Minis: Painting: Part 1: Preparation

by Nathan Stout

This series of articles will cover painting the miniatures and the furniture provided in the HeroQuest board game. First we will take a look at what types of paint and equipment to use.

There are a couple of ways to go as far as paint is concerned. You can go with water-based or oil-based paint. Water-based paint gives a more realistic (organic) look but the paint tends to wear off easily. Oil-based paint takes longer to wear off, but it lacks that realistic look. Oil-based paint is almost always cheaper than water-based paint. There are several types (brands) of either water or oil based paint. The paints can go for as little as .75 a pot or as high as 3.00 a pot. The decision as to which type of paint is up to you and your pocketbook. But remember, you get what you pay for.

Next you will need to determine what type of equipment to use. I suggest an exacto knife for removing unwanted flash and some nice paint brushes. When I use the term nice, just refer to the last sentence in my last paragraph, you get what you pay for. This is ever-so true when it comes to paint brushes. If at all possible, get the finest tipped brush you can. They will be expensive, but you will thank yourself later.

Of course when you spend 5.00 on a brush, you will be sure to clean it properly after every use, right? Here is a hint for users of water-based paint: rinse out the brush with water, then use some soap and rinse it out, then use a little bit more soap and roll the tip of the brush so that it returns to it's original shape, but don't rinse it out. Let the soap help keep the brush in shape. Before you use it again, rinse the soap out.

Before you start painting, you will need to check your miniature to see if there is any flash still on it. Flash are the bits left from the plastic frame that you took the minis out of. Use the exacto knife to remove excess flash. If you really want a nice look, use some fine sand paper to smooth the area out. Once you have fully inspected the miniature, you are ready to apply the first coat.

Check back next time in part 2 for more painting information, including using primers and undercoating your miniatures.

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