Hey everyone! I’m just starting out in the mini painting hobby and I’m curious about the best way to approach painting my models. For my first project, I painted the snap-fit gaunts and marines from the starter box all at once, and it felt pretty tough to reach some areas without messing up the paint job. I ended up layering so much that it got a bit chunky. Now that I’m working on a Dark Angels combat patrol, I’m wondering if it might be better to paint the models in parts before fully assembling them. I’ve been experimenting with partial assembly by taping up areas where I plan to attach arms and using putty for the neck hole, which seems to be making it easier. Is painting in parts uncommon, and what do you all think is the best approach?
3 Answers
I usually paint my minis when they’re fully assembled, but I’ve realized that sometimes it’s so much easier to leave some parts off until after painting—especially with models like terminators where it’s tough to get to nooks if you’re trying to paint around a cape or something. Avoiding a few assembly steps can save a lot of time and make your life easier, trust me!
It’s totally reasonable to paint in parts before the final assembly! A lot of hobbyists do what’s called ‘sub-assemblies,’ especially for larger models. This means you might paint the body, head, arms, and any other pieces separately before putting everything together. If your model has more open areas, you can definitely assemble it fully, but for tricky poses, painting in pieces can save a lot of hassle later on.
One tip I’ve learned is to use just a dab of super glue for parts that are tricky to reach while painting. That way, if you need to take them off later, it’s easier than prying apart fully glued sections. It really helps with those tight spots on the torso!
