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These are my first models. I bought the starter pack with three marines, paint, and a brush for 30$ at a local hobby shop. I think I could've done far better with a smaller brush, but let me know what you think, tips/suggestions are very welcome!

I've long been enamored with the 40k universe and I've read a number of the books. However, I've got no idea where to go from here. What minis to buy next, what paint, and most especially how the hell to find someone to play the damn game with! So if anyone has suggestions, let me know! [img]

Hey there!

1) about your miniatures:
I will be honest with you: you have a lot to learn.
But that's nothing to worry about and actually quite a lot of fun.

I suggest watching some youtube videos (preferably warhammer tv, they have great beginner tutorials for ultra marines like yours).

You need to thin your paints properly so you dont get those extreme brushmarks.
2 or 3 thin coats will look A LOT better than 1 thick coat.

edit: look here: https://warhammer40000.com/build-paint/

2) What minis to buy
I suggest get your hands on a starter box, since you can actually safe a lot of money this way.
And don't buy those 3 mini boxes anymore, except if you need some to try out new techniques or color schemes.

3) Finding people to play with
get in touch with your local warhammer store. Some have a local whatsapp group or you can even play at the store.

Yup, they look like Ultramarines. Common starting point for new painters. Good start, and working with just the standard brush early on helps you develop brush control.

You experienced some over-paint on the eyes. When you're using a big brush, a good technique is to come back with the other colour like your blue in this case, and clean up the edges very gently.

Good early tip - you don't always have to hold the brush straight-tip-forward to the model to paint. If you're working with raised details like those shoulder pads, you can hold the brush sideways and drag it across the details.

What to buy next? One of those Start Collecting boxes. It'll give you a small variety of models to work with, and they do come with a discount over the individual boxes. That's what Aeri was talking about. Just like mentioned, don't buy the small quick-fit three-marine boxes, they're a waste of money.

I think they look good. Definitely next get a finer detail brush

And as previous posters said- choose an army you like and get the start collecting box!

First rule of miniature painting - Thin your paints.
Also, online tutorials can help a lot , but the bases are good thou!

However, admiration for joining the hobby and for being honest with your first minis. I am really suspicions towards people who join in the forum and post something that looks like painted from a professional commissioned painter and shout out - look, my first minis.

Excellent for a first try--100 times better than my first attempt.

Here are some tips I wish someone had told me when I first started:

1. Thin those paints--two thin coats beats 1 with non-metallic paints. You can thin metallic paints too, just less.
2. How to thin: Get a palate (I like the GW tablets myself), dab some paint on the palate, dip your brush into the water a little and then mix it. It takes time but you'll get a sense for how to do it over time.
3. Washes! Washes do so much work on models. You can either make your own or stick to the GW versions.
4. Once you've washed, go back over and clean up. It will really help until you get neater (I've been working on neatness since 1994, so don't get disheartened!)
5. Get a good light! Man, it makes a difference. And make it one you can move around.
6. Change your water a lot.

Don't get overwhelmed and try everything at once. You'll need time and minis to learn--try "on this one, I'm going to thin my paints."

Thanks for all the replies! So far I just used a paper plate as a palette, then dipped the tip of the brush in water, then mix it a bit on the plate to try and thin it. I then tried the multiple thin coats but it was more like multiple thick coats. Definitely need a arrangement of brushes I only had the one.

Anyhow, I think I'm gonna get the space marines start collecting box! Hopefully I can make em even better. However my area seems to be rather more into magic the gathering than 40k or AoG. So I think I'll probably just get different ones to paint and 'recreate' battles from my favorite books!

Pretty good for your first time! I was absolute rubbish when I first started (still pretty much am, but getting better) I would concur with a lot of the above: detail brush, thin the paints, ect. With regard to what to buy next, you can never go wrong with what looks cool. With the coming rules changes, what is "good" now may not be in a few months so no need to pay much attention to that.

As for a game, Dakka has a Player Finder to find those around you (if you hail from PA you might find me in there). I have actually had some decent luck on Meetup finding clubs. And I'm sure your LFGS can point you in the right direction.