Do I need to prime miniatures before painting?

Yes. Primer creates a surface that acrylic paint adheres to. Without primer, paint will chip and flake off with handling. Use spray primer (Citadel, Army Painter, or Rust-Oleum) in gray, white, or black. Gray is the most versatile starting primer color. Apply thin coats to avoid obscuring fine details.

How long does it take to paint a miniature?

A basic tabletop-quality paint job takes 30-60 minutes per miniature using base coat, wash, and dry brush techniques. Display-quality painting with blending, highlighting, and freehand details can take 5-20+ hours per miniature. Start with quick tabletop quality and improve your techniques gradually over time.

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