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GW paints aren't always the best. Try other brands. Army Painter is awesome.

I came across this neat little trick while trying to heavily convert some plastic figures. I was having serious trouble carving/scraping away sections of the plastic I needed to, and thought a small drop of plastic glue left for a few minutes would soften up the plastic nicely and makes it did. Made much easier! Of limited use, I know, but I found it really helped

A guy at a FLGS told me to put static grass in a pet bottle and shake it, apparently it makes it stand up more.

If you can, paint at your local game store or GW store, get tips from other painters.

I increased my painting skill drastically by just painting at the stores every Saturday.

Try painting while listening to Classical music. It's good for your concentration & might even inspire you.

 EverlastingNewb wrote:
Try painting while listening to Classical music. It's good for your concentration & might even inspire you.

This. I listen to mostly cello music and a heavy dose of movie scores...the occasionaly podcast. Heck even a movie on in the background. Always seems to help quite a bit.

For listening, I would recommend channels such as MrRepzion, Vsauce, IHE and Veritasium. They all talk about interesting stuff, but they don't often require you to look at the video, you can just listen.

My tip is, if you accidentally stab yourself while drilling out the muzzle of a boltgun with a pin vise drill, smear your blood on the model immediately. The blood sacrifice will result in that model rolling high when it's needed.

Oh yeah, and don't forget to paint over it.

How on earth are you stabbing yourself while drilling bolters?

 Elbows wrote:

 EverlastingNewb wrote:
Try painting while listening to Classical music. It's good for your concentration & might even inspire you.

This. I listen to mostly cello music and a heavy dose of movie scores...the occasionaly podcast. Heck even a movie on in the background. Always seems to help quite a bit.

I often pull up music by Two Steps from Hell on Youtube while I paint. Very good music in varying styles. I just put on a playlist of it and get to work!

kb_lock wrote:
How on earth are you stabbing yourself while drilling bolters?

I once cut my entire hand open when tightening a drill. Dangerous beings, they are.

 ZergSmasher wrote:

 Elbows wrote:

 EverlastingNewb wrote:
Try painting while listening to Classical music. It's good for your concentration & might even inspire you.

This. I listen to mostly cello music and a heavy dose of movie scores...the occasionaly podcast. Heck even a movie on in the background. Always seems to help quite a bit.

I often pull up music by Two Steps from Hell on Youtube while I paint. Very good music in varying styles. I just put on a playlist of it and get to work!

The ultimate inspiration track

Ive seen a few posts about cats on here. We just got a new one and in the month we have had it we have only seen it twice.... Best cat ever. LMAO No clue where that darn thing hides all the time but its definitely a Night Lord

Might be off topic, but does anyone have any examples of scratchbuilt Nurglings?

Not sure if I posted this here before, but it saved my model again last night.

Panic brushes!

Keep a clean 1 or 2 brush (or medium drybrush) nearby when painting. If you make a mistake, get the brush wet and hit it straight away. Small mistakes will likely disappear straight away if you can get to it in a few seconds, bigger mistakes can be washed completely out so you can start again.

That has saved my bacon many many a time.

Yeah the brush wingman is a go-to for me. I paint pretty simply and skim around tabletop level so going back to touch up when I could have just fixed the issue in line wastes a lot of time comparatively.

Not sure I can back the classical music play though, when I do get to listen to something while I paint its gotta be metal. Or dubstep. Or anything fast and preferably heavy. I zone out to it and next thing you know stuffs painted. Tv is ok but only something I've seen before or that doesn't require a lot of attention.


I'm sure it's been said but I find it useful to have just what I plan to work on out in my hobby space. Specific project and maybe a selection of primed and ready minis in case inspiration hits. Unpainted stuff gets put in a drawer, or its box, or an organizer. The pile of shame/doom/etc is not a good motivator.

Speaking of music, I paint in silence. The only hobby time I currently have is in the early morning, after I walk the dogs but before the wife and son wake up. Those 45 minutes of tranquility really add up, especially with no distractions.

I used to do that too but the newish baby often gets up early enough to negate the time. Usually I just paint with kids shows in the background.

8pm - 1am child dodging painting, hard work tbh

 GrimDork wrote:
I used to do that too but the newish baby often gets up early enough to negate the time. Usually I just paint with kids shows in the background.

Your kids let you paint? Everytime my son sees me with a brush in hand, he decides it's time to play a "miniatures game" upstairs...

I personally prefer Metal and Alternative when Im doing something like painting or even assembling but thats just me. LOL.

My tip: If you use GW brand paints its very wise to make sure you clean the tops of the pots when your finished painting or you will see that your pretty expensive little pot of paint has started or completely dried up. I currently looking at a few pots that I only used about twice that has started drying because of the left over paint in the tops so yeah.... clean them often so they seal back up. I wish I had done more research before I bought into GW paints.... LOL

Tip I remember from a few years ago: Have a first aid kit handy.

I once fell onto a particularly spiky ruined building, and speared my left hand on a spire. That day I learned how to bandage one hand with my other.

If, however, your paint has dried up, scrape it out and use it as basing material.

don't scratch yourself with the hand holding the exacto knife... just. don't. sigh.

Especially true if nose itches and don't have glasses on...yikes.

Slice yourself open? Don't panic, you're already prepared.

Superglue that bitch shut (without supergluing your other hand to it) and you're good to go.

Bonus points if you scream out MEDIC when you do it

kb_lock wrote:
Slice yourself open? Don't panic, you're already prepared.

Superglue that bitch shut (without supergluing your other hand to it) and you're good to go.

Bonus points if you scream out MEDIC when you do it

Make sure you disinfect first. Superglue will trap any bacteria and/or contaminants inside the wound.

Fortunately, you also have isopropanol on your desk

lol true...
and now, bandaids as well... just in case the superglue doesn't cooperate sigh

I guess it was time to spill the blood for the blood god, usually I'm more careful - I blame the resurgence of this thread