How you hold a miniature affects your painting more than most people realise. Gripping the model itself rubs off paint and leaves skin oils that stop paint adhering. Pinching a small base makes your hand cramp and shake. A good way of holding the model, plus a few bracing techniques, gives you steadier lines, cleaner models and longer, more comfortable sessions.
Why not just hold the base?
Holding the base works for a quick job, but it has drawbacks. Small bases are hard to grip without touching the feet. Your fingers get in the way of the brush when painting lower areas. And over a long session, the tight pinch tires your hand, which shows up as wobbly highlights.
Option 1: A cork or bottle top
The classic budget solution. Stick the model's base to a wine cork, bottle top or similar with a blob of sticky tack or a dab of PVA glue. It gives you a bigger, easier grip and keeps your fingers away from the paint. Corks are also easy to stand upright while models dry.
Option 2: A painting handle
Purpose-made painting handles come in many designs: spring clamps that grip the base, handles with sticky tops, and ergonomic grips that fit the palm. Whatever you use, look for a comfortable size, a secure hold on the base and the ability to turn the model easily. A homemade handle, such as an old pill tub weighted with sand, works just as well.
Option 3: Temporary mounts for unbased models
If you're painting the model before gluing it to its final base, or painting parts separately, mount it temporarily:
- Pinning: drill a small hole in the foot, insert a short piece of wire and push the other end into a cork. The pin can later fix the model to its base.
- Sticky tack: quick and reusable, but less secure for heavy parts.
- A brittle superglue bond: glue the model lightly to a spare base or cork with a small amount of superglue, so it can be snapped off later.
Mounting individual parts like this is the backbone of painting in sub-assemblies.
Option 4: Holding large models
Big monsters and vehicles are heavy and awkward. Rest them on the table and turn them on a lazy Susan or a turntable, or bolt or tack them to a scrap of wood. If you need to hold a large model, use gloves to avoid rubbing paint, and handle it by the base or underside.
Bracing: the secret to steady hands
Even with a good handle, a floating hand will wobble. Bracing turns your arms and hands into a stable platform:
- Elbows on the table. Rest your forearms or elbows on the desk rather than holding your arms in the air.
- Touch your hands together. Rest the little finger of your brush hand against the hand holding the model, or touch the heels of your hands together. When both hands move together, small tremors cancel out.
- Use a fixed support. A stack of books or a block of wood at the right height gives your brush hand somewhere to rest.
- Move the model, not the brush. For curved edges, keep the brush still and rotate the model into it. It's much smoother.
Body position and comfort
- Sit upright at a comfortable height, with the model roughly at chest height and your forearms supported.
- Use good, even lighting so you're not leaning in to see.
- Take a short break every half hour or so to stretch your hands, neck and eyes.
- Avoid strong coffee before fine detail work. It really can make a difference.
A tidy work area helps too. Our guide to organising a Warhammer hobby desk shows how to lay out your painting, storage and drying zones.
Breathing and timing
For the very finest lines, such as eyes, edge highlights and freehand, many painters breathe out slowly and make the stroke during the exhale. It sounds odd, but it noticeably steadies the hand. Our guide to freehand painting on banners puts these techniques to work.
Keeping models clean
- Wash your hands before painting, as skin oils can repel paint.
- Don't touch areas you've just painted, even if they look dry.
- If you have to handle the model, hold it by the handle, base or an unpainted area.
- Varnish finished models before gaming to protect them from handling.
Quick summary
- Mount models on a cork, handle or temporary base
- Brace your elbows and touch your hands together
- Rotate the model into the brush
- Breathe out on the finest strokes
- Take regular breaks
Independent resource published by Blubbercove Ltd. This page is not affiliated with, sponsored by, endorsed by, authorised by or licensed by Games Workshop Limited.
Warhammer 40,000, Warhammer Age of Sigmar, Warhammer: The Old World and the names of associated armies, characters and places are trademarks of Games Workshop Limited, used here without permission and solely to identify the subject. This is an unofficial fan guide.