Miniature Painting / By Hands-On Hobby Notes

Acrylic Paint for Miniatures—HowtoChooseYourFirstBottles

You don’t need fifty bottles to start painting minis. You need acrylic paint that covers small details, thins without falling apart, and sticks after primer. I’m here to spare you the pain of chalky craft paint on a 28mm face. Start small, name the job of each bottle, and skip the "must-have" marketing.

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Painted Warhammer 40k Indomitus miniatures

Quick Decision Checklist

Use this before you open another tab of paint reviews.

What are you painting?

Plastic, resin, or metal tabletop minis and most 3D prints want model acrylics or contrast over craft-store tubes.

Control vs. Speed

Layering and mixing? Choose model acrylics (Vallejo Game Color). Fast tabletop standard? Go with contrast/speed paints.

Will you prime?

Almost always yes. Primer is the cheap insurance policy; paint alone is not.

How many colors?

Aim for 8–12 bottles that cover specific jobs, not a massive 50-color cube.

Open the cost calculator

Why craft-store acrylics frustrate miniature painters

Craft acrylics are built for canvas and wood signs. On a miniature, they often look chalky, need too many coats, and fight you when thinned. Model acrylics like Vallejo Game Color are ground for small surfaces, meter out less waste, and cover details without turning the mini into a textured craft project.

Contrast and speed paints sit in a third lane: they pull into recesses and leave a stained highlight in one pass. Use them when you want a readable army finish fast.

“No top 1000 lists of every possible option. I want to curate and simplify.”

Craft vs. Contrast vs. Model Acrylics

Terrain & Basing

Craft Acrylics

Best for props and terrain. Often chalky or translucent on plastic. I’d skip them as your main miniature color range.

  • Low Cost
  • High Volume
Speed Painting

Contrast / Speed

Best for fast armies and skin. Semi-transparent stain + recess shade. Needs a smooth, light primer undercoat.

  • Instant Depth
  • Fast Finish
Precision & Control

Model Acrylics

Best for layering and basecoats. Excellent adhesion on primed plastic. Default first kit for most painters.

  • Pro Coverage
  • Dropper Bottles
Miniature paint type comparison on workbench

Pick Paint by Job

Don’t shop by rainbow. Shop by the work each bottle does on the model.

01

Base / Core Colors

The opaque foundation. Look for strong coverage. A small Vallejo Basic Paint Set is the perfect starting path. Ideal for armor, cloth, and skin.

02

Metallics

Steel and gold. Look for fine flake, not chunky glitter. Vallejo Metal Color or Citadel Leadbelcher are top picks for weapons and trim.

03

Washes / Shades

Instant shadow. Citadel Nuln Oil is 'talent in a bottle'—it pools in cracks to create depth instantly. Perfect for creating depth and grit.

Primer first — almost every time

Primer is the thin grip coat between bare miniature and color. Skip it and even good acrylics can chip or bead off. For plastic, resin, metal, and 3D prints: prime first, then paint.

Practical primer notes:

  • Stynylrez and Vallejo Model Primer are solid options.
  • Matte, even coats beat thick, glossy globs.
  • Note on Reaper Bones: Some soft plastics can be painted after a thorough soap wash without primer, but if paint rubs off, prime and move on.
See primers and prep gear I actually use
The Miniature Painting Level Up Guide cover
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The Miniature Painting Level Up Guide

If this guide already answered the paint-type question but you still want a dead-simple path for tools, common beginner mistakes, and what is actually necessary versus waste — the Level Up Guide is the shortcut I wrote for that moment. 60+ pages. One file you keep. No subscription.

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The free sections above still stand on their own if you never buy a thing.

Next Steps After You Pick Your Paints

Paint the mini, not the bottle

Once the paints are chosen, use a full acrylic workflow on real models step-by-step.

Painting Guide

Brushes, Primers, & Palettes

Named SKUs, budget vs premium, and the stuff I’ve vowed never to buy again.

Gear Depth

What will this hobby cost?

Sanity-check paint, tools, and 'nice to have' gear before the cart runs away.

Budget Check

Not sure miniatures are your hobby yet?

Try the what hobby should I try quiz →

Common Questions

Q: Can I use regular acrylic paint?

A: You can, but craft paints need more coats and fight fine detail work. Model acrylics are the less painful default.

Q: Is Vallejo Game Color good for beginners?

A: Yes. It's a straightforward dropper-bottle line, easy to meter, and widely used.

Q: Do I need contrast paints?

A: No. They are a speed lane, not a requirement. Many painters finish armies with regular acrylics plus washes.

Q: Do I have to prime?

A: Almost always yes. It gives pigment a 'tooth' so thin coats stick.

Build a paint kit you’ll actually use

Pick model acrylics for control, add a wash for depth, and prime like you mean it. Then stop shopping and paint something small.

See My Paint & Supply PicksGet the Level Up Guide — $17

I recommend what I’d buy or skip either way.