Collect and paint · 5 minute read
Plan your first army without buying a backlog
Turn a faction idea into a manageable collection: a pilot model, a budget worksheet, a playable milestone and a repeatable painting plan.
Warhammerism · Published · Editorial method and AI disclosure
An army project can fail without a single bad purchase. Several individually appealing boxes can add up to a collection with no clear next step. A useful plan connects each purchase to something you want to finish or play.
Start with a one-sentence brief: “I want a small force for learning games with my local group,” or “I want a display collection built around this character.” Keep that sentence at the top of your list. A competitive roster, a narrative collection and a painting portfolio have different success conditions.
Make the first milestone small and observable
Choose a result you can recognize: a finished test model, one completed unit, or an agreed introductory game. Avoid “start an army,” which can mean anything from reading a rulebook to buying ten unopened boxes. Ask your intended opponent what is needed for the first game, then check those requirements against current official material.
Do not assume an attractive bundle is legal or complete for your chosen format. Verify its contents, available unit options and the documents your group uses. The rules checklist helps separate collection planning from legality.
Run a pilot before choosing the whole scheme
Assemble and paint one representative model or a small sample. Pick something with the surfaces you will repeat: armour, cloth, skin, trim or shields. A character covered in unique details may not be a good timing sample for ordinary troops.
Write down the paints, preparation steps and approximate time spent at each stage. Photograph the result in ordinary room light as well as close up. A scheme that looks satisfying at gaming distance may need fewer layers than your display standard; a display project may justify more time. Decide which result you want before repeating the process.
The scheme designer is useful for exploring colour arrangements, and the paint converter can suggest comparison candidates. Neither simulates the exact finish of a real paint on a real primer. Test on a spare surface before committing to a batch.
Use a budget worksheet that includes the quiet costs
| Category | Already owned | Still needed | Your spending limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Models for the next milestone | List usable models | Only the missing pieces | Set your own amount |
| Tools and preparation | Check condition and suitability | Avoid duplicate tools | Set your own amount |
| Painting and basing | Test existing supplies | Missing colours/materials | Set your own amount |
| Storage and transport | Check dimensions | Protection for the finished work | Set your own amount |
| Rules and play materials | Confirm current access | Required publications/materials | Set your own amount |
Prices and availability vary, so this worksheet intentionally contains no invented totals. Add tax, delivery and any venue costs relevant to you. A second-hand model with missing parts or a time-consuming repaint is not automatically cheaper for your project.
Separate the collection list from the play list
Your collection list records what you own and its state: unbuilt, built, primed, painted or ready to transport. Your play list records the units and values for a particular game. One should not silently stand in for the other.
For example, suppose your hypothetical first milestone needs two units. You already own one finished unit and one unbuilt unit. The next action is to build and paint the second, not to buy a third because it looks useful later. Put future ideas on a separate wish list and review them after the milestone.
Leave a clear next session
At the end of a hobby session, record one small next action: prepare five bases, finish the cloth on the test model, or check the roster against the agreed document. Keep supplies together so starting again requires little setup.
When the milestone is complete, compare your expected time and cost with what happened. Adjust the next milestone using that evidence. Share a saved roster through the army builder, follow relevant wiki pages from their Watch controls, and keep the project manageable enough that returning feels inviting.
Method
This is an original planning worksheet, not a product ranking or a claim of hands-on testing of particular kits. For official introductory modelling and painting instruction, consult Warhammer Academy. Follow the safety instructions supplied with your tools and materials.