The Mini Primer

Basing & Finishing

8 guides

Learn how to store painted miniatures safely, display them at home, and transport them without chips or scratches. Practical tips for beginners.

Learn how to base miniatures step by step: glue, sand, texture paste, and sealing explained simply for beginners.

Frosted varnish ruins the look of a finished mini. Learn what causes the white haze and how to fix cloudy varnish fast with a few simple steps.

Learn when to use matte vs gloss varnish on miniatures, why many painters use both, and how to choose the right sealant for your project.

Learn how to varnish miniatures to protect your paintwork. Covers matte, satin, and gloss finishes, spray vs brush-on, and common mistakes to avoid.

Learn how to paint base rims cleanly on miniatures. Covers color choices, edge technique, keeping paint off the top, sealing, and army consistency.

Learn how to use static grass, grass tufts, and flock to finish miniature bases with a natural, realistic look. Step-by-step PVA glue method inside.

Explore easy miniature basing ideas and textures that make any figure look finished, from desert sand to urban rubble, with no special tools needed.