Building Warhammer Models: A Complete Beginner's Guide

If you’ve ever looked at a beautifully painted Warhammer army and thought, “I wish I could do that,” you’re in the right place. Building your first Warhammer model can feel intimidating at first.

There are lots of pieces to sort through, unfamiliar tools to learn, and instructions that look almost like blueprints. But the truth is, once you learn the basics, building Warhammer miniatures becomes one of the most rewarding and relaxing hobbies you can have.

When you’re diving into Warhammer 40K, Age of Sigmar, or Kill Team, this beginner-friendly guide will walk you through each step in a way that’s simple, clear, and fun.

And when you’re ready to pick up your next kit, you can browse an awesome selection through the Warhammer model collection.

Let’s get started.

1. What You’ll Need Before You Start

Building your first Warhammer model doesn’t require a professional workshop. You only need a few simple tools to begin:

Basic tools include:

Plastic cutters or sprue clippers
Hobby knife (X-Acto or similar)
Plastic glue or model cement
Fine files or sanding sticks
A cutting mat
Tweezers (optional but helpful)

These tools help you remove parts cleanly, remove mold lines, and assemble pieces without damaging the miniature. As you progress in the hobby, you can add more advanced tools, but this basic kit is all you need to get started.

2. Understanding the Sprues

Warhammer miniatures come attached to plastic frames called sprues. Each piece is numbered and corresponds to the instruction booklet included in your kit.

Before you start clipping pieces, take a moment to:

Review the assembly instructions
Identify each part on the sprue
Understand how components fit together

This helps avoid mixing up pieces or accidentally trimming the wrong part. Many new hobbyists rush this step, but slow and steady always leads to cleaner, stronger builds.

3. Cutting Out Your Pieces Cleanly

Now comes the fun part of building. Use your sprue cutters to clip each part as close as possible to the attachment point. Never twist or bend pieces off, because that can damage the plastic.

Once you’ve clipped a part, check the edges. A quick scrape with your hobby knife removes mold lines and leftover plastic, giving your model a clean finish. This step may seem small, but it greatly improves the final look of your miniature.

4. Assembling Your Warhammer Model

Before you commit to glue, test-fit the pieces. This “dry fit” helps you see how everything lines up and lets you adjust parts before the glue sets.

When you're ready to glue:

Use plastic glue sparingly
Hold pieces together for a few seconds
Assemble in smaller sections (torso, legs, head, weapons)

Some Warhammer models, especially characters or large units, benefit from painting in sub-assemblies. If a part blocks access to important details, consider painting it separately and attaching it later.

5. Priming Your Miniature

Primer is essential because paint doesn’t stick well to bare plastic. A good primer coat makes painting easier, smoother, and more vibrant.

You can choose black, white, or grey primer depending on your color scheme. Spray lightly from about 20–30 cm away, and rotate your miniature to cover all angles. Two thin coats are better than one heavy one.

Once primed, the miniature finally looks “real,” and you’ll feel like you’re making real progress.

6. Painting Basics: Start Simple

Painting is where Warhammer comes to life. And you can absolutely do this, even if you’ve never painted anything before.

For beginners, focus on three core techniques:

Basecoating: Apply your main colors in thin layers.
Washing: A darker wash adds instant depth to armor, cloth, and skin.
Highlighting: Lighter colors on edges make details pop.

You don’t need to master advanced techniques right away. Keep it simple, practice steady brush strokes, and enjoy the process. Painting is a skill that improves quickly with repetition.

7. Basing: The Secret Finishing Touch

Believe it or not, the base of your miniature makes a huge difference. Even simple basing materials like sand, grass tufts, or texture paints that help your miniature look polished and grounded in its world.

Adding a little drybrushing or small stones can transform your model from “nice” to “wow.” And the best part? It takes only a few minutes.

8. Growing Your Collection

Once you complete your first Warhammer model, you may feel inspired to build more. Many players begin with a single squad and eventually build a full army. The hobby encourages creativity and progression at your own pace.

When you are ready to expand, you can explore more sets in this Warhammer model collection at Ocare. Choosing new units becomes an exciting part of the journey as you develop your preferred playstyle and aesthetic.

9. Final Tips for Beginners

Here are a few pieces of advice new hobbyists often find helpful:

Take your time; rushing leads to mistakes
Thin your paints for smoother results
Don’t worry about perfection; your skills will grow fast

Enjoy each step, not just the finished model. Warhammer is meant to be fun, creative, and relaxing. Every painting session and every assembled model makes you better than you were the day before.

Conclusion

Building your first Warhammer model is the beginning of an exciting and creative journey. With simple tools, a bit of patience, and a clear understanding of the steps, you will be able to bring your miniatures to life with confidence.

And when you’re ready for more, you can explore a full range of sets through the Warhammer model collection.