Dislike Applying Decals to Your Painted Miniatures? Give Stamping a Shot Instead.

In a surprising twist, two prominent figures in the miniatures gaming community are diving headfirst into nail art—a creative hobby enjoyed by countless people worldwide. Brent Amberger, renowned for his work with Goobertown Hobbies, and Casey, the mastermind behind eBay Miniatures Rescue, made quite the splash at this year’s AdeptiCon. They introduced an ingenious technique to paint miniatures, possibly eliminating one of the most dreaded tasks in the hobby.

The bane of many miniature enthusiasts is the notorious waterslide decal. Across numerous franchises, these decals have been a source of frustration for years. Sure, with products like Micro Sol and Micro Set from Microscale Industries, you can achieve stunning results. But getting a decal to sit just right on a curved surface—think about shields or Space Marine armor—can be a nightmare. Even seasoned hobbyists, familiar with the process outlined in the Winterdyne Commission Modeling Blog’s comprehensive guide, face challenges. If the surface isn’t prepped perfectly, you’re left with an unsightly white outline around the design.

Enter Brent and Casey, who, under their new venture Goblin Hobbies, have stumbled upon nail art stamping plates. These are intricately etched metal plates that can bear any two-dimensional artwork imaginable. All you need to do is spread some paint on the plate, smooth it out, and use a silicone pad to pick up the image. Then, with a gentle press onto your miniature, voilà! Added perk: the silicone pads are transparent, allowing you to see where you’re placing your design on the model for pristine alignment.

Although the concept of using ink and paint in this manner has been around for ages—my grandfather likely had similar equipment for his printing gig back in the 1940s—its application in nail art is quite recent. Goblin Hobbies is eager to introduce this method to the mainstream world of hobby miniatures, envisioning licensed kits featuring beloved factions from franchises like BattleTech and Warhammer 40,000.

Their debut starter kits have just reached their distribution center. Each includes compatible paint and two plates packed with versatile designs, including that pesky checkerboard pattern that has stumped many a hobbyist. And it all starts at $50, making it accessible for enthusiasts eager to elevate their miniature painting game.