How To Hobby

How To Hobby

Welcome to the Wonderful World of Miniatures: A Beginner's Guide

Have you ever been captivated by the stunning detail of tabletop miniatures, or the thrill of building and commanding your own custom painted army alongside a blooming community of wargamers?  If you haven’t had the privilege of being mentored into the hobby by a more experienced tabletop gamer, it can be really daunting. I've been spoiled by having my good friends James and Bob put me on the fast track to working on mini's from start to finish efficiently. There’s hundreds of tools, thousands of paints and dozens of brands to choose from. Choosing the right tools can skew your enjoyment of the process and hobby. Those that know me know that I strive to find the most efficient way to not only save my time, but also money. I created this guide to help you start out small with only the most necessary tools to avoid being intimidated by the hobby. One thing i’ll add before we dive into things is that you can always upgrade where you find you need to. A $10 paintbrush isn’t the same as a $50+ paint brush, and you'll find that this assumption generally applies to most of the tools below. However my goal isn’t to sell you the most expensive brand of a tool, but to get you on your way to putting your miniatures on the table to play.

In the world of tabletop gaming, I like to divide the hobby into 3 stages: Assembly, Painting, and Playing. Today, we'll tackle the essential first stage: Assembly!  Before you unleash your inner artist and your painted warriors on the battlefield, there's the crucial step of putting your miniatures together. Fear not, this isn't rocket science (but building rocket ships may be involved). Here are the essential tools you'll need to get your army prepped for paint:

1. The Humble Hobby Knife: This trusty tool is your key to carefully removing miniature pieces from the plastic sprues they come attached to, or if you’re unable to get a good angle with your hobby clippers. It can also be used to clean up mold lines. You can find these at most craft stores, or stores with a craft aisle. My personal hobby knife is decades old that I just continually swap blades into, however you'll want to look for one with a comfortable grip and replaceable blades, and a good safety mechanism. Always cut away from yourself and keep spare blades handy for optimal sharpness. Having multiple hobby knives is never a bad option either. Although i like mine more weighter, here is a great starter knife
2. Glue!: You'll need two main types of glue for miniature assembly.  Plastic glue is perfect for standard sprues, where the plastic pieces simply melt together for a strong bond. You can go with a thicker glue (which I prefer) that can also be used as filler for joints and gaps, or thinner glue found here. Super glue like the Insta-Cure+ Gap Filling Cyanoacrylate, on the other hand, is your go-to for resin miniatures or any metal components you might encounter. Best practice is to make sure to always clean the tip of your super glue, and I also place a pin in the tip to keep the nozzle clear of any blockages.  A bonus tip:  consider grabbing some instant cure spray for super glue.  This magical potion speeds up drying time (literally instantaneous), making those fiddly, tiny pieces a breeze to attach. Make sure to keep in mind when using the glue over an extended time to open a window or glue in a well ventilated area. 

3. Snippers, nippers, hobby cutters: Plastic cutters, often called nippers, are your friends when it comes to removing miniature pieces from the sprue. These sharp snippers allow for clean cuts, minimizing the need for excessive scraping with your hobby knife (which can damage the delicate details of your miniatures). I use rather cheap nippers made by excel found here, and find they do the job, but my friend Bob uses some fancy ones you can find here, which i can definitely tell the difference when cutting. I personally don’t find that i need that level of a sprue cutter at the level of hobbying i am at currently at though, but I do believe i'll likely upgrade down the road. 

Auto-modelers assemble!

With these essential tools in your arsenal, you're ready to tackle your first miniatures.  Many miniatures come with easy-to-follow instructions, but don't be afraid to experiment.  There's often more than one way to assemble a miniature, allowing you to customize poses and add a touch of your own creativity by sculpting, or adding simple battle damage. 

Stay tuned!  In one of our next blog posts, we'll delve into the world of miniature paints and show you how to bring your assembled figures to life with vibrant colors and stunning effects with some guidance of our local expert Bob Kelley, Owner of The Gamer’s Haven.  Welcome to the exciting world of miniatures hobbying, and be sure to check out our monthly newsletter to plan a paint night or join our community of awesome gamers!