Prep
Clip, scrape mold lines, wash oil, or clean print supports before any paint touches plastic or resin.
One Nerdy Dad
Finish the first miniature before you buy the rest of the kit.
A short painting order and a buy-later list so the first mini actually gets done.
Learning how to paint a first miniature without waste means prep, primer, base, shade, then varnish—plus three upgrades you can skip until mini two. I write the free technique guides and buying guides on One Nerdy Dad for kitchen-table painters who want a finished figure, not a half-opened cart.
Your 5-step first-mini path
Tap a step to highlight the matching card. Keep the path short; park the extras on the buy-later list.
Primer
One thin prime in grey, black, or white. Let it cure fully so color grips without flooding detail.
Base
Block the big cloth, armor, and skin areas in two thin coats. Readability beats perfect blending on mini one.
Shade
Wash or dark tone the recesses, then a few raised edges. Stop when the silhouette pops across the table.
Varnish
Seal after you accept the paint job. Matte or satin is enough for most tabletop handling.
Three things not to buy yet
- Airbrush kitBrush thinning first
- Extra primer colorsOne can is enough
- Specialty stacksTechnical pots can wait
Five jobs I can help with next
Pick the job that matches tonight’s session. Each card routes to free technique writing or a shopping guide when gear is the real gap.
01
Painting order
Base → recess → edge → base the ground. A desk sequence you can finish in short sessions.
Technique guides →02Airbrush
When batches and primers outgrow the brush, shop with a named use case—not a full booth on day one.
Buying guides →03Primer and varnish
Prime early, varnish late. Zenithal is a next-rep technique after a clean single-color prime.
Zenithal walkthrough →04Print cleanup
Supports, wash, cure, and sand before primer so paint is not hiding scars on resin or FDM.
Print-to-paint writing →05Starter kits
Small core acrylics and two brushes beat a mega-kit. Open a guide only when you know the gap.
Guides category →Why painters stick with numbered technique
1
Numbered technique
Steps you can run after dinner—prep through varnish—without inventing a new workflow every session.
2
Not a ranked mega-kit
Shopping stays on the guides surface. This homepage keeps order of operations ahead of carts and bundles.
3
Full print-to-table path
From cleanup and prime to paint, base, and table for Warhammer and D&D on a kitchen table, not a dedicated room.
First-mini FAQ
Do I need an airbrush for the first miniature?
No. Learn brush thinning and clean prep first. An airbrush is a buy-later multiplier for primers and batches once mini one is finished.
When should varnish go on?
After you accept the paint job and base. It protects handling; it will not fix thick paint or skipped cleanup.
What creates the most waste on mini one?
Opening too many products before one figure is done. A five-step path and a short hold list beat a pile of half-used specialty pots.
Where do print cleanup and primer fit?
Cleanup and cure sit at the front. Primer follows. After that, base, shade, and varnish keep the same order whether the model is kit plastic or a 3D print.
Where should I go after this page?
Open a technique guide for the next skill, or a buying guide only when you have a named gear gap. Finish mini one, take one note, then start mini two.
Ready for the next rep?
You have the path: prep, primer, base, shade, varnish—and three upgrades still on hold. The next win is a second finished miniature, not a second shopping cart.