Quick answer: the essential tools for building and painting miniatures are sprue clippers, a hobby knife, plastic glue and superglue, a file or sanding stick, primer, two or three brushes, a palette, a water pot and matt varnish. Worthwhile upgrades are a wet palette, a daylight lamp, a painting handle, a pin vice and magnets. Most beginners can get everything essential for around £40–£70.
Walk into a hobby shop and the tool wall can be overwhelming. The good news is that you need far less than it suggests. This checklist sorts hobby tools into essentials, upgrades and nice-to-haves, explains what each one does, and gives rough UK prices so you can plan a budget.
Essential tools for building miniatures
| Tool | What it does | Rough UK price |
|---|---|---|
| Sprue clippers | Cut parts cleanly from the plastic frame | £5–£20 |
| Hobby knife and spare blades | Trim nubs and scrape off mould lines | £5–£15 |
| Polystyrene (plastic) glue | Welds plastic parts together for a strong join | £3–£8 |
| Superglue | Bonds resin, metal and mixed materials | £3–£8 |
| Files or sanding sticks | Smooth joins and remove seams | £3–£10 |
| Cutting mat | Protects your table and your blade | £5–£15 |
For technique, see our guides to clipping parts off the sprue and removing mould lines.
Essential tools for painting miniatures
| Tool | What it does | Rough UK price |
|---|---|---|
| Primer | Gives paint a surface to grip | £8–£15 |
| Starter paints or paint set | Basecoats, washes and highlights | £20–£40 |
| Two or three brushes | A medium brush for basecoats and a fine one for detail | £5–£20 |
| Palette | For thinning and mixing paint | £0–£5 (an old tile works) |
| Water pots | One for rinsing, ideally one for clean water | £0 |
| Matt varnish | Protects finished paint from handling | £8–£15 |
Not sure which brushes or paints to choose? See which brushes you need and types of miniature paint explained.
Upgrades worth buying
- Wet palette (£0–£30): keeps thinned paint usable for hours and makes blending easier. You can make one for almost nothing; see how to make a wet palette.
- Daylight lamp (£20–£60): accurate, bright light reduces eye strain and mistakes. See what light you need.
- Painting handle (£5–£20): holds the model so your fingers don't rub off wet paint. See how to hold miniatures while painting.
- Pin vice (£8–£20): a small hand drill for gun barrels, pinning joints and fitting magnets.
- Magnets (£5–£15): for swappable weapons and secure bases. See the best magnets for bases.
- Brush soap (£5–£10): keeps good brushes pointed for longer. See how to clean brushes.
Nice-to-haves for later
- Airbrush and compressor: fast basecoats and smooth blends, but a big investment with a learning curve.
- Magnifier or visor: helps with eyes and fine detail.
- Sculpting putty and tools: for filling gaps and simple conversions.
- Tweezers: for placing transfers and tiny parts.
- A photo lightbox: for sharing your finished models online. See how to photograph miniatures with a phone.
What can you skip?
Skip giant paint collections, expensive sable brushes before you can care for them, and specialist tools for techniques you haven't tried yet. Buy tools when you hit a specific problem rather than "just in case". That way every purchase earns its place on the desk.
How should I organise my hobby tools?
A small, tidy setup is easier to keep using. Keep cutting tools together, store paints upright with lids clean, and keep brushes in a pot bristles-up. Our guide to organising a small paint station has layouts for tight spaces.
The last tool: somewhere to put finished models
Finished models left on the hobby desk get knocked, dusty and buried under the next project. A small tiered stand keeps them safe and visible as your collection grows. The WarSplay Classic Mini holds 8 models on 25–32 mm bases and fits on the edge of most desks, and the Hero Mini suits characters on 28–50 mm bases. WarSplay stands are compatible with Warhammer 40,000® miniatures and most other ranges on standard round bases (WarSplay is an independent UK maker and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Games Workshop). See all modular miniature display stands.
Frequently asked questions
What tools do I need to start painting miniatures?
Clippers, a hobby knife, glue, primer, a few paints including a wash, two or three brushes, a palette, a water pot and matt varnish.
How much do miniature painting tools cost?
Roughly £40–£70 for the essentials. Upgrades such as a daylight lamp and wet palette add around £30–£90.
Do I need plastic glue and superglue?
Ideally both. Plastic glue gives the strongest join on plastic kits, while superglue is needed for resin, metal and mixed materials.
What is the most useful hobby tool upgrade?
A good daylight lamp or a wet palette. Both make painting noticeably easier and improve results straight away.
Do I need an airbrush?
No. An airbrush speeds up basecoats and blending, but everything a beginner needs to learn can be done with brushes.
What is a pin vice used for?
Drilling small holes: gun barrels, pins to strengthen joints, and recesses for magnets.