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...what's the difference? I bought the fine detail one on my own and got the detail brush as a replacement for the paint set one. I'm having the damndest time trying to figure out the difference between them. They look the same and are the same size it seems.

Yeah, I own a couple of each. They're slightly different, but the fine detail brush is a little different Just a little

Is it enough that you have to actually decide between the two? I think I'm just going to get a standard brush for my normal painting anyway. Then decide between these two for my details.

It's been hard figuring out what brushes to buy. :(

Stay away from the wash brush, and the stippling brush. The rest are good

If you have to, buy the fine one though. Just because after you use it for a while, the bristle gradually fall out, and you're left with a sharper point on the fine one.

As long as they don't fall out as quickly as the starter brush. >_< One stupid base coat.

Well I'm getting the standard brush for most everything non-detailed. Maybe a big brush for getting the whole model painted one colour faster? Which big brush? The blog I'm looking at uses the drybrush. In fact he uses the drybrush when adding water to paint or just non-drybrushing paint on in general.

Is that a good idea? I guess it's fine as long as I let the brush dry before using it for drybrushing. Or is it better to use a normal big brush for non-drybrushing?

Samus_aran115 wrote:Stay away from the wash brush, and the stippling brush.

I don't have those but why stay away from them?

I agree with the stiple beush, that thing is awful. It doesn't really do stipling well at all as the bristles are immobile.
But i do like the wash brush as it can soak up the wash and help it spread evenly.

are there any any other brushes i should know about(tht are cheaper than the citadel ones please...)

Dude, citadel are about the cheapest 'entry level' brushes on the market. For learning they're ok. Afterwards you'll be moving on to Rosemary & Co or Windsor & Newton. Them be expensive brushes. But oh, so nice.

made the mistake of buying a stippling brush,waste of money.
ive used cheap brushes bought from hobby suppliers and had no problems just make sure you check the bristles before buying.the citadel fine detail brush is about half the thickness of the standard brush.

bok_choy17 wrote:are there any any other brushes i should know about(tht are cheaper than the citadel ones please...)

Rosemary & Co. pure kolinsky sable brushes are about the same price, but much better than any GW brush I have ever used. They hold their point so well that there is no need for brush smaller than 0 (IMO). I do most of my work with size 1 and 2, but that is only because I haven't got any larger ones. I am going to pick 3 and 4 once I get back to painting.

If your looking for a brush that with proper care you'll never have to replace, then go with Windsor and Newton. They are amazing.

The GW brushes arent bad, I especially like there dry brushes.

shingouki wrote:made the mistake of buying a stippling brush,waste of money.
ive used cheap brushes bought from hobby suppliers and had no problems just make sure you check the bristles before buying.the citadel fine detail brush is about half the thickness of the standard brush.

I was just wondering because they look the same size.

Also, I'm still wondering if using a drybrush for non-drybrushing ok? Or does it ruin the brush?

there is a simple difference -

The detail brush is best used for overbrushing or drybrushing. it's thicker bristles, but because it's so small, it usually doesn't wear out with good care.

The fine detail brush is like your standard brush. it's just smaller.

I keep...

Fine detail brush - fine details
Detail brush - overbrush for small areas
Standard -for things bigger then a small bit of rope or detail.
Large brush - drubrushing medium areas, painting alrge areas [larger then a mans arm]
Wash brush - Guess what? I use this for washing.
I like the fact that it holds alot of water, and gives an even coat. no matter what, this is good for extensive washing
Large Drybrush - Drybrushing an entire model quickly, drybrushing four or five models at a time. [base coat]

Detail has it's place.

Fine detail brush does too.

basecoat brush, drybrushes, and stipling brushes are hard to use, and are generally difficult to keep clean.

I give up on real drybrushes. I just use another brush.

my opinion. hope it guides.

Just make your own stippling brushes from old battered brushes, just as effective and you get to recycle.

So any brush is a drybrush as long as it's dry? Though it seems like the drybrushes are a but stiffer, which I have no idea whether that's better or not. XD

Well GW employees aggreed with using a large drybrush for normal brushing. They actually told me it's all I need for now and didn't push more brushes. Though I did end up buying 6 paints for my Wolves.

Well, they're premolded Ultramarines from the paint set, but I'm testing SW colour schemes on them, so they'll be SPACE WOLF ULTRA MARINES!!!

Portaljacker, the drybrushes are thicker and harder to clean - better replace a paintbrush from use then to replace it from not being able get the paint out of it.

Generally speaking(from a painting background) brushes can vary despite their similar appearance. I've never ventured to buying citadel branded brushes because I know my stuff enough to be able to choose per need..

Different types of synthetic hair will move differently, have different diamtres of the fibres and tapers, hold different amounts of liquid, and vary on the quality of their ferrule and glue ( thus the type of issues you'll get mentioned above with brushes losing hair). If you are wanting to use a brush that you've found 'loses hair', because of another feature, you could try gently crimping the ferrule, and remembering to NOT wash brushes in anything warmer than body temperature water, or strong solvents, as this can affect the glue inside. Storing your brushes well and not leaving them 'soaking' will also help to avoid this.

Sable and natural/animal fiber brushes can vary in quality, and again it can be hard to tell one from another without experience or testing them out. Honestly once you start getting to spending more than $10 on a brush, you're best heading to an actual art supplies store(because hobby stores will rip you off, evidently as I've noticed when looking through brush selections at my local with $$ vs quality), and asking to test the brushes out with cool clean water on plain paper to help you make a decision. Most quality art supplies stores should let you do this, unless the brushes are in packages, or very well sized for customer presentation..


For miniature painting imho so far, you are best sticking to brushes labelled for 'watercolour**', quality synthetic or sable liners and detailers, and a natural fiber pointed mop for soaking up excess drips acurately, and synthetic stiff but fine fiber brushes for dry brushing.. in angles or filberts.

**( as by nature they will have shorter handles so you dont poke yourself in the eye when you are getting up close, and the fibres are designed to hold more liquid thus giving you smoother jobs and washes),

Hi mate
paint brushes are a personal choice for each of us but you cant go wrong with brushes from
http://snmstuff.co.uk/vallejobrushes.aspx
these are basically the pro standard brush
Creative Models Kolinsky Sable or Kolinsky Red Sable
and for dry brusing
Paintmaster Flat Brushes

but you need a decent paint brush cleanier such as
Rustins Cellulose Thinners 250ml
http://www.shopwiki.co.uk/cellulose+thinner

be careful if you use the thinners its powerful stuff and strips metal models as well.

Captain Solon wrote:Portaljacker, the drybrushes are thicker and harder to clean - better replace a paintbrush from use then to replace it from not being able get the paint out of it.

Ok, well either way, whether for drybrushing or normal brushing I'll be dipping the big one in the same way, the difference will be if I remove the excess paint on the pallet for drybrushing or remove the excess paint on the model by painting it.

Also I've been somewhat paranoid about swishing my brushes in water, whenever I'm going to set one down for more than a few seconds I swish the brush and dry it.