What Tools Do I Need?

What Paints?

For starters, you'll be need ACRYLIC paints - enamels often have a nasty effect on toy plastic and will refuse to dry. My prefered acrylics are made my Humbrol and Citadel Colour... though depending on where you live you might have to chose differently and go for the likes of Tamiya, Testors etc.

Which Brushes?

Paint brushes - go for nice quality artists brushes. I use the blue stemmed Cotman by Windsor & Newton. #0's (costing £1.95) should probably suffice - make sure they have a nice point to them. Get two or three spares just in case, for even if you look after them well the day will come when it needs to be retired (you'll know when!). Smaller tipped brushes aren't a necessity, but I keep a #0000 spare just in case.

How about Modelling Materials?

I used to use Promat, a super-sculpey-like stuff (and, instead of the recommended baking, I'd set in in boiling water for about 30-60 seconds). It was quick... but not really that rugged and, probably because of how I set it, I found that sometimes my paints and acrylic varnishs would react with it over a period ot time). I now use milliput, a two-part epoxy putty which dries rock hard at room temperature in a few hours and can be painted & sanded to your hearts content. A bit messier to work with, but the results are more than work it. Sculpting tools? You don't have to buy anything expensive; for a long time I just used cocktail sticks, screwdrivers (one of those cheapo sets that fell out of a Christmas cracker) a pin on a stick and dampened fingers to smooth the milliput. But I've recently discovered some rather neat tools; they look like paint brushes... but instead of hairs, they have rubber ends (from points to chisels).

What's in your Artbox?

Below is a sample of what I use from day to day in the custom labs... don't panic; you won't need all of the above straight away... but it'll all gradually build up over time (so if you're buying an artbox to store things in, get a big one straight off rather than upgrading smaller ones all the time!).

Anyway, articles above, working roughly clockwise from the top left corner and spiralling (ish) into the middle... Nailpolish remover, copydex (a latex-based adhesive), lighter, sellotape, candle, tweasers, matches, setting gel, scented candle (to help with melted plastic smells during re-roots), sticking plasters (just in case!), a couple of Kinder egg-type pots to keep spare parts/ clear elastic bands in, cockatail sticks, spare candles, pouch of files, rose wire, pip cleaners, sandpaper, double-sided adhesive sheet (remains off), seam ripper, heavy duty needle threader, needle threader, chalk, coloured threads, mixing pallette (from a packet of Pringles), filler putty, rubber-headed sculpting tools, milliput, pliers, eraser, Das clay, water pot, plasticene, compass, scissors, metal ruler, screwdrivers, permanent markers, long Q-tip things, more cocktail sticks (for stirring paint), florist's wire(white), needles and pins, assorted paints (humbrol & Citadel colour acrylics), paint brushes (#0 and #0000... though I hardly ever use the smaller), craft knives, pencil, polystyrene cement & finally, superglue! ... and just out of shot (no, I didn't forget to add them to the display... well, that's my story and I'm sticking to it); hairdryer, doll hair, wooden dowelling and assorted fabrics.