What are all the tools I need to start painting Warhammer 40k figures?

Diving into the world of WH40k miniatures can be an exciting and rewarding hobby. Painting these intricately detailed figures allows you to bring your armies to life while adding your personal touch to the tabletop. If you’re just getting started, you might be wondering which tools and supplies you need to begin. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you assemble the perfect beginner’s toolkit to start your journey today.

Miniatures and assembly tools

Before you even start painting, you’ll need to prepare your WH40k miniatures.

● WH40k miniatures: Choose a box of figures that excites you such as Space Marines, Orks or Tyranids. Starter kits are a great option for beginners.

● Cutters: A sharp pair of sprue nippers helps to remove the models from their plastic sprues.

● Mould line remover: Used to gently run along plastic models to remove any lines left in the plastic moulding process without damaging the miniature.

● Hobby knife and sandpaper: A sharp blade ensures cleaner cuts when cleaning up your models and reduces the risk of damaging your figures. If using our resin conversion bits, always cut above the point you need to and then use sandpaper to sand it down.

●     Super glue or plastic glue: At Dragoon Gaming, we use resin miniatures and conversion bits to offer even greater detail. Plastic glue works well for bonding plastic parts, while super glue is better for resin miniatures.

Priming supplies

Priming your miniatures is a critical first step to ensure the paint adheres properly.

●     Spray primer: A good primer creates a smooth surface for your paint. Options include black, white or grey, depending on the colour scheme you have in mind. Black is great for darker schemes, while white or grey is better for lighter colours.

Paints and brushes

This is the fun part!

●     Acrylic paints: Start with a small set of primary colours to cover all bases.

●     Shading paints: These are thin, dark paints that flow into the recesses of your model to create depth and shadow.

●     Highlight colours: Bright colours for edges and raised areas which help to bring your miniature to life.

●     Fine detail brushes: These are essential for intricate areas like eyes, armour details and insignias.

●     Medium brushes: Use these for base coats and general painting.

●     Dry brushes: These are used for dry brushing - a technique for highlighting raised surfaces.

Painting accessories

Having the right accessories can streamline your painting process.

●     Palette

●     Cup of water: Use this for cleaning brushes between colours.

●     Hobby holder: These tools hold your miniature securely, making it easier to paint without smudging.

●     Lighting: Good lighting is essential for painting details. A daylight lamp or LED light is ideal.

Tips for beginners

●     Start Simple: Focus on basic techniques like base coating, shading and highlighting before attempting more advanced methods like blending or freehand designs.

●     Practice patience: Painting miniatures can be time-consuming but the results are worth it.

●     Experiment and learn: Once you’ve got the basics down, don’t be afraid to try new techniques or colour combinations.

To cut down on waste that ends up in the landfill, we include a bag of "perfectly imperfect prints" with every order. We hope these will find a spot on your tabletop and they can be a great way to kitbash and practice your techniques if you’re just starting out. Whether you’re gearing up for a tournament or just beginning, with these tools in hand, you’re ready to create your own unique WH40k miniatures. Explore our wares today or give us a shout if you have any questions.