The Paint Bench
The Paint Bench
Pull up a chair, rinse that brush, and let’s turn plain plastic into pocket-sized history. Today’s bench notes cover beginner habits, dependable color inspiration, and tutorials for both 1/32 and 1/72 historical figures.
Field Guides
Fresh historical figure-painting articles with verified source images were unusually scarce this week. The search was widened to include several clearly dated reference guides that remain useful at the paint bench.
Getting Started Collecting Historical Miniatures: A Beginner’s Guide
A welcoming briefing on figure sizes, resin versus metal, essential tools, subject selection, and choosing a manageable first display-painting project.
Read the guide →
Wi464, August 2026
The current issue includes Rúben Torregrosa’s treatment of a First World War German heavy machine-gun team, with inspiration for painting uniforms, leather, metal, and field equipment.
Inspect the issue →
How to Paint Panzer Grey
A practical Dunkelgrau walkthrough combining controlled highlights, drybrushing, acrylic color, and restrained enamel-and-oil weathering.
Study the method →
1/72 Scale
1/72 Scale Painting Tutorial
An evergreen, photograph-led sequence for making small soft-plastic troops readable through simple flesh tones, strong uniform colors, shading, and carefully selected detail.
Follow the steps →Watch & Learn
Today’s viewing favors 1/72, with a classic 1/32 Airfix figure keeping the larger toy soldiers represented. View totals were visible on YouTube on August 11, 2026.
1/72 Scale
1/72 ESCI Roman Legion Infantry – Ancient Wars Painting Guide
A close-up guide to armor, tunic colors, leather, flesh, and the stronger contrasts needed to make a classic ESCI Roman stand out.
Watch on YouTube →
1/72 Scale
Army Painter WWII US Set Review & Tutorial
A paint-set test built around an Italeri paratrooper, covering uniform cloth, webbing, field equipment, flesh, and finishing details with a compact historical palette.
Watch on YouTube →
1/32 Scale
Army Men Painting Tutorial: Vintage Airfix German Soldier
A notably popular transformation of a grey vintage Airfix soldier using layered uniform tones, clean equipment colors, and beginner-friendly guidance.
Watch on YouTube →Painters to Follow
Three feeds worth keeping beside the paint water: one specialist in small-scale historical plastics, one champion of classic army men, and one detail-minded historical painter.
Painting Panzers
Follow for clear tutorials on 1/72 historical plastics, with dependable color callouts and close camera work that makes tiny details easy to study.
Follow the channel →
James Viola
Follow for transformations of familiar plastic army men and vintage Airfix figures, with plenty of approachable 1/32-scale painting inspiration.
Follow the channel →
HeresyBrush
Follow Rúben Torregrosa for carefully researched historical color schemes, crisp figure painting, vehicle weathering, and techniques that reward close inspection.
Follow on Instagram →