Firstly, if there is already a thread for this then please feel free to simply direct me to that, and thank you in advance.

I have never painted models before and want to get into it as something I can do in my free time (idle hands and all that). The inevitable problem is that I have no idea where to start. I want to paint my Armada ships which is why I'm posting this here. I do a lot of prop painting/building, but I don't know how many of those skills would translate well.

Just looking for the basic start up: what should I buy, where should I go to get it, etc. and any first-timer secrets the more experienced can share!

Shortest of Shortcuts:

If you want to get a baseline of some of the techniques - then find your local Games Workshop store. Walk in and say "I want to learn how to paint a miniature."

They'll give you one, and show you the ropes. You'll get the basics down in about 20 minutes... But the best part is you are shown .

The price you pay is then having to sit through a quick "how to play" session and then a sell-technique to get you to commit to a whole bunch of stuff...

If you've got the money and don't want to shop around and don't want to be bothered - grab one of their smaller essentials packs...

For Armada, really, you need a half-decent brush (although ships are more forgiving than squadrons) and the appropriate paint, and for squadrons, Primer.

I always recommend modelling paint and such, because the pigment density is ludicrously high letting you do things quicker with thin coats, even though it is more expensive than just basic acrylics.

Otherwise, I'm still trying to revamp my "So, you want to paint some TIE fighters", "So, you want to paint some Rebel fighters", and "So, you want to paint some rogues and villains." articles... (The picture links keep breaking on facebook and my internets are not up to getting things sorted elsewhere at this point), but they at least describe basic squadron painting techniques You can find them in the painting sub forum, you might just have to scroll back a page (or two or three) to find them HERE

https://community.fantasyflightgames.com/topic/250538-so-you-want-to-paint-some-tie-fighters/

https://community.fantasyflightgames.com/topic/266018-so-you-want-to-paint-some-rebel-fighters/

https://community.fantasyflightgames.com/topic/267695-so-you-want-to-paint-some-rogues-heroes-scum-and-villany/

Another important thing I forget often myself:

Take your time, don’t hurry. If you’re doing things in a hassle you will make mistakes.

Even worse (for me at least):

Those mistakes are often the most demoralizing ones.

good luck and fun

Levin