Everything You Need To Know

Paints To Buy

Vallejo makes a range of start sets and curated sets to help painters identify which colors are right for their specific figures.

Their Model Range of acrylic paints is perfect if you’re looking for a natural and more realistic look for your army men.

Brushes, Synthetic or Hair

Figures, Scales & Quality

Getting Started

Painting army men is a fun, inexpensive way to get into the hobby of miniatures without risking too much investment.

A lot of people are interested in the world of miniature painting, but they’re intimidated to try it out because of the high learning curve, steep monetary investment, and maybe even because of the stigma around the hobby.

Approaching painting from the mindset of learning a skill/craft.

Is Miniature Painting Right For You?

If you’ve ever looked at a tiny figure and thought, “That looks fun,” then miniature painting might be perfect for you. You don’t need to be an artist or have fancy supplies to get started—just a brush, some paint, and a little patience. The hobby is about learning as you go, enjoying the process, and seeing your figures slowly come to life with color. It’s relaxing, creative, and surprisingly rewarding, even if you’ve never painted anything before. If you’re curious and open to trying something new, miniature painting is an easy and welcoming hobby to dive into.

Miniature painting isn’t for everyone, however. If you are impatient, overly critical of your own best efforts, or generally struggle with maintaining focus than you may find that this isn’t for you. However, if you’re determined to paint and overcome your own perceived flaws through resilience and concerted effort than the rewards may outweigh the struggle over time.

Decision Paralysis

If you struggle with decision-making on how exactly to get started then this is a great place to start.

I’ve put together a list of everything I’d recommend to get started with painting from which soldiers to recruit first, and what paints are the most beginner friendly.

Army Men

To get started I’d recommend any of the bags of army men sold by BMC Toys.

If you can’t decide then start with these US Infantry.

Paints and Palette

When it comes to which paints to use, I personally like Vallejo Acrylics. They have range of paints called “Model Color” that have a natural desaturated look to them and dry with a matte finish for added realism.

If you want your army men to be bright and bold, Vallejo also offers two ranges “Game Color” and “Xpress Color”. Yes, it’s spelled “Xpress” with an “X”.

In addition to the paints you’ll want to pick up a “wet palette”, which will prevent your acrylics from drying out and help you stretch them farther.

Brushes

Synthetic v. Hair

Synthetic brushes are made from man-made fibers like nylon and tend to be more affordable, durable, and easier to clean. They’re great for beginners and for rougher techniques like dry brushing. Natural hair brushes, often made from sable, hold more paint and create smoother, more controlled strokes, which makes them the top choice for fine detail work. They’re more expensive and require extra care, but many painters consider them worth the investment once you’ve developed your skills.

Checklist

Army Men

Wet Palette or equivalent

Paints

Brushes

A Cup for Water

Paper towels

How Long Does It Take to “Get Good”?

Like any art form, miniature painting takes time to master. There’s a popular idea that it takes about 10,000 hours to truly master a skill—but the good news is, you don’t need anywhere near that to start enjoying painting or creating miniatures you’re proud of. Most people see improvement after just a few projects, and every figure you paint teaches you something new. Getting “good” is less about racing to a finish line and more about enjoying the journey, building your skills step by step over months and years.

1/32 Scale Army Men

The classic 1/32 scale plastic soldier—about two inches tall—hits a sweet spot for beginners. They’re big enough that the details are easy to see and paint, but still small enough to collect and display in groups.

1/72 Scale Army Men

If you want to field entire armies without spending much, 1/72 scale soldiers—about an inch tall—are the perfect starting point. These figures are small, affordable, and usually come in large sets, giving you dozens of miniatures to practice on.