Now, just to clarify, these tips are all about getting your army ready to play in the quickest time possible with the best results you can manage. They’re not designed for creating competition winning masterpieces or hyper detailed miniatures. If you’re looking for ultra-fine details and the most stunning paint jobs, these tips may not be for you. But if you want to get your army onto the tabletop faster without compromising on overall quality, then these hacks are perfect.
1. Use a Spray Primer – But Choose Wisely
Let’s kick off with the most obvious but often overlooked step: priming. Sure, you can go the route of hand priming with a brush, but who has the time? Spray primers are the way to go. The key, though, is picking one that does more than just prime the surface, it can act as a base coat too! I’ve found the Citadel Colour spray primers to be fantastic, and they save you the time of laying down a base colour by hand, there are lots of other amazing brands out there too, so do some research.
But here’s a tip a lot of people don’t mention: the colour of the primer matters. Many hobbyists recommend using black primer, but here’s the thing, black can make it harder to see fine details on your miniatures. While it’s great for getting a nice, shadowy look for certain models, it can slow you down as you try to pick out details. Personally, I’ve found that using a grey primer can help speed things up because it gives you a better base to work with, allowing you to spot details more easily and paint faster. If you don’t mind a bit more contrast and a little extra work on highlights, black can still be useful, but for speed, I usually go with grey.
2. Batch Paint Like a Pro
Batch painting might not sound fun, but trust me, it’s a game-changer. You’ll save so much time when you paint multiple models at once. Set yourself up with an assembly line approach, prime all your miniatures first, then paint them in stages (base coats first, followed by layering and shading). This method means you’re repeating each step only once for several miniatures, rather than starting from scratch every time. I know it’s tempting to paint one model at a time to keep things fresh, but you’ll be shocked at how much faster you can go when you tackle five or ten at once.
3. Speed Up Drying with a Hair Dryer
If you’re working under a time crunch, you know how frustrating it is waiting for layers to dry. Here’s a trick I learned—use a hair dryer on a low setting. It’ll speed up the drying process without affecting the paint’s finish, meaning you can get back to your miniatures faster. Just don’t get too close; you don’t want to accidentally blow the paint off your models!4. Use Washes Liberally
Washes are your best friend when it comes to saving time while still adding depth to your miniatures. You don’t need to spend ages highlighting every detail, just slap on a wash, let it flow into the crevices, and watch your miniature transform. Of course, don’t go overboard, as some washes can darken a model too much, but it’s an amazing shortcut to shading, and it cuts down on the time spent detailing. Additional tip: use a clean brush to remove “pooling” and/or move the wash around for better detailing.
5. Focus on Key Features
Not every part of a model needs to be painstakingly detailed. There are some areas that deserve more attention, like the face, weapon, or iconic features of the miniature. But those tiny, hard-to-reach parts? You can give them a quick once-over and call it good enough. Remember, your opponent is not going to be examining your miniatures with a magnifying glass, focus on the areas that will really make your models pop.
6. Avoid Over-Detailing – Keep it Simple
Sometimes, we all get caught up in the temptation to paint every single detail to perfection. But let’s be honest, Warhammer miniatures are small, and sometimes less is more. Think about what’s going to be visible during gameplay. Often, you can skip the super-fine detailing and still have a great-looking miniature. I’ve learned to be more strategic with my time, just because a detail can be painted doesn’t mean it should be.
7. Use an Assembly Line for Basing
Basing is a crucial part of painting, but it can be a major time sink. My trick? Do it in bulk. Like batch painting, batch basing can save hours. I always make a pile of bases at once, applying the same textures or effects across the whole batch. This lets you work more efficiently rather than doing each base individually. Plus, it’s really satisfying to see a bunch of bases come together in one go.
8. Embrace Simple, Effective Tools
Sometimes it’s the little tools that make a big difference. A good paint handle, like the Citadel Painting Handle, keeps your miniatures steady while you paint. It’s easier on your hands, and it’s way less frustrating than constantly repositioning your miniatures. A wet palette is another must-have, it keeps your paints fresh for longer, and you don’t have to worry about drying out halfway through a session.
9. Use Drybrushing to Speed Up Highlights
Drybrushing is a quick and effective way to add highlights without spending ages layering up. It’s especially great for metallics or textured areas like clothing, armour, or terrain. With a light touch and the right brush, you can achieve a nice weathered or highlighted effect without needing to carefully pick out every single detail. It’s one of the easiest and fastest ways to make your miniatures look more dynamic without the effort of traditional highlighting. While this is a great technic, it will require a little practice, people tend to over do the paint and it ruins the good work so far.
10. Time Is Relative – Make It Enjoyable
Sometimes, the biggest barrier to painting quickly is not the technique or tools, it’s the mindset. Painting can feel like a never-ending grind if you’re not enjoying the process. The secret? Make it fun and engaging, and you’ll be amazed at how much faster the time passes.
Put on a film or your favourite playlist while you paint, the key is to make the experience enjoyable so it doesn’t feel like a chore. I find that when I’m immersed in a great movie or show, I paint faster because I’m not as focused on the ticking clock.
Another great way to speed up the process is to paint with friends. Painting miniatures might seem like a solo activity, but when you share the experience, it becomes a social event. Whether it’s a casual painting night with fellow hobbyists or just hanging out with friends who also love Warhammer, having company turns painting from a grind into a relaxed, enjoyable activity. Time flies when you’re chatting and sharing tips, and before you know it, your army is halfway done.
In the end, the faster you can make the process feel, the faster it actually is. So, try to create an atmosphere that makes painting something you look forward to, not just something you have to rush through to get to the game.
Final Thoughts
The beauty of painting Warhammer miniatures is that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Everyone has their own style, and what works for one person might not work for another. But these time-saving hacks are a solid starting point for anyone looking to get their army to the tabletop without sacrificing quality.
Of course, there will always be purists who prefer spending hours crafting each detail (and we love them for it), but if you’re trying to balance life, work, and Warhammer, these tricks will help you get more miniatures done in less time. The key is finding a balance between speed and quality that suits your personal style. So, get creative with these hacks, and get those miniatures painted and ready to roll!
Photo by Jack B
