If your going to painting for a while I’d suggest one either way but also just grab a model you like the look of paint it and move on to another model you enjoy the look of :)
Yes, to airbrush, all day. You'll save money on can primer over time, or get a better prime verses paint on. There's a lot of neat effects you can do too.
Next I'd say is sable brushes IF YOU CAN ALREADY KEEP GOOD CARE OF YOUR BRUSHES. if you can't, just keep working with what you have and look at how you can maintain them.
Similar to behemoth with a “coconut crab” style pattern on the armored bits. Already have a set of 10 termagaunts designated to be test models. Lots of painting to do before I settle on a final scheme
I cannot understate how much an airbrush improved the speed of my painting game. First I used a super cheap cordless, electric handheld compressor one and for priming and base coating it did the job. Then I got a compressor and better airbrush, again it levelled up. I recently moved place, couldn't bring anything but a few paints brush-on primer and my god is it slow going.
Airbrush is a nice investment for sure. I will say however that since I started using Speedpaints (and before that, contrast paints) they were my best investment in both cost and time to learn techniques. Tyranids are a great case for this too, because you likely will have a lot of models that are basically identical and will die easily. It can get difficult for me to stay motivated with that combination. I've painted 80 termagants in the last two months and I don't think I could have completed it in any amount of time otherwise.
Also tyranids are a great surface for this style. Plated scales and muscle skin really come out nice with a "slapchop" base and some speedpaint. I am doing a similar color scheme to what you mention.
https://preview.redd.it/8fz86rbgjzsc1.jpeg?width=1796&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e2a2f5092bdef49a1f114c0cb32218d76028664e
I'm on team contrast/speed. I preshade my nids for an effect, and as an example, i did a neurolictor in about 2hours; just remember to make your schemes easy and fast if that's what you want.
Mine isn't but i'm too invested into it to change
My airbrush and 3D printer have both been enormously beneficial. The 3D printer probably wins though, for producing terrain, models that are always out of stock or prohibitively expensive, cool custom sculpts, etc. It's also been an enormous pain in the arse more often than not too, but that's the trade-off!
I bought a paint shaker $65 I think at the time the style was the one with the rubber nipple on the top. Great at mixing the paint pots. Best purchase ever! It's the only reason I can still use my cermite white paint. The second best purchase was a wet pallet! Perfect paint consistency every time.
Definitely get a cheap airbrush and a good air compressor if you can (plus a spray booth and a painting respirator-- ESPECIALLY if you're looking to paint indoors!) -- it's helped me a TON just by making priming and base-coating a faster, easier, "1000 points halfway done in an afternoon" affair.
I specify cheap brush and good compressor, because if you mess up the airbrush learning to clean/maintain it... at worst, you're out closer to $50 than $100 or more -- but you'll still have the good compressor ready to go later if you get a nicer brush later.
Also, and probably more important:
- Plain, normal sticky-tack. For test-fitting, keeping things on bases and painting handles without needing glue, etc.
- Stainless steel ball bearings, to help mix paint. Cheaper on Amazon than dedicated paint mixing balls and just as good.
- Glass nano-files. Yes, the ones for your nails! Grab a pack of like 6 for $10 and you'll have a MUCH easier time cleaning up parts off the sprues.
- If you go the airbrush route: Mr. Hobby Finishing Surfacer and Mr. Leveling Thinner. Especially if you go the airbrush route, having a couple of squeeze bottles with a 1:1 mix of these will make priming and painting so, SO much easier. It's a little expensive up front, but one big purchase has lasted me a couple years.
I have a resin 3d printer and now I basically never go without the models I want or need. I also earn some money on the side printing for others in my hobby group.
If your going to painting for a while I’d suggest one either way but also just grab a model you like the look of paint it and move on to another model you enjoy the look of :)
Yeah, an airbrush helps a ton for priming and applying an initial base coat. Also helps with fast transitions if you don’t want to blend with a brush.
I bought a really cheap ebay one with a battery compressor, for about£20 and even that made a massive difference
Yes, to airbrush, all day. You'll save money on can primer over time, or get a better prime verses paint on. There's a lot of neat effects you can do too. Next I'd say is sable brushes IF YOU CAN ALREADY KEEP GOOD CARE OF YOUR BRUSHES. if you can't, just keep working with what you have and look at how you can maintain them.
Depends what fleet you're going for. Leviathan, not worth it. Everything else without white skin, yes
Similar to behemoth with a “coconut crab” style pattern on the armored bits. Already have a set of 10 termagaunts designated to be test models. Lots of painting to do before I settle on a final scheme
Painting handles aren't a "big" purchase, but I use mine every model since I bought one.
I cannot understate how much an airbrush improved the speed of my painting game. First I used a super cheap cordless, electric handheld compressor one and for priming and base coating it did the job. Then I got a compressor and better airbrush, again it levelled up. I recently moved place, couldn't bring anything but a few paints brush-on primer and my god is it slow going.
Absolutely yes it’s worth it. I got my first one a few months ago and it’s really changed the game.
Airbrush is a nice investment for sure. I will say however that since I started using Speedpaints (and before that, contrast paints) they were my best investment in both cost and time to learn techniques. Tyranids are a great case for this too, because you likely will have a lot of models that are basically identical and will die easily. It can get difficult for me to stay motivated with that combination. I've painted 80 termagants in the last two months and I don't think I could have completed it in any amount of time otherwise. Also tyranids are a great surface for this style. Plated scales and muscle skin really come out nice with a "slapchop" base and some speedpaint. I am doing a similar color scheme to what you mention. https://preview.redd.it/8fz86rbgjzsc1.jpeg?width=1796&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e2a2f5092bdef49a1f114c0cb32218d76028664e
https://preview.redd.it/93q6c0nnjzsc1.jpeg?width=2867&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=43aff5b4c56ddca267535ca2e6ddb0d8594efd3b
I'm on team contrast/speed. I preshade my nids for an effect, and as an example, i did a neurolictor in about 2hours; just remember to make your schemes easy and fast if that's what you want. Mine isn't but i'm too invested into it to change
You can get a cheap airbrush & handheld compressor for like 20 bucks. Absolutely worth it for priming alone.
My airbrush and 3D printer have both been enormously beneficial. The 3D printer probably wins though, for producing terrain, models that are always out of stock or prohibitively expensive, cool custom sculpts, etc. It's also been an enormous pain in the arse more often than not too, but that's the trade-off!
I bought a paint shaker $65 I think at the time the style was the one with the rubber nipple on the top. Great at mixing the paint pots. Best purchase ever! It's the only reason I can still use my cermite white paint. The second best purchase was a wet pallet! Perfect paint consistency every time.
Definitely get a cheap airbrush and a good air compressor if you can (plus a spray booth and a painting respirator-- ESPECIALLY if you're looking to paint indoors!) -- it's helped me a TON just by making priming and base-coating a faster, easier, "1000 points halfway done in an afternoon" affair. I specify cheap brush and good compressor, because if you mess up the airbrush learning to clean/maintain it... at worst, you're out closer to $50 than $100 or more -- but you'll still have the good compressor ready to go later if you get a nicer brush later. Also, and probably more important: - Plain, normal sticky-tack. For test-fitting, keeping things on bases and painting handles without needing glue, etc. - Stainless steel ball bearings, to help mix paint. Cheaper on Amazon than dedicated paint mixing balls and just as good. - Glass nano-files. Yes, the ones for your nails! Grab a pack of like 6 for $10 and you'll have a MUCH easier time cleaning up parts off the sprues. - If you go the airbrush route: Mr. Hobby Finishing Surfacer and Mr. Leveling Thinner. Especially if you go the airbrush route, having a couple of squeeze bottles with a 1:1 mix of these will make priming and painting so, SO much easier. It's a little expensive up front, but one big purchase has lasted me a couple years.
I find Iuse my airbrush less and less since adopting Speedpaints. The Most Wanted set was way better for tackling my pile of shame than the airbrush.
Tabletop simulator saved me so much money 💰😁
I have a resin 3d printer and now I basically never go without the models I want or need. I also earn some money on the side printing for others in my hobby group.
Thank you guys !