Our guide to Specialist Paints for Plastic Miniatures

Painting plastic miniatures requires paints formulated for adhesion on polystyrene and resin surfaces. Standard craft acrylics often lack the fine pigment grind and binder balance needed for miniature detail. The following specialist brands are widely used in the hobby:

• Citadel Colour: Games Workshop’s proprietary line, optimized for Warhammer models. Includes Base, Layer, Shade, and Contrast ranges. Known for high pigment density and smooth coverage.

• Vallejo Model Color & Game Color: Spanish manufacturer offering dropper bottles for precise dosing. Model Color excels in historical miniatures, while Game Color is tuned for fantasy palettes. Vallejo also produces Air ranges pre‑thinned for airbrush use.

• Army Painter: Offers Warpaints acrylics, primers, and washes. Their Mega Paint Set provides a comprehensive starter palette. Army Painter paints are slightly thinner, making them versatile for layering.

• Scale75: Professional‑grade paints with ultra‑matte finish, ideal for realistic shading. Their Scalecolor and Fantasy & Games lines are popular among competition painters.

• Privateer Press P3: Designed for Warmachine/Hordes miniatures. Known for smooth blending and saturation.

• GamesCraft Miniature Paints: UK‑based acrylics available in 30ml and 90ml pots. Compatible with Vallejo thinners for airbrush use.

• Grinning Gargoyle: Fantasy miniature paint sets tailored for tabletop RPG figures.

• Micro‑Mark: Specialist model paints with versatile adhesion across plastic and resin.

• ProScale: Technical paints designed for polystyrene kits, emphasizing adhesion and durability.

Technical Considerations

• Adhesion: Plastic miniatures (often polystyrene) have smooth, non‑porous surfaces. Priming is essential. Acrylic primers from Vallejo or Army Painter create a micro‑tooth for paint layers.

• Pigment Grind: Miniature paints use finely milled pigments to avoid obscuring detail. Brands like Scale75 and Vallejo excel here.

• Binder Strength: Acrylic polymer binders ensure flexibility and prevent cracking on small, handled models.

Airbrushing vs. Brush Application

• Airbrushing:

  • Uses paints pre‑thinned (e.g., Vallejo Model Air) or thinned with acrylic mediums.

  • Provides smooth base coats, gradients, and zenithal highlights.

  • Requires cleaning protocols to prevent nozzle clogging. See separate blog on airbrushing.

• Brush Application:

  • Allows precision for details, edge highlights, and texture effects.

  • Paints like Citadel Layer or Army Painter Warpaints are formulated for brush control.

  • Brushwork benefits from paints with higher viscosity compared to airbrush ranges. See our separate blog on brush application.

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