What Brushes Do I Use?

I’m often asked about my go-to tools, so I wanted to break down my brush kit for you. 

My workflow relies on three main types: round, flat, and filbert brushes. For flat and filbert brushes, I’m not loyal to any specific brand. Since I use these primarily for general coverage and aggressive dry brushing, I treat them as 'expendable assets'. They take a beating, so the bristle quality is less important than the price tag. I stick to affordable synthetic bristles that I can replace without guilt. 

Round brushes are a different story entirely—I view them as a long-term investment. A poor-quality round brush with a splitting tip is a nightmare that wastes time and ruins fine details. Being a 'prudent artist', I look for the sweet spot between high-end performance and reasonable cost. While some European brands are difficult (and expensive) to source here in Asia, I’ve found my perfect balance with Tamiya Pro II and Nevskaya Palitra. For me, these two brands offer the best precision for the price."

Tamiya Pro II - Kolinsky Sable

Nevskaya Palitra - Kolinsky Sable

That is all for now, in my next post I will elaborate on the performance of these two brushes. So stay tuned....

Cheers,

Calvin

SS-Sturmbannführer, KG-LSSAH, Kamenets–Podolsky Pocket, 1944

Here is another piece completed for this month of January. What started out as a side quest got completed ahead of my box art assignment. This is the first time I experimented with AK Quick Gen paints to render the U-Boat leather jacket. I found it relatively quicker and easier to replicate the black leather effects as compared to using artist inks. Employing AK's Ultra Matt Varnish as a painting medium has been a game changer for me to achieve smooth tonal transitions without struggling with watermarks.

The groundwork consists of sandbags from MiniArt Models (skinned with Super Fine Milliput). The Tellermine and containers are from HD Models. 

The frost is recreated with glass powder secured with AK Ultra Matt Varnish.

Cheers,

Calvin

SS-Sturmbannführer, KG-LSSAH, Kamenets–Podolsky Pocket, 1944

The groundwork is coming along. Tellermines are from HD Models. Sandbags from Miniart. 

Cheers,

Calvin

SS-Sturmbannführer, KG-LSSAH, Kamenets–Podolsky Pocket, 1944

As the enthusiasm for the box art assignment for Dynamo Models started to wane, a side quest appeared. The premise was simple: I attached the spare head from Alpine Miniatures 35324 WSS Grenadier & Flare Gun on the body of 35075 Joachim Peiper in the Ardennes and a new idea was conceived. Such is the bane of an overactive imagination.

The Oak Leaf pattern(Spring/Summer) is undercoated with a 4:1:1 mixture of Waffen Red Brown and Light Earth and Deep Orange. Highlighting is done by increasing the proportion of Light Earth. The light green areas are painted with a 3:1 mixture of Light Green and Golden Olive, and outlined with two tones of green. The first is Waffen Green and the second is a 1:2 mixture of Tenebrous Grey and AK Quick Gen Field Grey.  

That's all for now. I will start planning on the groundwork before proceeding further with the painting.

Cheers,

Calvin

Dynamo Models - SS-s Pz.Abt., 101 Normandy, 1944

The first figure from Dynamo Model's #35DM108 WSS-Tiger "222" Crew Normandy 1944 (Big Set) is completed. Moving forward to the other three figures (2 full and one 1/4 for the driver.)

Cheers,

Calvin

Dynamo Models - SS-s Pz.Abt., 101 Normandy, 1944

A little more progress today in refining the camouflage pattern. It involves a lot of back and forths and may appear messy in the beginning, but essentially it is about getting things wrong first to determine what is right later.

Cheers,

Calvin

Dynamo Models - SS-s Pz.Abt., 101 Normandy, 1944

I am starting on a new 1/35 scale box art assignment on Dynamo Model's #35DM108 WSS-Tiger "222" Crew Normandy 1944 (Big Set). 

This set has been around since October 2024 and was previewed in The Modelling News.  I suppose 'box art pending' refers to my involvement.  Let's see if this project can lead to some fruitful collaborations in the future ;-). 

 

The figures in this set are 3D printed. The details are very sharp, fine and extremely delicate. I do warn everyone to pay careful attention to handling them – especially the shoulder boards, which are moulded separately. This figure is undercoated with AK RC-801 Flat Varnish. I added some Tamiya Flat Base to the mix to increase the porosity of the base so that it can improve the absorption of paint.

Below is the result from three evening painting sessions. Unlike in the past, I painted the base colour (AK 11419 Waffen Red Brown + AK 1108 Grimy Grey + AK 11328 RAL 8012 Rottbraun) alongside the patterns. This ensures that the paint remains evenly levelled. Painting over the base colour often results in "bumps"—especially with heavy-body paints like acrylics and enamels. 

Cheers,

Calvin