Below is an alphabetical list of various terms you'll come across while hobbying, brief descriptions of them and links to articles I've written on them. This is another living document so I'll add to it as I expand this website.
If there isn't a link to something, I haven't written an article for it yet. If you'd like me to add something or write an article sooner rather than later, let me know in the comments or send me a message on Facebook or on Google+ and I'll focus on your curiosities first.
It's not a great way to organize thoughts though, so if you want context for what you're reading, take a look at my organized link pages:
- Modelling Steps
- From purchase to finish, everything you need to know to get your minis ready to field.
(Seriously, if you're intimidated by this list, START HERE.) - Techniques
- Methods to add more detail and creativity to your miniatures.
- Hobby Tips
- Generic tips and tricks on staying organized, cleaning tools, taking pictures, lighting, etc.
- Projects
- Projects and examples where I break down my process into detailed tutorials.
- Supplies
- An alphabetical list of just tools and supplies you might want to buy with links to more info on each.
- Musings
- Articles I've written on different aspects of our hobby such as getting started, tactics, patience and blogging.
- Arcs
- Sections on a base that signify where a model can see or interact with.
- Airbrush
- A tool used to spray paint usually for blending and highlighting much more naturally.
- Basing
- Adding terrain to or painting a surface, usually a model's base, could mean a terrain feature.
- Ex: Grass, sand, dirt, rocks, roads, water, etc.
- Bits
- Small parts of your minis such as arms, legs, guns, accessories, etc.
- Bitz
- Collection of parts from all sorts of minis useful for modifying your normal look.
- Blending
- A technique that transitions one colour in to another one, often done while both paints are wet.
- Brick
- An army style where a bunch of really tough troops move up the field together and are difficult to destroy.
- Brushes
- Used to paint your models.
- Brush Cleaner
- Used to clean your brushes.
- Carpenters Glue
- A stronger form of White Glue, basically Wood Glue. Usually a light yellow or beige.
- Cases
- For transporting your army.
- CFL (Compact Fluorescent Light)
- Low-energy lights that are usually product a good white light for painting under.
- Chisel
- Cutting pieces of wood out of larger terrain projects.
- Clamp
- Hold heavier pieces down to prevent them from moving around.
- Clippers
- Side cutters, wire cutters and other ways to cut what you need to.
- Compressor
- An engine, sometimes with an attached tank, used to feed an airbrush.
- Crackle Medium
- A gel or paint you can paint on top of, which once dry will cause the paint to break apart and create an crackled effect.
- Cutters
- Side cutters, wire cutters and other ways to cut what you need to.
- Cyanoacrylate
- Super Glue.
- Decal
- A printed image that can be transferred onto another surface using water.
- Desk
- Somewhere to work at, store and organize all your supplies.
- Diffusing Light
- Reflecting or blocking light so it doesn't shine too strongly on miniatures when taking pictures.
- DIY aka "Do It Yourself"
- Usually refers to the method of doing something yourself to save money rather than buying something.
- Dull Coat
- A matte layer of varnish to leave a model with a good looking sheen after sometimes applying a Hard Coat.
- Dry Brushing
- A technique using barely any paint on a brush to apply a rough highlight.
- Edging
- Focusing highlights on edges and corners.
- Epoxy
- A two-part compound that hardens when both are mixed together.
- Either a glue or putty.
- FAAC aka "Fluffy At All Costs"
- Term given to players will create themed armies nearly to the detriment of building a competitive list.
- Opposite to WAAC.
- Feathering
- Blending using lots of thin, small slashes that interconnect.
- Flock
- The dirt or grass spread on terrain or bases.
- Funnel
- Used to clean up flock and get it back in its container.
- Gel
- A medium which dries clear and rubbery. Depending on it's weight, can be sculpted.
- Great for effects like water, fire, ooze, etc.
- Gesso [pron. "Jesso"]
- A primer that can be painted on.
- Glass Cannon
- An army style that involves models who do tons of damage but are easy to kill.
- Glaze
- A thinned down wash used to unify the colour in an area.
- Gloss
- Shiny and reflective. Usually refers to the finish left by varnish, paints or washes.
- Glow in the Dark
- A paint that will glow in the dark.
- Glue
- Connect parts together.
- Green Stuff
- A common brand of sculpting putty.
- Guitar Strings
- Great for creating fake pipes, arrows, pins, etc.
- Hard Coat
- A gloss layer of varnish sometimes applied before a Dull Coat since gloss varnish is usually stronger than matte varnish.
- Heavy Gel
- A medium you can layer and sculpt which dries clear and rubbery.
- Great for effects like water, fire, ooze, etc.
- Highlighting
- The act of painting lighter colours on areas like edges and raised surfaces where light would hit.
- Ink
- Like a wash, but usually thinner.
- Jewelers Saw
- A finely serrated saw small enough to cut miniatures.
- Knives / Knife
- Used to cut and scrape your minis, clean mold lines, etc.
- Layering
- Lightly painting and / or using thinned paints (not quite washes) to make subtle changes like highlights, shades and colour changes.
- Lights
- Make sure your hobby area is properly lit.
- Masking
- Covering an area, usually with low-stickiness tape, to prevent paint from getting on it.
- Matte
- Dull and non-reflective. Usually refers to the finish left by varnish, paints or washes.
- Metallic Metal
- A paint that has a shimmer so it looks like metal.
- Mold Lines
- Imperfections in miniatures - visible lines that need to be cleaned off.
- Moss
- Hobby moss to make your terrain and bases more realistic.
- Nail Jewels
- Jewels used to decorate fingers which are the right scale for us to use in our hobby.
- Non Metallic Metal
- A technique where regular paints are layered and blended to paint metal.
- Object Source Lighting
- Painting as if a glow is coming from a specific object either on your model or "off scene".
- Pallet
- A surface to mix your paints on.
- Paper Mache [pron. "Ma-shay"]
- The process of dipping strips of paper (newspaper) into a white glue + water mix and layering it over a form to create 3D objects.
- Photography
- Taking pictures of your miniatures.
- Pigments / Powders
- Coloured powders used to create paints. Can be rubbed on models like make-up to highlight and shade very cleanly.
- Often referred to as "Weathering Pigments" though their uses are for much more than just weathering.
- Pin Vice
- A small drill you turn yourself instead of being electric powered to prevent damage to minis.
- Pinning
- Adding a small piece of wire in a joint to strengthen a fragile connection.
- Pipe Cutter
- Speciality tool to cut pipes without pinching the ends.
- Primer
- The first layer of paint given to a model which sticks to plastic or metal better than other paints and provides a good surface to paint on.
- Either sprayed, air brushed or painted (Gesso) on.
- Putty (Filler)
- Used for sculpting and to fill holes and gaps in bases or joints.
- Putty (Spackle)
- Used for terrain projects and purchased in larger containers.
- PVA Glue aka "Polyvinyl Acetate"
- White glue or wood glue.
- Rust Cleaner
- Solution to dip metal tools in to clean rust off tools.
- Rust Eraser
- Literally, an eraser designed to scrub rust off a flat surface.
- Shading
- The act of painting darker colours into areas like cracks and crevices where light wouldn't hit.
- Snips
- Side cutters, wire cutters and other ways to cut what you need to.
- Soldering
- A form of welding two weak / thin metals together.
- Sprue
- Plastic and pewter frames that hold miniatures and bits for the injection process.
- You'll often need to cut the figures out of them.
- Sponge
- Used to add texture or paint large areas with a rougher natural look.
- Stamp
- A block covered in texture used to easily create texture for a base by pressing putty.
- Static Grass
- A type of flock that clings to itself with static and creates a natural grassy look.
- Stencilling
- Painting or airbrushing over a cut out shape to create a detailed pattern.
- Stippling
- A technique where lots of tiny dots are painted on a surface to simulate texture or blend.
- Stripping
- The act of removing paint and primer from a miniature.
- Super Glue
- Used to glue metals and resins together.
- Terrain
- Can refer to either decorations on a model's base or the battlefield.
- Ex: logs, rubble, hills, houses, forests, rivers, etc.
- Texture Gel
- A gel that has stuff in it so that when it dries it has a textured surface.
- Could be sand, fibres, beads, etc.
- Thinner
- Clear or opaque liquid used to make paints watery, take longer to dry or be acceptable for use in an airbrush.
- Tin Snips
- Another type of cutter, designed to cut metal like scissors cuts paper.
- Toolbox
- Useful for tidying up your hobby area or transporting your army.
- Torch
- Another way to solder, or add battle damage by melting pieces.
- Translucent Paints
- Paints you can see through once they're dry.
- Trowel
- A tool used to spread putty or gels over larger areas.
- Varnish
- A protective coating painted or sprayed over a completed model to prevent paint from chipping or pigments from rubbing off.
- WAAC aka "Win At All Costs"
- Term given to aggressive players who will do nearly anything to win.
- Opposite: FAAC.
- Washes
- Paint thinned with water (or purchased thin as a wash) that gets painted on a model to flow into cracks and crevices to shade a model. Can also have the effect of blending rough paint.
- Water
- Water for cleaning brushes and thinning paints.
- Water Effects
- Using gels, glues, epoxies or other supplies to make realistic water, slime, blood, etc.
- Weathering
- Using pigments, washes and other techniques to make something look old and worn.
- Ex: Dirt caught in crevices, paint chipping off surfaces or edges, tears in clothes, scratches, etc.
- Wet Pallet
- Unlike a regular pallet, a wet on has a moist surface to delay paints from drying.
- Whetstone
- A special stone used to sharpen knives.
- WIP aka "Work In Progress"
- Usually refers to photos or a blog post revolving around an unfinished project.
- Wire
- Used for pinning models to strengthen joints.
- Wood Glue
- A stronger form of White Glue, also called Carpenters Glue. Usually a light yellow or beige.