guys.

Does this mailing list you are talking about sell the brushes for 8$ a pop? ASW has them for about 8 to 11 a pop instead of 20+
And I think I'll go with the standard size. I'm used to the Vallejo KS's, and lateley I'm finding they are not holding enough paint for me.

The mailing list I was talking about was for the ASWexpress website that you linked to initially. I've ordered consistently from them, and my brushes are always perfect. I typically wait until the W&N S7 are about $7.50 average or so, but I'd still pay $8... no need to really 'split hairs' over a few cents.