Buying guide
The Beginner Painter Kit
Updated How we research
Everything you need to paint your first miniature. The page is split into five sections (Start with a core paint set; Brushes that forgive beginners; Prime before you paint; Keep paint workable longer; Hold the mini, not the paint), followed by every pick ranked by our score so you can compare them in one place.
The short version
We compared 20 picks. Our scores range from 7.0 to 9.2 out of 10.
- Best overall:The Army Painter Warpaints Fanatic: Starter Set, 11 x 18 mL Acrylic Paints, incl. Metallics, Wash, Brush-On Primer, 1 Miniature & 1 Brush. Highest overall score in this guide at 9.2/10.
- Also great value:The Army Painter Wargames Mega Brush Set, 10 Miniature Paint Brushes incl. Masterclass Kolinsky Sable Detail Brush. Value score of 9/10, overall 8.8/10.
- Solid build:Redgrassgames Everlasting Wet Palette for Miniature Painting and Acrylic Paints - Painter Lite 8.9" - Painting Palette with Lid, Seal, 50 Sheets, 2 Foams. Build and materials score of 9/10, overall 8.9/10.
- Feature-rich:Redgrassgames RGG 360 V2 Painting Handle for Miniature - Blue Grey Putty Edition. Features score of 8/10, overall 8.9/10.
Scores are our editorial assessment, not customer ratings. How we score
Start with a core paint set
- The Army Painter Warpaints Fanatic: Starter Set, 11 x 18 mL Acrylic Paints, incl. Metallics, Wash, Brush-On Primer, 1 Miniature & 1 BrushOur score9.2/10
- Vallejo - Game Color Introduction Set, 16 Bottles x 0.60 fl ozOur score8.4/10
- Vallejo - Basic Colors USA Acrylic Paint Set | Model Color | 16 Bottles x 18 mlOur score8.2/10
- The Army Painter, GameMaster Adventure Starter Set, 15 x 18 mlOur score8.0/10
Brushes that forgive beginners
- The Army Painter Wargames Mega Brush Set, 10 Miniature Paint Brushes incl. Masterclass Kolinsky Sable Detail BrushOur score8.8/10
- Nicpro Miniature Paint Brushes Drybrush - 21PCS Model Paint Brush SetOur score7.8/10
- 22pc Miniature Paint Brushes & Brush Case, Model Paint Brushes & DrybrushOur score7.6/10
- PANDAFLY Detail Paint Brushes Set for Fine Detailing & Art Painting, 15pcsOur score7.0/10
Prime before you paint
- The Army Painter, Base Primer Matt Black, 400 mL Acrylic Spray Primer, Spray Paint Basecoat for Miniature PrimingOur score8.1/10
- The Army Painter Color Primer, Matt White, 400ml, 13.5oz - Acrylic Spray Undercoat for Miniature PaintingOur score8.1/10
- The Army Painter Color Primer Spray Paint, Uniform Grey, 400ml, 13.5oz - Acrylic Spray Undercoat for Miniature PaintingOur score7.8/10
- Games Workshop Citadel Colour - Chaos Black Primer / Undercoat SprayOur score7.1/10
Keep paint workable longer
- Redgrassgames Everlasting Wet Palette for Miniature Painting and Acrylic Paints - Painter Lite 8.9" - Painting Palette with Lid, Seal, 50 Sheets, 2 FoamsOur score8.9/10
- The Army Painter Wet Palette - 50 Hydro Sheets, 2 Hydro Sponges and Brush Space, for Painting Warhammer and D&D MiniaturesOur score8.4/10
- Masterson Sta-Wet Handy Palette Airtight Paint Palette Keeps Paint Fresh for Days, 8.5 by 7 Inches, Made in USAOur score8.0/10
- The Army Painter, Wargamers Edition Wet Palette for Miniature Model Paints | Incl. 50 Hydro Sheets, 2 Hydro Foams & Brush Storage - Wet Palette for Miniatures Acrylic Paint, Dnd & WarhammerOur score7.6/10
Hold the mini, not the paint
- Redgrassgames RGG 360 V2 Painting Handle for Miniature - Blue Grey Putty EditionOur score8.9/10
- Golden Maple Miniature Painting Handle - 360 Degree Rotating Miniature Holder for Tabletop Miniatures, Fantasy Models, Kits for Acrylic Painting & DetailingOur score8.0/10
- Nicpro Miniature Painting Handle Kit, 360° Rotating Miniature HolderOur score7.8/10
- Games Workshop - Citadel Colour Painting Handle (Mk2), Black,GreyOur score7.3/10
All 20 picks, ranked by our score
Every product from the sections above, listed once. Sort by the criterion you care about most, or tick up to three to compare.
#1Army Painter's Warpaints Fanatic starter with 11 acrylics, metallics, a wash, brush-on primer, a miniature and a brush.
Fit for the job 10/10 · Features and specs 9/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 9/10
- + Includes primer, wash and metallics, so the full base-shade-highlight workflow is covered
- + Bundled miniature gives a practice model before you touch your real army
- + Fanatic line is a newer, higher-pigment formula than older Warpaints bottles
- - Only one brush, which will wear quickly if used for priming and detail
- - 11 bottles still means buying more colors for a specific army scheme
#2Redgrassgames Everlasting Wet Palette Painter Lite 8.9" with lid, seal, 50 sheets and 2 foams for miniature painting.
Fit for the job 10/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 9/10 · Value 8/10
- + Sealed lid keeps paint wet for days between sessions
- + Everlasting design reuses foams and sheets efficiently
- + 8.9" size gives ample room for mixing without taking over the desk
- - Premium price compared with basic wet palettes
- - Replacement sheets from the brand cost more than generic paper
#3Redgrassgames RGG 360 V2 painting handle, Blue Grey Putty Edition, an ergonomic grip that holds minis with putty.
Fit for the job 10/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 9/10 · Value 8/10
- + Ergonomic shape reduces hand cramps during long sessions
- + Putty holds bases of many sizes without clamps or glue
- + 360 design lets you rotate the model freely while painting
- - Putty can leave sticky residue on base rims that needs cleaning
- - Premium price for a handle compared with basic options
#4The Army Painter Wargames Mega Brush Set with 10 brushes including a Masterclass Kolinsky sable detail brush.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 9/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 9/10
- + 10 brushes cover basecoating, drybrushing, shading and detail
- + Masterclass Kolinsky sable brush holds a fine point for eyes and trim
- + Great value way to get one premium brush plus everyday workhorses
- - Only one brush is Kolinsky, so the rest are synthetic quality
- - Some specialized brushes may see little use for casual painters
#5Vallejo Game Color Introduction Set, 16 x 18 ml dropper bottles including metallics, an acrylic range developed for brush painting miniatures.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + Sixteen bottles with precision eyedropper caps make it easy to dose paint onto a palette
- + Balanced palette that includes metallic colours for weapons and armour
- + Developed mainly for brush painting, with self-leveling paint that blends smoothly
- - No brush, wash or primer in the box, so those are extra purchases
- - Sixteen colours still leave gaps that need mixing or single bottles later
#6The Army Painter Wet Palette with 50 hydro sheets, 2 hydro sponges and brush space for painting minis.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + 50 hydro sheets supply many sessions before refills are needed
- + Built-in brush space keeps a brush wet between strokes
- + Keeps acrylic paint workable far longer than a dry palette
- - Compact mixing area can feel cramped with many colors
- - Sponges need regular rinsing to prevent mold
#7Vallejo Model Color basic set of 16 dropper bottles, a broad foundation palette for painters who mix their own shades.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 9/10
- + 16 bottles give more color variety than most entry sets at this level
- + Model Color is a thin, matte, highly mixable formula favored by historical painters
- + Dropper bottles make it easy to repeat mixes drop by drop
- - Thinner consistency can need a couple of coats over dark primer
- - No brush, primer or wash included, so beginners need separate tools
#8The Army Painter Base Primer Matt Black in 400 mL, an acrylic spray primer and basecoat for miniature priming.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + Matt black spray primes squads quickly with an even coat
- + Black base helps with metallic and dark color schemes
- + 400 mL can covers many models per purchase
- - Spraying in humid or cold weather can leave a grainy finish
- - Black primer makes bright colors harder to cover
#9The Army Painter Color Primer in Matt White, 400ml (13.5oz), an acrylic spray undercoat for miniature painting.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + White undercoat is ideal for speed paints and bright colors
- + Spray format primes full units in minutes
- + 13.5oz can goes a long way for tabletop collections
- - White spray can look patchy and needs thin repeated passes
- - Shows mold lines and flaws more than dark primers do
#10The Army Painter GameMaster Adventure Starter Set with 15 x 18 ml paints: 10 colours, 2 effect paints, 2 metallics and a wash, aimed at RPG miniatures.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + Fifteen bottles including metallics, effects and a wash cover a full first paint job
- + Designed for beginners painting role-playing game miniatures
- + 18 ml dropper bottles match the rest of The Army Painter range for later top-ups
- - Costs more than the smallest ten-paint starter sets
- - Colour choice leans toward fantasy adventurers, less toward sci-fi armies
#11Masterson Sta-Wet Handy Palette at 8.5 by 7 Inches, an airtight wet palette made in USA that keeps paint fresh for days.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 9/10
- + Airtight lid keeps paint wet for days between sessions
- + 8.5 by 7 Inches size is compact for small hobby desks
- + Long-standing artist palette made in USA
- - Supplied paper is thicker than ideal for thin hobby mixes
- - Many painters swap in parchment paper, adding setup time
#12Golden Maple painting handle kit with a metal finger bracket, five interchangeable round caps that rotate 360 degrees and a large bottom base. Models are held on with sticky putty.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 7/10
- + Metal finger bracket gives your brush hand a resting point for steadier detail work
- + Five interchangeable rotating caps let you prepare up to five models and swap between them
- + Kit includes a big bottom base, a cork base and a storage pouch along with the handle
- - Models are fixed with putty, so there is no clamp for quick mounting by the base rim
- - Listing does not state the cap diameters, so check the photos before using larger bases
#13Nicpro 21-piece model brush set: 16 detail brushes (liners, rounds, flats and an angled spot) plus 5 goat hair dry brushes, with a brush holder and a velvet dust bag.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 6/10 · Value 9/10
- + 16 detail brushes run from 4/0 liners and rounds up to a size 4 round, covering basecoats through fine lines
- + Five dry brushes in sizes 3 to 13-1/2 use a goat hair blend made for drybrushing models
- + Triangular ergonomic handles, and the set ships with a brush holder and a velvet dust bag
- - The listing does not name the bristle material of the detail brushes, unlike the Kolinsky sable sets in this guide
- - 21 brushes is more than a beginner needs, and several of the sizes overlap in everyday use
#14The Army Painter Color Primer spray in Uniform Grey, 400ml (13.5oz), a colored undercoat that doubles as a basecoat.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + Uniform Grey primes and basecoats grey armor in one step
- + Neutral grey suits both bright and dark schemes
- + Saves painting time for grey-themed armies
- - Colored primer is less flexible than plain white or black
- - Aerosol needs outdoor or ventilated conditions
#15Nicpro painting handle kit with one ergonomic handle, 4 swappable caps that rotate 360 degrees, 3 metal dock plates and 50g of reusable mounting putty for batch painting.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Four swappable caps let you mount several miniatures ahead of time and switch in seconds
- + Magnetic base docks onto the included metal plates to keep a model upright during breaks
- + Rotating cap turns the model smoothly so hard to reach areas come to the brush
- - Putty mounting takes more setup than a spring clamp for standard round bases
- - Listing does not give the cap diameter, so suitability for large monster bases is unclear
#16Craft Spectrum 22-piece miniature brush set in a case: nylon rounds from 5/0 to 3, fine liners, flats and angle spot brushes, plus five natural hair drybrushes.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 6/10 · Value 8/10
- + Covers rounds 5/0 to 3, liners 5/0 to 2/0, flats and angle spot brushes in one box
- + Five natural hair drybrushes in sizes 1 to 5 are included alongside the detail brushes
- + Triangular handles and a storage case keep the set comfortable to hold and easy to store
- - Detail brushes are nylon rather than sable, which matters if you want natural hair tips
- - Lesser-known brand, and the listing gives no detail on ferrules or bristle grade
#17The Army Painter Wargamers Edition wet palette with a 10.6 x 7.8 inch surface, 50 Hydro Sheets, 2 Hydro Foams and a 30 well insert for washes and speedpaints.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 7/10
- + Extra large 10.6 x 7.8 inch working surface leaves room for multiple colors and custom mixes during army painting sessions.
- + Hard plastic well insert with 30 wells gives thinner paints such as speedpaints and washes their own space.
- + Includes built in storage for up to 16 brushes and a lid, so a paint session can be packed away in one tray.
- - Smaller than the 13.5 inch palette it replaces, so it suits detail work more than very large mixing.
- - Priced above basic wet palettes, and the other Army Painter palette in this guide uses the same Hydro Sheet system.
#18Games Workshop Citadel Colour Painting Handle (Mk2) in black and grey, the Mk2 version of the Citadel handle, sold as a single unit under model number 66-09.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 5/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + Made by Games Workshop, the same maker as Citadel paints and Warhammer kits
- + Mk2 revision of the Citadel handle, listed under model number 66-09
- + Sold as a single handle, a low-commitment buy for painters trying a handle for the first time
- - Listing bullets are only codes and package details, with no base size range stated
- - One handle per pack, so batch painting means buying several or remounting each model
#19Games Workshop Citadel Chaos Black Primer undercoat spray, the official black primer for Warhammer miniatures.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 6/10
- + Official black undercoat used in many Citadel painting guides
- + Adheres well to Citadel plastic for tough gaming models
- + Dark base hides gaps in coverage on rank and file troops
- - Priced higher than many rival spray primers
- - Check the can size before comparing value to rival primers
#20PANDAFLY 15-piece detail brush set with liners and rounds from 4/0 to 1, flats, an angular, a filbert and an angled spot brush, with synthetic nylon bristles and triangular wood handles.
Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 6/10 · Value 8/10
- + Fifteen tips including liners and rounds from 4/0 to 1 cover most small detail work
- + Easy-grip triangular wood handles and chrome plated copper ferrules
- + Each brush comes with a protective tube to keep the tip in shape after cleaning
- - Synthetic nylon bristles only, with no sable brush or drybrush in the set
- - General craft listing aimed at nail art and rock painting as much as miniatures
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Mini Paint Lab curates picks for US shoppers. Scores are our editorial assessment. We may earn a commission from links on this page.