Army Painter unveils Masterclass Brush Set for precise miniature painting

Army Painter has put a premium brush upgrade at the center of its latest pre-order push, and the pitch is simple: better brushes change your miniature results faster than another paint rack ever will. The Masterclass Brush Set arrives as a three-brush Kolinsky sable lineup built around the jobs painters actually perform, with sizes 0, 1 and 2 aimed at tiny details, everyday workhorse use and controlled coverage that still keeps a sharp tip.

The set is listed for release on April 15, 2026, with a price of $69.99. Army Painter says the brushes were developed with da Vinci master brush makers, a collaboration that gives the launch more weight than a standard branded accessory drop. The company says the brushes use natural Kolinsky sable hair for superior spring, control and precision, and the product page adds a rust-resistant, seamless ferrule and an ergonomic handle, two details that matter once a brush has to survive long edge-highlight sessions and repeated rinsing at the painting desk.

The size mix is what makes the set feel mapped to real hobby work instead of an abstract “premium” concept. Size 0 is built for precise details, size 1 is the middle brush most painters will reach for first, and size 2 is the one that can hold a little more paint without giving up the point needed for cleaner basecoats and smoother layering. Army Painter framed the line in a launch video posted on April 7, saying the brushes are for hobbyists ready for refinement, which is a useful signal for anyone who already knows the difference between a brush that starts sharp and a brush that stays sharp halfway through a character model.

The release also fits Army Painter’s larger push beyond paint bottles. The company says it was founded in 2007 as a two-person startup and has grown to nearly 80 employees in a production facility in Skanderborg, Denmark. That growth story now includes a broader brush range, from older Hobby Brushes and Bionic Bristle Wargamer Brushes to Chipping Brushes and the Masterclass Drybrush set, with the new Masterclass line sitting at the more serious end of the tool spectrum.

Da Vinci brings its own authority to the partnership. Its brushmaking history reaches back to the 1890s in Nuremberg, Germany, and the brand describes its production as a blend of traditional craftsmanship and modern manufacturing methods. For painters who want cleaner blends, tighter highlights and less frustration when a detail brush loses its point, that pedigree is the real sell.