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My free hand and brush control Kung-Fu is weak so it takes a very long time for me to do fine details. Decals look great if applied correctly and save me a ton of time. So for now...transfer sheet? Yes please!

I'm working with a combination of media for my Salamanders. Standard decals. Forgeworld brass. Kromlech shoulder pads for some 'veteran/sergeant' tagging. At some point, home produced decals for mimicing Salamanders markings found in various sources.

I paint the modelled glyphs from the sets, but if it looks boring i do a few rough freehand ones as well, but I've only ever used 2 transfers.

I've got home brew chapter so I have to make my own decals. They look great

I try to paint them. The paint job is terrible, (it's Salamanders and I have the precision skills of a malfunctioning crane on caffeine) but it means I don't have to change the decals every week or so.

I chose other, because this is a single-option survey, and I actually use several of the methods listed.

I freehand when doing individual designs. I use decals (both hand-made & printed, and stock ones) where uniformity is important. I've bought the extra forgeworld parts with raised details for several armies.

There is no one answer - it's really about picking the right method for the task at hand.

It really does depend on the model for me. For example Thousand Sons rubric marines look better with their ouroboros transfers than the Iron Warriors or Death Guard do with theirs. Then again I do try to avoid freehand as much as possible because of how frequently I make mistakes. I'd just be redoing the whole thing again and again until there's a build up of paint that can't be left that way nor can it be wiped off because then it'd leave a line where the layers broke off on the finish. Freehand is just too high risk in my opinion. Fortunately for CSM there are a lot of conversion kits that GW still sells.

I probably use decals most, although attempt to free-hand if its a very simple design - something like a cross, triangle etc. I honestly think the decal is the gamers equivalent of the microwave - it might not get the 'taste' suitable for the connoisseur, but you can get amazing results in a tiny fraction of the time needed otherwise.

A lot of the symbols on things I have would be impossible to freehand well, such as a US flag on the side of a 15mm tank for instance.

And, if I'm painting 30 of these guys, as much as I would love to have the time (and skill!) to freehand, it would be something like 2016 before I had finished painting the designs.



With a high-quality decal, and some soaking solution painted on to it, add a bit of weathering and you can make the decal look part of the miniature. I quite often have comments about being amazing at freehand, and then have to point out that actually its a decal.



I'm actually really, really surprised at how high the percentage is of people saying they use free-hand! Would love to see in which context it actually refers to (i.e. what models are they painting, what are they using freehand for).

Years ago I was great at doing freehand, but now that I'm coming back to the hobby, I can barely keep my hands still enough to keep the mini in place. It might take a bit more practice than I thought it would, but that's the fun of it, I guess.

I can't get decals flat enough on pads. Have used them on banners. I'm not talented enough, for my critical eye anyway. To do free hand so I try and model or use existing features.

I voted for use the detail on the original model as my preferred method. I'm total rubbish at painting freehand symbols or markings, so that's right out. If the detail isn' there I don't mind using decals, although that's second choice for me. Buying upgrade parts is another option, but can often be cost prohibitive when we are talking about anyone except character models.

GS'ing and freehand. In my relative young journey in WH40K I never used a decal. I hated them when using revell-models and don't know if I will ever use one. But maybe I will change my mind, I have seen some amazing decal work.

I use to just paint the miniature and not add any symbols. However, now I add decals using mico set, micro sol, and Vallejo decal fix. It takes some practice but I'm getting to the point where the decals look painted on.

I only use decals on vehicles, as nice flat surfaces take decals better than space marine shoulder pads. Tried to do the shoulder pad ones, then said feth it and badly freehanded the symbols.

I dont even know how to use and apply decals or transfers and i worry it will be messed up by the shades i put on my models

I free hand a lot but i love forge worlds decals.

I freehand, then paint over it, then try again, then paint over it, then try again... fine details usually take me at least 3 tries. Perhaps I should get me some transfers. I did just start cutting out some from super-thin plastic, then painting over them, and so far, it's working pretty well. It adds just a tiny bit of relief to the design, and you can cut out as many as you need until you get one that looks good enough to superglue to the model.

I usually design an emblem and then paint it on fine using a toothpick.

A mix; standard decals for my Alpha Legion SMs, but the Renegades get free-hand symbols. I would buy custom shoulder pads and custom decals though.

I paint my own unit numbers/skull insignias on my guardsmen, I just really can't be bothered with decals.

Paint them my self

I used to do decals but I've never been happy with the result, and they're just a pain in the ass to do.

My preference is to find, or add, detail on the models and pick them out in some way that distinguishes them how I want. Otherwise it's just a basic paint job.

For Dark Angels though I've found that the Dark Angels veteran and Ravenwing sprues are just fantastic; I've gotten a tonne of mileage out of just one of each, plus the veteran sprue lets you build five robed marines, you just need to add spare special/heavy weapons from your own collection to complete them.

I'm not sure if the Veteran sprue is available on its own anymore, but the Ravenwing Accessory Pack still is. Lots of great bits in there for bikes and vehicles, plus the parts needed to convert a land speeder for Sammael.

Other. I tend to use a little bit of everything. Different techniques for different applications. Standard decals, custom decals, and thrid-party custom bits primarily.

Free hand is a major WIP but my go to as of right now.

I prefer custom parts when I can get them, but I've seen people do wonders with fine paint markers.

By the way... I've recently learned how decals are supposed to be applied properly, and I have moved my position from "no thanks" to "awesome for tabletop quality".

The thing is, if you're using proper decal solvent, the whole "sticker" look goes away and they practically look painted on.

I use Decals from a variety of sources, not just the appropriate GW decals but from other kits as well.

In addition I source also actual military kits for insignia, warning symbols, and other markings.

I've been referring to the wonderful Osprey books which show complete color schemes as well as insignia and markings, and highly recommend them to other modelers and hobbyists!

Some, None, All

I'm lazy and a poor free hand painter... sooo... I make up for it by really nice blending and nothing else

I voted "other" because it all depends on what scheme I'm going with.


For my Crimson Fists, there were no decals available when I started, and the old Imperial Fists pewter shoulder pad symbols were not to my liking, so I hand painted about half a chapter worth when they came out with better pads and decals. I try to stay with my hand painted symbols for continuity, but models like Kantor and Cortez are premolded.

As far as every other army I use, I will use decals if they exist and apply. Past that, I will paint. I don't pay extra for detailing, so 3P molded parts or custom decals are right out.