Winsor and Newton size one brush

[Rowland]

I’ve tried not to spend £20 on a brush before.  I do have a W&N series 7 No 2 and it’s fine but I wasn’t terribly accurate with it.  I’ve tried to buy cheaper recommended brushes.  I struggle getting edge highlights and fine detail.  Today, after receiving a new W&N series 7 No 1 I gave it a go painting the chest aquila and the flexi bits on a space marine black and wow what a difference.  I’m guessing the brush really does hold a nice amount of paint that it lets go of at such a fine point.

Don’t go buying one on my say so yet, I haven’t finished a figure but if you ever thought about it, it might be worth treating yourself.  I hope to post a finished figure soon and compare it to my recently finished intercessors.

[Firedrake Cordova]

Good to hear that you've had good results with it.  (I'm aware that there's been some discussion of W&N's quality control over the last ~10 years)

 

Out of curiosity, what were the others that you'd tried that you didn't get on with? (just wondering if it were Rosemary & Co S33, Da Vinci S10/35, or Raphael 8404)

[Rowland]

1 hour ago, Firedrake Cordova said:

Good to hear that you've had good results with it.  (I'm aware that there's been some discussion of W&N's quality control over the last ~10 years)

 

Out of curiosity, what were the others that you'd tried that you didn't get on with? (just wondering if it were Rosemary & Co S33, Da Vinci S10/35, or Raphael 8404)

I tried Rosemary & co s33 No3 (which seems to be the same size as a W&N 2) their tips seemed to go off quickly, Vallejo pro modellers, Army painter brushes and some Raphael Imitation kolinsky’s when I felt sorry for the wolves.

I’ve read comments about W&N q control but the 2 No2s I had previously have always been good.

I went for the “in for a penny, in for a pound” idea with W&N rather than trying other mid to premium brands and maybe hitting lucky.  So now I have a 0,1 and 2.  They really are stupidly pricey but I do feel like I could have the possibility of being an edge highlighting god now

 

I’ve spent a good deal of today using it and painting finely is effortless.  The bristles take up a surprising amount of paint and release it as you expect it to.  I began to wonder if it was my technique that improved so I tried my other brushes.  They just don’t let go of the paint as reliably as this new one does so I can have a tendency to push a little firmer which separates the tip a little and this causes all sorts of issues.  I don’t know if the other brushes dry quicker or it’s a bristle quality thing.

Edited June 25 by Rowland

[Firedrake Cordova]

Ah, that's unfortunate about the Rosemary & Co's.  (I've seen others say something similar, but not experienced it myself, but I mostly use cheaper brushes like the S99's and only use the "nicer" brushes for fiddly bits).

 

1 hour ago, Rowland said:

I’ve read comments about W&N q control but the 2 No2s I had previously have always been good.

It may well be over-reported - they're very popular, plus expensive, so if something goes wrong, you're probably more likely to hear about it. I've seen a couple of howlers on YouTube reviews, but never experienced anything like those myself - I had a couple of size 3's about 10 years ago which had an "odd" shape (the belly reached most of the way to the point before tapering in), and that's it.

 

If it's helpful, GW's artificer brushes are (or always were in case it's changed in the last couple of years) W&N Series 7s with different handles, and possibly stricter QC.

 

1 hour ago, Rowland said:

I went for the “in for a penny, in for a pound” idea with W&N rather than trying other mid to premium brands and maybe hitting lucky.  

I can certainly understand that - all sable brushes have, unfortunately, gotten a lot more expensive since 2020 (some of the 8404's are 3x what I paid for mine now).  

Edited June 25 by Firedrake Cordova

[Blissful Brushes]

I’m using W&N size 1 from Amazon, it might be watercolour but I cannae remember. I got 3 for £20, 1 is a bit crap and has been relegated to basecoats but the other one (#3 still unused) is what I’m using for my fine detail work - which includes free hand (don’t judge the teeth, she needs dental work, but that’s a tomorrow problem)

[Rowland]

11 hours ago, Blissful Brushes said:

I’m using W&N size 1 from Amazon, it might be watercolour but I cannae remember. I got 3 for £20, 1 is a bit crap and has been relegated to basecoats but the other one (#3 still unused) is what I’m using for my fine detail work - which includes free hand (don’t judge the teeth, she needs dental work, but that’s a tomorrow problem)

Blimey, if only I was as steady of hand 

Good English teeth as the Americans say.