Choose a miniature paint set by the models and painting method you intend to use. Bottle count is a poor substitute for checking whether the set includes a primer, suitable main colors and the tools needed to apply them.
Map paints to the first project
List the large surfaces on your model: armor, clothing, skin, weapons and base. Assign a color to each, then identify where you want shading or highlights. This exposes whether a set covers your intended scheme or contains many colors you will rarely open. Metallics, washes, primers and conventional opaque colors perform different jobs.
| Category | Buying question |
|---|---|
| Primer | Is one included, and is it appropriate for the material and application method? |
| Main colors | Do they cover the intended scheme without relying on an unexplained mixing recipe? |
| Metallic or translucent effects | Are these useful to this project or simply part of the advertised count? |
| Brushes and palette | Are application tools included, and what must be supplied separately? |
| Preparation supplies | Does the model still need assembly tools or adhesive? |
Read one exact inventory
The Army Painter’s WP8066P Warpaints Fanatic Starter Set lists eleven 18 ml paints: seven acrylic colors, two metallics, a wash and a brush-on primer, plus a starter brush, miniature and guide. That is a useful itemized description. It does not prove that every similarly named set includes primer, or that its colors match every faction scheme.
Avoid translating a manufacturer’s “everything you need” phrase into a universal claim. You still need a suitable work area, water or the specified cleaning materials, and whatever preparation your chosen model requires.
Prefer a coherent small kit
For a first project, a limited palette can make the workflow easier to understand and replenish. Add a specialized paint when you know what result you want from it. If you follow a tutorial, match the paint type as well as the color name. A wash and an opaque base color are not interchangeable simply because both look brown in a bottle.
Sources and method
This is a researched decision guide. Product facts were checked against the primary sources below on November 2, 2026. Selection advice and worked examples are editorial reasoning. This guide does not include hands-on testing.
