Beginner guide
Budget + premium
Amazon
Updated April 2026
What supplies should you buy to start miniature painting?
When you are starting out, the hardest part often is not painting itself: it is figuring out what to buy without ending up with a cart full of unnecessary gear.
This page keeps things simple: the supplies that genuinely help you start miniature painting, with budget options and a few nicer upgrades if you want extra comfort.
You do not need to buy everything at once. A solid main brush, a decent pair of cutters, easy glue and a suitable primer spray are already enough to start in good conditions.
Budget
The price ranges below are approximate and can move around. The point is mainly to help you understand what counts as good value and what belongs more in comfort territory.
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The essentials to get started
Essentials
01
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Main brush
The brush you will use on the large majority of your miniatures.
Budget
Easy starting point
The Army Painter Hobby Starter Brush
EUR15 to EUR20
An easy-to-find brush built to stay versatile on a first starter box.
It is not a miracle brush, but it is reassuring for beginners if you want something clearly aimed at miniatures.
Do not use it to stir paint in the pot or for drybrushing. Keep it for regular brushwork so the point stays usable longer.
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Premium
Comfort pick
Raphael 8404 - Taille 1
EUR18 to EUR24
For people who want a true comfort brush with an excellent point and strong paint capacity.
This kind of brush can make painting more enjoyable, but it is not required at the beginning. It makes more sense if you already know you will stick with the hobby.
Use it for clean detailed stages and keep rough work for an older brush. That is the best way to make it last.
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Sprue cutters
Essential for removing parts cleanly from the sprue without wrecking them.
Budget
Easy starting point
The Army Painter Precision Side Cutter
EUR12 to EUR18
For cutting plastic sprues cleanly on your first miniatures.
It is a straightforward hobby option if you want a clearly named tool without jumping straight into very high-end cutters.
Cut slightly away from the part first, then come back to clean the gate. Going too close immediately can tear the plastic.
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Budget
Best value
Tamiya Sharp Pointed Side Cutter 74123
EUR22 to EUR30
A strong step up if you want a clean precise tool straight away.
It is not really entry level anymore, but the value remains excellent if you build a lot of miniatures.
Keep it for plastic and avoid very thick gates. Even a good cutter lasts much longer if you do not force it.
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Premium
Comfort pick
GodHand SPN-120
EUR55 to EUR70
For people who already know they will build a lot of kits and want a very clean cut.
It is a comfort purchase, not a beginner requirement. The finish is great, but it needs careful use.
Use it only on small gates and without any side twisting. If you want one fuss-free tool, stick to a simpler option.
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Glue
For a beginner working on plastic miniatures, the easiest option is a plastic glue that is simple to control.
Budget
Best value
Revell Contacta Professional
EUR5 to EUR8
For assembling most plastic kits with a dosing style that is easy to learn.
It stays popular because it is practical for beginners and more forgiving than a very aggressive application.
Apply a small amount on one contact area, join the parts, then let the glue do its job. If it floods heavily, you used too much.
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Premium
Comfort pick
Tamiya Extra Thin Cement
EUR7 to EUR11
Widely appreciated when you want a finer cleaner application on small joins.
Many hobbyists end up liking it for the brush applicator comfort, but you do not have to start there.
Hold the parts in place and lightly touch the seam with the brush. The glue often flows into the join on its own by capillary action.
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Primer spray
A spray primer is still the simplest starting point for a beginner.
Budget
Easy starting point
The Army Painter Colour Primer - Matt Black
EUR13 to EUR18
A practical classic if you want an easy black base for most projects.
Black helps hide missed areas and feels very forgiving when you are just starting out.
Shake well, spray outdoors in light coats and keep the can moving. A coat that is too heavy quickly kills detail.
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Premium
Comfort pick
Citadel Colour Chaos Black Spray
EUR16 to EUR22
A very straightforward choice if you want to stay inside the GW ecosystem and reduce guesswork.
It is not the cheapest option, but it is often the most reassuring one if you already follow GW tutorials.
Work in short bursts and let it dry between passes. If the weather is bad, wait for a better moment rather than forcing it.
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Later
Big upgrades, but not required
Nice upgrades
05
Later
Lamp
Not required to begin, but often the comfort upgrade that changes your life the fastest.
Budget
Comfort pick
Lampe de bureau LED avec pince
EUR20 to EUR30
To improve your work area visibility right away without spending too much.
It is not necessarily the perfect long-term lamp, but it is already a big upgrade if you paint in a darker room.
Place the light slightly in front of and above the miniature. The goal is not to light your face but to reduce awkward shadows on the model.
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Later
Wet palette
A big plus as soon as you start doing cleaner layers and painting for longer sessions.
Budget
Best value
The Army Painter Wet Palette
EUR25 to EUR32
To keep your paint usable for longer and control thinning more easily.
Many beginners skip it at first, then later realise it is the tool that helps them get more consistent paint behaviour.
Moisten the foam, place a clean sheet and add only a little paint. If everything turns soupy, you probably used too much water.
View on Amazon France Affiliate linkBuying mistakes to avoid early on
Mistakes to avoid
Buying too much gear at once
The classic trap is trying to plan everything before you have even painted one miniature. Start simple, then add comfort upgrades once you know what you actually miss.
Burning the whole budget on one premium tool
A very good brush or cutter can be excellent, but not if it prevents you from getting the rest of the useful basics.
Priming too heavily
Primer is the first step that can genuinely ruin a miniature. Two light passes are far better than one heavy coat.
Frequently asked questions
Beginner FAQ
One solid main brush is enough to start, as long as you also keep an older backup brush for rough tasks. You can add a true detail brush or a dedicated drybrush later.
No. You can absolutely start without one. Once you want cleaner layers and more consistency, though, it often becomes the most worthwhile comfort purchase.
Not at the very start if you already paint in a well-lit room. If your hobby corner is dark, a good lamp quickly improves comfort and helps you stop fighting shadows.
They can be interesting if you want a very simple solution with miniatures, paints and guided steps. They are not always the best pure value, but they are often a reassuring way into the hobby.
The right paint choice depends heavily on the army, scheme and finish you want. For that, it is better to use the painting guides and comparison tools already available on ChromaStack.
Go further
What about picking paints?
Do you already know which army you want to paint?
The right paint choice depends mostly on the army and scheme you want. Use the army guides, the equivalents index and the ChromaStack comparator to target the right colours instead.
Browse army guides