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Hey painters, I've been practicing with synthetic brushes and feel that I am ready to move on to a better brush. It seems that many painters prefer and recommend the W&N Series 7 Brushes.
I can't seem to find Rosemary/Raphael brushes in my country, we do have Rosemary and Co brushes but only in big sizes (4++). With my current budget, I can only afford one W&N Brush and would
like to ask, what is the most versatile brush size that can be used for detail work and maybe a little bit of edge highlighting? Would brush size 1 suffice?

Also, what do you guys think about Back 2 Base-ix's line of brushes, are they any good?

Thank you!

Personally I use the W&N university series and I love them. As far as a versatile size I would say a 0 round. That brush can perform most of the tasks you want it to in a pinch.

Series 7 size 2 is an allrounder in my book.
Good enough point for fairly detailed work, yet enough volume not to dry out instantly..

The brushes I've painted entire models with are a size 1 and 2 (both from R&Co.). Of the two, I prefer the #2. If you're accustomed to using tiny brushes for detail work, a #1 may feel more comfortable, but a #2 makes larger applications (basecoating, applying washes, etc.) go a bit faster, while still being able to handle the fiddly bits.

I like my Winsor & Newton size 2/0 (that's 00 not size 2). It serves me very well!

I wanna chuck my lot into WN S7 size 1

Its small enough to do ok detail since the tip is always fantastic
and large enough to do other things.

I really like W&N S7 Sizes 00, 0, 1. They are all irreplaceable in my brush collection

The other thing to keep in mind is that "Detail" means different things to different people. For some, "detail" means edge highlights by dragging the side of a brush against a hard edge (IMO, use any brush. Even a GW drybrush works). For other people it's wet blending NMM effects in tiny areas, crazy small writing, freehand lightning effects, or super-awesome visor lens.

If I were to buy ONE detail brush only, I would buy a size 0.

My reason: I would not use it for general basecoating or washes, since this is a quick way to ruin a brush. A flat or filbert does a better job of basecoating (fewer brushstrokes, and more coverage), and you can use any ol' serviceable $3 flat. I mean, your basecoat is not gonna look better if you use a W&N brush. Since washes get into the ferule, don't use a premium brush for it.

I would choose size 0, because I personally find size 1 and 2 too awkward to get into tight spaces. I generally have at least one arm attached on my models before I paint them, and the insides of these, the spaces between legs, the gaps that are obscured -- even if the tip is fine enough, the belly/body of the brush bumps into things.

 Desubot wrote:
I wanna chuck my lot into WN S7 size 1

Its small enough to do ok detail since the tip is always fantastic
and large enough to do other things.

The size 1 W&N actually has a really nice, long, fine tip. The Raphael 8404 Size 1 also have a super nice long point. Ironically, I find that it is a terrible basecoat brush, because it has a nice, long, fine tip -- I want a brush with a more blunt/wider tip, also that I can mercilessly jam into tight spaces, but most importantly, cover more areas with fewer brush strokes, and more evenly.

I will never use a synthetic brush again. Love my WN brushes, 2/0 is a good all around in my opinion.

Rugged_Seahorse wrote:
I will never use a synthetic brush again. Love my WN brushes, 2/0 is a good all around in my opinion.

Yeah, 00 or 0. It is a tough call. I said 0, because it's more useful on models and as a layering brush. When I doing edge highlights, unless I'm wet blending, I use a 0 for the first 1-2 highlights, and a 00 on the last 1-2. I also prefer 00 for freehand fine lines. But those are things most peeps don't do.

Then again, why either or... get both!!!

My size 1 is a good general purpose brush. If I had to replace all my brushes with a single brush, it'd probably be that one.

That said, I wouldn't. As I mostly use that size 1 for detail work so I don't want to destroy it when doing basecoats and whatnot.

AllSeeingSkink wrote:

That said, I wouldn't. As I mostly use that size 1 for detail work so I don't want to destroy it when doing basecoats and whatnot.

Yeah. I don't see how it's possible to use only 1 brush, and not destroy it, especially basecoating, doing washes. Don't even think about drybrushing

I think at a minimum you need 2 basecoat brushes (c'mon nobody's going to base coat a land raider with the same brush as a guardsman....), 1 detail brush, and a couple of drybrushes of different sizes. I think I would die if I had to live on 5 brushes though.

Realistically, if I had to do it on a budget, I would get:
- 3 cheap basecoat brushes (1/4"+ large flat, size 2 flat, size 2 round) $6x3
- 2 expensive detail brushes (size 0 and 00) $15x2
- 2 drybrushes (GW medium and GW large) $5x2

Total is less than $50, and if you had to use the GW large DB for basecoating large vehicles, like Duncan does. It leaves streaks though. Also, switch up the sizes based on your painting style, brush brand, and all that. Your sz 1, my size 0... same diff

Thank you guys for the responses! I'll definitely add a new W&N brush to my collection Really overwhelmed by the amount of positive comments!

Have a great day guys !

Let me just throw my other 2 cents in, if you are new to modeling you may want to look into learning to airbrush. Don't get me wrong technically don't need one. but I would highly advise learning how to use one. I started out with the for Iwata Neo CN. It is not the best on the market but for the price it is a good introduction airbrush.
Just saying

 Desubot wrote:
I wanna chuck my lot into WN S7 size 1

Its small enough to do ok detail since the tip is always fantastic
and large enough to do other things.

This.