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Hello all, I want to preface by saying I'm new to the hobby and painting in general, so please bear with me. I was hoping to get a few suggestions as for how to hand paint logos, such as a Space Wolf great company on the shoulder pads of troops and on the back of Rhinos.

I have a few nice detail brushes, but even those seem a little too flimsy when I'm trying to paint a custom great company logo on (Gunnar Red Moon). It's something I don't mind doing and I want to do something other than the usual yellow shoulder with black wolf's head logo that I see everywhere. Ergo, I've been very slowly and unsatisfactorally painting the logo on. Is there like a way to use something that's a little...firmer? Like will a sewing needle dipped in ink work for the general shape? I feel that even a detail brush is a little too long and flimsy, so my hand movements dont 100% transfer to the actual result. Maybe it's just that I'm new and need practice, I guess.

Oh well; any tips are appreciated.

Wet brush, twist it with your fingertips and sketch out an outline first... Usually with chaos black and then work up from there. Water down your paints as well so the brush is less likely to bend and whatnot.

As for using a needle dipped in ink... no, I don't think that will work. If you want to draw it on, as opposed to painting it, get yourself some fine-tipped markers (Sakura Pigma micron pens are fantastic). Nothing wrong with sketching a design in pencil, then filling in with paint, if you want something between drawing and painting.

Honestly, I think you just need to get used to the brushes. Painting freehand is not going to feel the same as sketching the initial design. Take a piece of scrap cardboard, spray a quick basecoat, and go to town. Try laying down some lines with various curves, try sketching out some complex shapes in pencil and filling them in.

Once you've gotten used to the brushes, work up to drawing your logo at scale, lining it, and filling it in. Don't be afraid to play back and forth with your fill and base colors - most skilled freehand painters don't simply lay down their lines in one go and color it in, they build in layers, cleaning up edges as needed. Once you're comfortable with that, start slapping it on your models.

It might be a problem with paint consistency. When you use fine detail brushes, what tends to happen the amount of paint on your brush tip is so small that it starts to dry almost instantly and then it won't transfer over to the miniture properly. You end up either having to use more paint, or pressing harder, both of which result in a thicker splodgy line or a dry brush stroke.

The best solution is probably to use acrylic retardent to mix with your paint (on a pallet)... This prevents the paint from drying too fast without making it too watery. When you get the consistency right you will find the paint will flow off your brush tip easily into a razor sharp line. Then all you need to do is not shake too much.