Painting on a budget: Tools

As promised here's a guide which might help you find cheap, easy and suitable tools to start painting. Either you're new to the hobby or a veteran this guide will try to help you  saving some money. As I always say to my friends: "Get as many cheap tools as you can so you can buy more miniatures!".

Large Brush

The large brush is definetly a valuable tool. Suitable for basecoating, painting large surfaces such as vehicles or scenery, this tool helps you to do it fast and efficient. If you every thought of getting a airbrush to paint tanks and the like, but your budget doesn't allow it? Don't bother to look further and get this brush, as it does practically the same for a lot less in price comparison.

The large brush can be found at any hardware store. I usually spend like €0,60 - €1,00 for each brush, depending on it's size. I recommend you get the smallest one availble to paint infantry and such, plus a larger brush to paint vehicles.

                                                        Brush sets

These brushes does the same as the ones from your local GW store. The durability of these depends how you treat it. If you want to make the best out of it, make sure you wash it regularly and thoroughly after each use. When selecting these brushes make sure you get ones which are smooth and not being too bounchy.

These brushsets can be found at a outletstore which sells various products (mostly household products), so keep an eye open. You might find other tools which you can use. I've payed €1,50 for these.

                                                     Detail brushes

Aside the ones mentioned above, you need brushes which can handle small details. Unlike GW ones there are others you can buy for less and it comes with various sizes as well. Personally I got the following sizes to do my painting:

- 2/0
- 3/0
- 5/0

Best place to find these brushes is at a local arts and crafts store. You might bump into a few shapers which helps you at modeling greenstuff. These ones I usually buy for ~ €2,50 each.

                                                      Plastic plate

As you paint you want usually wipe off excess paint on some surface before applying the remaining paint onto your miniatures. In this case I usually use a plastic plate as a pallet, just to avoid making a mess on my desk, also I can wash it after each painting session. You don't nessecary need to use a plastic plate. Anything goes, even a piece of plasticard, as long as it has a smooth surface and being sturdy so the paint doesn't get absorbed immediatly into it, unlike paper.

I got this plate as a promotion when buying at a local grocery store, so it didn't cost me a dime. Even if you are going to buy this it will cost you a few cents. It's not like something you need to sell your kidneys in order to afford it.

                                                      Miscellaneous

As for other tools to help out a bit I use the following:

- Regular brush for dusting off (see picture above)
- Rubber cleaning gloves: for basecoating so I dont need to wash my hands after each session.
- Toothpicks: has various uses: painting eyes, building scenery when using foam, etc.


Also I've updated my article with pictures of my Chaos Lord which I'm currently working at.