How to Paint Scale Model Figures with Acrylics

Quick answer

Start by priming your figure, then apply thin acrylic base coats, use a wash for shadows, and finish with drybrushed highlights. This process works for both metal and plastic miniatures.

Step-by-step acrylic painting process

1. Clean and prime the figure: Wash metal figures with warm soapy water to remove mould release; rinse and dry. Plastic figures can be wiped with isopropyl alcohol. Apply a thin, even coat of primer — black gives deeper shadows, white keeps colours brighter, grey is a balanced midpoint. Let dry fully before painting. Skipping the wash can cause paint to flake off metal figures later. Always prime even if the plastic is coloured.
2. Apply thin basecoats: Thin your acrylic paint with a drop of water or medium until it flows like skimmed milk. Paint one colour at a time, letting each layer dry completely. Two thin coats give smoother coverage than one thick coat. Start with the largest areas (trousers, tunic) and work down to small details (webbing, skin). Thick paint hides detail. If you can see the primer through the first coat, that is normal — apply a second thin layer.
3. Add a wash for shadows: Mix a dark wash (e.g., black or brown paint heavily thinned with water and a drop of dish soap) or use a ready-made shade. Brush it over the entire figure, letting it pool in recesses. Wipe excess from raised areas with a clean damp brush. The wash creates instant depth and defines edges. Too much wash can stain the whole figure. Blot raised areas quickly before the wash dries.
4. Drybrush highlights: Load a stiff, flat brush with a lighter shade of your base colour, then wipe almost all paint off onto a paper towel until the brush leaves only a faint mark. Lightly drag the brush across raised edges — armour rims, boot tops, weapon edges. This catches only the high points and adds contrast. If the brush leaves streaks, you have too much paint on it. Wipe more off and try again.
5. Paint the base and seal the figure: Paint the base with a neutral colour or add texture paint (sand, gravel). Once dry, apply a matte spray varnish to protect the acrylic layers from handling during games. A gloss varnish followed by matte gives extra durability for metal figures. Do not skip varnish on gaming figures — acrylic paint chips easily when rubbed against terrain or stored in a foam tray.

Products mentioned in this guide

• 02 Hundred Hours - LRDG / SAS Reinforcements: This set contains 4 metal LRDG / SAS figures with separate bases, representing the Long Range Desert Group that guided and fought alongside the SAS in North Africa. Metal figures like these hold acrylic paint well after a good primer coat; the separate bases let you paint the figure and base independently for cleaner results.

  

• Wargames Atlantic - Operators: This hard plastic box set includes enough parts to build 20 28mm figures with five unique bodies and a mix of modern weaponry. Plastic figures require less aggressive priming than metal, and the multiple bodies give you practice with different poses and gear — ideal for trying out the steps below.