AKA: How to make your tiny plastic army look awesome without bankrupting your real-life one.
So, you’ve picked up your first box of Warhammer miniatures. Congrats! You’ve now joined a hobby that combines creativity, strategy, and accidentally gluing your fingers together.
But here’s the plot twist: painting these little dudes can get expensive real fast. Games Workshop paint? Fancy brushes? A desk lamp that costs more than your rent?
Don’t worry. You can absolutely paint Warhammer miniatures on a budget and still make them look cool enough to intimidate your enemies (or at least not embarrass you on the table).
Let’s dive into the essentials.
🎨 1. Start With Just 5–6 Paints
You do not need every shade Citadel sells. Pick a limited palette that works for your army’s color scheme. For example:
For a Space Marine army:
- Black or white primer
- A main color (like blue, red, or green)
- A metallic (silver or gold)
- A neutral (brown or gray for pouches, bases, etc.)
- A wash (like Nuln Oil or a black/brown alternative)
- Optional: white or bone for details
👉 Budget tip: Try cheaper brands like Army Painter, Vallejo, or even acrylic craft paints (just thin them with water). They work surprisingly well.
🖌 2. Skip the $20 Brush Sets
You don’t need ten brushes. You need two:
- A fine detail brush (for eyes, armor edges, regrets)
- A medium-size brush (for basecoating and larger areas)
👉 Budget tip: Buy from craft stores or online sets. Just avoid those 12-brush packs with bristles that splay faster than your GPA during finals week.
⚪ 3. Prime Cheap & Smart
Priming your minis helps paint stick better.
- Spray primer is great but can be pricey.
- Budget option: Use cheap matte spray paint (Walmart, hardware store) in black, white, or gray. Test on a spare mini first!
👉 Or use brush-on primer if you’re stuck indoors or allergic to your neighbors’ complaints.
💡 4. Lighting Doesn’t Have to Be Fancy
No need to sell a kidney for a ring light. Just get a bright desk lamp with a daylight bulb (5000–6500K). Bonus if it doesn’t catch fire when left on for 3 hours.
🧽 5. Use a Wet Palette (Made from Trash)
A wet palette keeps your paints from drying out mid-session. Here’s how to make one:
You’ll need:
- A shallow food container (hello, leftover fried rice)
- A few layers of damp paper towel
- A piece of baking parchment paper on top
Now your paints stay juicy for hours. Chef’s kiss.
🧪 6. DIY Washes & Thinners
Instead of buying pricey washes and thinners:
- Mix black/brown paint with water for a quick shade wash
- Add a few drops of water or flow aid to thin paint instead of layering on goop
👉 Rule of thumb: paint should be the consistency of milk, not syrup.
🧙 7. Learn Dry Brushing and Washing Early
These two techniques = maximum visual impact for minimal effort.
- Dry brushing: Wipe most paint off your brush, then lightly drag it across raised edges. Hello, instant highlights.
- Washing: Slap diluted paint into the cracks for automatic shading.
They’re like filters for your minis — covering sins and making you look like you know what you’re doing.
🪦 8. Base Your Minis Without Spending a Fortune
Instead of buying fancy texture paint, try:
- Sand, gravel, or tiny rocks from outside
- Coffee grounds (seriously)
- Baking soda + glue for snow effects
- Cheap acrylic paint for base color
Glue stuff on, paint over it, seal it, boom — instant terrain.
💸 9. Don’t Buy Until You Need It
It’s tempting to stock up on paints, tools, and gadgets you saw in that 30-minute YouTube speedpaint. Resist.
Paint your first mini with what you’ve got, then upgrade only when it actually makes your life easier.
🧼 10. Clean Your Brushes (Yes, Even the Cheap Ones)
- Rinse after each color
- Don’t let paint dry on the bristles
- Shape the tip after washing
- Use a brush soap if you’re feeling fancy (or shampoo if you’re really on a budget)
Your $2 brush will thank you by not dying after two minis.
Final Thoughts:
Painting Warhammer doesn’t have to cost more than the actual models. With a little creativity, some budget swaps, and the patience of a saint who just dropped a tiny head under the desk, you can build a killer army and still afford dinner.
Remember: your first mini doesn’t need to be perfect — it just needs to be painted.
Paint proudly, thin your layers, and may your fingers stay glue-free.
One Comment