Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Okay, so I've been told by a few folks, including a fellow who has won 2 Golden Demon awards, that Micron pens are a MUST for tiny detail items. The only problem is, the closest places are in Tucson, or ordering online. I've found that Amazon has the best deal so far, but if anyone could point me to a cheaper alternative I'm all ears!

Sakura's a good brand, but many others also make similar pens - any large specialist art shop should sell them, in heaps of colours.

A little experimentation is needed - the ink is designed for use on paper, not painted plastic/resin/metal, but seems to work pretty well anyway. I recommend waterproof ink - avoids problems when varnishing/overpainting.

The fine tip Sharpie works really well also.

I'd skip the fine tipped Sharpie - not only is the tip far less precise than even an 08 Micron, the ink has a reddish, almost metallic hue when it isn't absorbed, as into paper. Sakura Pigma Microns and their ilk have truer blacks (regardless of substrate), finer tips, and archival ink (resistant to fading, waterproof once dry but removable beforehand).

As Clang says, there are alternatives with the same benefits as the Sakura pens, but I imagine that any shop that carries them has Microns, as well. If no stores are handy, I'd bite the bullet and order online. While I don't use mine constantly, they're downright indispensable for certain tasks. They're not particularly expensive, on their own, and I'm confident that you can find a seller that won't gouge you on shipping. Amazon is a pretty safe bet, but there's a chance you may find a seller with cheaper (or no) shipping on Ebay, if you don't have a Prime account.

What about www.dickblick.com?