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Ok the purpose of this thread is to gather all the useful tips into one thread.

A few points to being with:

1. Keep comment short - nobody likes walls of text.
2. Please do not reply with comments that arnt helpful, this includes stuff like "some of these tips are really good". Only add a post if you are adding a tip of some sort.
3. Do not flame other users, if you disagree with somebody then say so in you post E.G 15 - I disagree with UserX, I suggest .... instead. If UserX wants to know why then UserX should PM UserZ.
4. Keep comment in the format these points are in E.G NumberX - Comment. Simple to follow and allows users to note how many tips we have accumulated.

Ok so i shall start.

1. Do not model/paint while not in the right frame of mind - Why?? Makes mistakes more likely.
2. Partially build models and paint them in stages. - Allows detail to be painted easier.
3. Invest in some basic tools! Clippers, files, possibly Green Stuff if using metal models, paints/brushes.
4. Use blue-tack(name may vary in areas) to pose models. - If pose looks "wrong" then it wont be glued in that pose.
5. Put on some background noise. Nothing too distracting E.g Music or a movie you have seen plenty of times. Painting/modelling is tedious in silence.
6. Take care of your tools. Better care you take the longer they will last!
7. Keep a tidy workspace. Will help alot if your space is organised. Dont have bits on your table that you arnt goin to use during the session.

Think thats about all i can think of for now. So next poster will start at number 8. Hopefully we can build a decent thread of useful tips for new to experienced modellers and painters!

8. Extra fine paint markers work pretty good for eyes. They come in a variety of colors.

9. Buy a gravity feed Airbrush and learn how to use it.
10. Base color armor for entire units with said airbrush

11. Always check here first : http://www.dakkadakka.com/wiki/en/Categoryakka_Modeling_and_Painting_FAQ

Or should that be

1. Always check here first : http://www.dakkadakka.com/wiki/en/Categoryakka_Modeling_and_Painting_FAQ

11. Paint in natural light if possible. Easier to see details, crevices, etc.
12. Use 2 seperate cups to wash your brushes in. One for metallics and one for non-metallics. Sparkly flesh can look weird.
13. Don't paint where there's tons of activity, example, on the couch (with a table of course) with children and animals jumping all over it.

14 Remember to take off mould lines on your models! It is unbelieveable how many people seem to leave these on, ruining any paintjob.
15 Using glue; it is not a competition to see how much you can pour on a model without the plastic melting, you don't need much.
16 Don't overthink you colour schemes, basic will work well enough. If you do a complicated scheme you'll be there for the eternity painting the rest of your army.
17 If eating food,wash your hands before painting otherwise grease will transfer to model
18 Select your colour scheme and stick to it!

19 Make yourself a wet pallette even if it is only some cooking paper on top of wet tissue. The time it will save you is huge, and it can also help prevent wasting paint
20 If working on a large unit, limit yourself to a set amount of highlight layers and washes, then stick to this across the entire unit. It will stop you over detailing some more than others, and keep the unit unified in scheme.
21 Keep a pointed top colour shaper (modelling tool ) handy. Not only do the rubber ones wipe off wet paint mistakes you may have made, the tips double up as great for eyes or precise dots

22. Measure twice cut once.

23 Use test models to determine your color scheme, trying it out will let you know what to change.
24 Buy a Color Wheel and a guide to mixing watercolors or acrylics to learn basic and advanced color theory.
25 Always use a sharp hobby knife for best results - they can go dull quick!

Gavin Thorne wrote:25 Always use a sharp hobby knife for best results - they can go dull quick!

And they are safer, a blunt blade encourages the use of force, which is when you slip and stab yourself.

26. Get yourself a modelling saw, will save sooo much time.
27. If you are using a certain mix of paint very very often, invest in an extra pot of the colours you need and pre-mix yourself a potful, will save no end of time and will improve the consistency of your colours!
28. When dealing with large units, paint a certain number at a time (approx 10) then do something different before painting the next lot. Stops you getting bored and therefore sloppy.

Oh that is dissapointing. I expected it to take much longer before someone lost count.

29. Invest in a daylight fluorescent tube lamp. Colours and detail are better defined.

30. Wash your brush occasionally whilst painting to stop paint running into the ferrule and splitting the tip of the brush.

31. When eating food ensure any bits drop onto the carpet below rather than risk crumbs on your new paintwork. That way you can rub them into the carpet with your feet too.

32. If you find it struggle to focus and have issues with close up work - Get your eyes tested. Keep struggling and you'll get worse, eye strain hurts, headaches don't help either.

33. If you are tired. Stop. Rest.

34. A medicine dropper from an old bottle of children's tylenol is very useful for mixing paint.

35. Thin your paints. Use a medium or even water, but the details on your mini will thank you.

36. When working with green stuff, keep everything wet. It will stick and stick and stick if you don't. If you keep your hands, tools, and model wet, you won't have the green stuff coming back at you.
37. Make sure to let your green stuff sit a minute or two to get shape, constant fooling with it won't yield the results you want.
38. Take an extra moment and make sure your fingerprints are smoothed out from the green stuff on your model.

some of these tips are really good

39. get some silicone tipped brushes for modelling