10 unexpected Hobby Must Haves for 2025 - Have you even heard of one of these?

[@daYnyXX]

This is becoming one of my favorite channels. I appreciate the videos are about all things tangentially related to miniatures not just painting or not just warhammer.

[@52Miniatures]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@Jeremus717]

I very much second this sentiment.

[@evidentside]

i third it. a silent revolution in the overcrowded hobby channel world.

[@Mr_Quimper]

"May your models chip and shatter" - Ancient Fremen wargaming curse

[@ChickensTabletopCrafting]

Thank you for sharing our Krautcover Mix. We're happy you like our products. Best regards.

[@52Miniatures]

Awesome stuff! Happy Holidays

[@Wurstschorf]

@@ChickensTabletopCrafting absolutely love your basing materials! ❤️

[@BlackMagicCraftOfficial]

I once asked a supercomputer which company is more unethical and deplorable, GSW or AK interactive. It’s now caught in an endless computation loop.

[@joek600]

Vallejo wants to know your location

[@52Miniatures]

I can imagine it, hidden under your workbench. The warmth of unethical computation keeping you warm whilst you craft trenches of doom to keep the spirits up.

[@Azazel-zv4fy]

A word of advice: Don't look into what goes into creating the phone in your hand or even the things that the coffee that you drink gets up to.

[@52Miniatures]

That was the computer hiding under your desk by the way... realised that could have been read in two very different ways.

[@BlackMagicCraftOfficial]

@@Azazel-zv4fy yes, many bad things exist in the world. The conversation was about hobby companies though.

[@Vanye111]

Thanks for mentioning the AK controversy. It seems like so many people have just forgotten about that.

[@Wurstschorf]

Thank you very much for beeing critical of AK interactive! Never seen anyone else pointing out their very stupid diorama choices in the past. Another critical point to consider is that their oil paint series (Abteilung 502) is named after a tank batallion of Nazi Germany, they even used the same mammut logo.... And thank you of course for your wonderful videos. I always enjoy watching them!

[@TheRunningLeopard]

They’re my favorite paints (even though I’ve only found them in one store), and honestly saddened to hear about this - but it’s important to know to be a more informed artist. At least Army Painter has drastically improved their formula and I enjoy Reaper’s darker hues (especially browns).

[@Wurstschorf]

@@TheRunningLeopard at least they got rid of the Abteilung 502 logo and only call them ABT 502 nowadays but it still left a bad taste in my mouth

[@niccoloconticelli6117]

Fantastic video AND channel. We need more mini painting channel that assumes we are not only interested in warhammer and ONLY miniature paintng. Art inspire Art that inspire Art. And inspiration comes from everywhere

[@52Miniatures]

Much appreciated!

[@Jeremus717]

I really love the well-rounded nature of your channel. I bought operation sand trap and began Infinity based on your content, and I have taken a huge amount of pressure off myself in my hobby based on how you have approached it as well. Thanks for being out there as an alternative to the all games Workshop all the time channels.

[@52Miniatures]

I appreciate it humbly J, thank you for letting me know.

[@Carbide-1]

Dwarf Crypt is a pukka profile, really like his work too! The Heironymous Bosch minis are brilliant, I remember seeing these on IG too, but the rest of your picks are new to me I think. I agree with the other chap, tangential, background stuff is a nice jaunt around the edges of our hobby Alex! Merry Christmas to you fella! ❤️🙏🏻🎄🍻

[@52Miniatures]

Merry Christmas!

[@andygorman858]

This has been a great year for gamers, mini painters and YT channel creators. I have had to cull some I followed as they promised lots but ended up giving us the same thing, I have, however, kept your channel in my favs as every video is different. You have introduced me to new rules, minis, books and painting styles. May your channel continue to grow and entertain, promote and inspire. Seasons greetings and may your dice roll ‘6’s (unless the rules state otherwise…), your brush tips never dry and Krautcover start releasing 5kg basing bags! ❤

[@52Miniatures]

Thank you humbly Andy

[@VicodinElmo]

11:55 another point regarding books is I find them a useful bit of headspace from a long project. Pacing a project out is so important to me and I love to unwind for an hour or two in between a project to reset my head

[@jamiem9490]

More 52 miniatures content - this gets the big mug of tea and the big telly. Merry Christmas everyone

[@52Miniatures]

Merry Christmas Jamie!

[@frost2392]

The thing I like about this list over others is that it delves into things that aren't your standard hobby staples; it looks into inspiration, some classical art bends, as well as things that intrigue the mind. The ground cover blends are something I'll check out, as well as A War Transformed because it doesn't follow the same tropes of weird war with the typical vampire and werewolves. I've recently begun dipping my toe into Bolt Action (and as a result, Konflict 47) so the alternate WWI history looks really engaging. Love the folklore concept, and the art style on the cover is great. Thank you, Alex, for a gem of a video at the holidays. I look forward to what 2025 holds, as your content is something that is always thoughtful (and thought out.) Yours is one of the channels that if I watch when I'm painting I have to stop and pay attention because I know there'll be something that makes me think, which is a treat.

[@52Miniatures]

Thanks Frost, I appreciate it.

[@kingtone3734]

Alex, I always love when you do product reviews, or videos like these, you always do very reflective pieces. Thank you for a great year of content, and I wish you nothing but best for 2025 for the channel and your loved ones, take care!

[@52Miniatures]

Thank you, and you too.

[@Elfhelm]

Thanks for the suggestions! Solvent based pigments are interesting bunch I haven't tried before; as for the "issues" with their producers... While it's definitely a dividing factor, the angle I like to think with is that these guides can (and probably often are) used for museums for vignette reproductions. It's better to learn from history, than to shun and forget it altogether. Either way, happy holidays!

[@52Miniatures]

The war in the Ukraine is not history and I think it is weird to release a step by step guide on how to paint tanks that are as we speak killing innocent people

[@Elfhelm]

@@52Miniatures Oh yeah, that one was a fair one, we can definitely go by without ever seeing this in hobby ever again

[@joek600]

@@52Miniatures Alex Im afraid that you dont realize that this is standard practice in scale modeling. I entered the hobby at the age of 12 to 13. The summer that the Golf War started. You know what were the main articles in the modeling magazines? How to model F-117, F-15, Tornados and other machines that were killing people at that very moment. A bit later Yugoslavian Wars. Articles how to model a modified t-34/88 used by Croats to blast Serbs at that moment. Fast Forward ''War against Terror'' yeah guess what was on the modelling guides online and in print. Somalia, Syrian weird home brewed armor, Israeli tanks (all time classic). Its not weird at all in that hobby space to do themes after an ongoing conflict were people are killed. Its military scale modeling. On top of that I can name some Ukrainian scale modeling companies that offer these very vehicles and figures (including up to date unit patches... well at least not the spicy ones). Remember that Ghost of Kiev hoax? Well Its already offered in scale model form by Ukrainian companies. Blaming AK for a failed marketing video is one thing, blaming them for actually doing their job is another.

[@tommloye4626]

@@joek600First aircraft model kit I ever built was a MiG-21 in 1973. It had options to use the North Vietnamese decal set. Nothing strange or new here, I agree.

[@TravisKelltner]

I found Krautcover this year, too. Great products!

[@windowwars.customdio]

Hahahahaha! Alex interrupting Alex for Squarespace sponsorship will never grow old! Please more of this in this new year!

[@iPaintSmallThings]

I definitely know what you mean about satisfying miniature paintjobs that make you want to play a game. It's hard to describe. Great video!

[@samsolopeeps]

Appreciate the thought thats gone into the recommendations. I made my War Transformed armies but not managed to find anyone to play with!

[@52Miniatures]

Do you have a local club you can try and convince?

[@WasiKaBooM]

Cheers Alex, Happy holidays

[@52Miniatures]

Happy holidays Mr Boom!

[@phase2006]

Wonderful video, and I’ve already added 5 different things to look at in the new year, thank you!

[@markfrommontana]

Absolutely delighted to see that Patrick Masson’s amazing sculpture for Aviattic’s Luftkrieg 1919 alternative history made your top ten list. Looking forward to the video in 2025. Happy holidays.

[@peters.9463]

Your channel is one of my favorites and I like your style! In fact I have baked the kickstarter for the redgrass lamp after I watched your video about it and I never regret it! Thanks for your review and that you answered my questions in one of your live-streams about it! I wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year!

[@TylerProvick]

4:55 Their most recent controversy, afaik, is publishing a book on modeling soviet equipment of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. So, I still won't touch them, no matter how good their stuff is. Still, a personal choice everyone should make for themselves. I appreciate you mentioning it, at least.

[@Vanye111]

I hadn't heard about the newest controversy Alex mentioned

[@noodles6390]

Yeah... if a brand comes along that comes close to their enamel colors I will switch immediately. You maybe got some ideas? That would be super helpful... I also tried the Vallejo ones and they're ok too and I use them for most minis but they don't come close to the AK ones, sadly, so I use AK for my named models or the ones I invest the most time in.

[@joek600]

You do realize that Miniart and MB (both Ukrainian model companies) are selling models of these tanks and figures right?

[@Azazel-zv4fy]

The vehicles on the cover of that book are both Ukrainian examples of the Soviet arsenal. I understand people not wanting to go near a current conflict in their modelling hobby, but it's far from Russian propaganda. People just tend to half-truth things in an attempt to be offended and cancel others.

[@benjaminjack867]

Can always count on your channel for something new, thanks Alex

[@T1000-s6l]

Backed the P3 Kickstarter for the whole range after watching your video on it and the one from Ninjon? Also, there was a really good interview with the guy from SFG about the impressive process they went through to be true to the old brand and also the way they are improving it. Originally I was going to get the Armypainter or AK range but I had used P3 back in the day and was really happy to see it back. Also they are pretty local to me so that's also cool. Thanks for the recommendation.

[@52Miniatures]

I hope you'll be happy!

[@JustiniusBuilds]

Thank you for talking about the ak thing. Nobody ever mentions it

[@nikroth]

I love this ! Ideas of what can I gift myself ^^

[@mrgatsby6443]

Merry Christmas and thank you for the recommendations!

[@52Miniatures]

Merry Christmas

[@capnskustomworks]

Lots of good insights!!! I always appreciate hearing your opinions on the various supplies and such, you’ve always got some really in-depth thoughts on them!

[@zippy5131]

I can see the Hieronymus Bosch styled figures working very well with a 'Monty Python, Holy Grail' RPG I can just hear it ' That man is wearing a tree!' 'Does that mean he's a sap?'

[@redrooster7371]

Merry Christmas and happy new year. Thanks for all your awesome content!

[@52Miniatures]

Happy holidays!

[@clothaire84]

The resin looks fantastic, thank you Alex!

[@Abcshawn01]

love every time I see your videos on my feed!

[@52Miniatures]

I appreciate it

[@Canigetanawwwwyyyyeeeah]

These are my fave colours…*picks zoan pallette* . I don’t know why I laughed at this. Can’t wait for the paints.

[@52Miniatures]

huh... I kind of did, your right.. I just need a dirty warm brown yellow and I'll be set.

[@Miniboss1228]

The RPG resin sounds awesome. I'll keep an eye out for when the prce goes down a bit. Great show thanks.

[@the_uggh]

Awesome timing. I was like "I wonder is Alex uploaded recently" and here we hare

[@52Miniatures]

Perfect!

[@coryschrock7207]

There was a Dave Taylor 'Art of' book series Kickstarter this year for both artists you mentioned looking up to, Sam Lenz and Roman Lapat- as well as Josua Lai. I think they are available for preorder now. I'm excited to get them and have them handy for inspiration when I'm drinking coffee.

[@paulrayburn122]

Always enjoy your vids and this was no exception. Checked out Aviattic ended up purchasing some of their models. Great recommendation

[@YanniCooper]

I'd halfway typed a comment while you were talking about #6 to recommend #5.

[@theronodom3649]

Fantastic knowledge to share. Keep being decent bruv cheers.

[@NewSquallor]

Hello Alex Andthisvideoissponsoredby Squarespace. One heck of a middle name. Sounds sound even slightly Scandinavian. Thanks for letting me watch your videos. Merry Christmas. Going to need some of that basing material for diorama. (Crooked Dice has some nice creepy May Day pagan-ish minis for War Transformed. Can't wait to start on some Frenchies).

[@52Miniatures]

Merry Christmas NS!

[@VASM160689]

Sam Lenz + 52 Miniatures Alex combo video, when? :D Merry christmas Alex!! Big hugs!

[@Drangir]

Your energy is amazing. Please continue creating. Love the Three body problem, check out inside to the series from Quinns ideas!

[@RenMomoDotPog]

just adding my own two cents: if you live in the US (only stating that because I live there) sunlu abs-like resin is very good and inexpensive in comparison, but probably not as great as the rpg resin as it doesn't have as much flex, but you can drop a printed mini and it won't crack

[@dagmarslater3724]

Really enjoyed this video. I like the dry humour and that it's not only about painting or Warhammer. The steampunk model is amazing and I will definitely look at it. Possibly buy it when my bank balance recovers. Looking forward to the painting video. Thanks for the great videos.

[@52Miniatures]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@empyreal_lord]

Another shoutout for A War Transformed, yay! Were I not 4000 miles away, Alex, I would challenge you with my Russian Empire patrol.

[@waardlafrance110]

5:30 Faire des guide de dioramas de guerre actuelle n'est pas nouveau et n'a jamais posé de problème. Ce qui pose problème avec AK, c'est tout d'abord le côté trash de leur speudo humour, en commençant par les vidéos pub en mode complotiste ultra vénère qui ont commencé dès 2020, c'était à vomir on aurait dit un truc entre la propagande russe et des américains républicains incels, c'était déjà révoltant de voir ça comme si la moyenne des maquettistes étaient des incels. Ensuite il y'a eu les vidéos sur le guide de dioramas de camps où on voyait des gens mourir avec au milieu des dioramas, c'était ultra choquant, et ces vidéos disait qu'on était des voyeurs alors en plus AK nous insultait de voyeuristes de la mort des gens. Dans l'une des pubs on a vu un viet se faire abattre par un soldat américain. En format écrit les pubs étaient à peine mieux car elle donnait juste l'impression qu'ils voulaient faire seulement de l'argent sur la mort des gens. Ensuite quand il y'a eu le soulèvement du public, AK avant de tout bloquer et bannir les gens en masse, a dit qu'ils faisaient ce qu'ils voulaient et que les gens étaient des pleurnicheuses, et c'est seulement en voyant 24h plus tard que ça empirait et que les magasins arrêtaient en masse leur achats chez eux qu'ils ont commencé à interdire les comms sur leurs plateformes et à supprimer tous leurs posts, et même changer de visage en embauchant une femme. AK c'est une entreprise qui est dirigée par la pire extrême droite qui soit et qui a pensé que l'ensemble du public était d'extrême droite, et ils camoufle cette erreur depuis, c'est ça la vérité.

[@Starstrykerx]

Great video Alex. I have a book recommendation for you, John Gwynne's Bloodsworn trilogy. Best three books I've read in years. Shadow of the Gods is the title of the first one. Hope you have a very Merry Christmas!

[@52Miniatures]

I'll check it out! Thanks!

[@DMWaldo]

Great video, as usual. I'll put in another shout of praise for Phrozen RPG resin. It works beautifully. Prints well with great detail and is much tougher than the other resins I've used. It's not the cheapest, but it does the job really well. I'd love to hear some alternatives for AK. I hadn't heard about their most recent controversy, and it really makes me wonder if they learned anything at all from the Condemnation debacle. I'm working through some AK Ultra Matte varnish, and I really do love it. If anyone has suggested alternatives for ultra matte varnish, especially through airbrush, I'd love to hear them. Thanks!

[@52Miniatures]

Ammo by Mig makes a lot of similar products, I just have a hard time doing "walk in buys" with that stuff

[@TheEnd]

@8:58 I love inspiring others

[@stretch3281]

18:14 . I didn't expect that! 😅😂🙃

[@52Miniatures]

Hah, thanks Stretch

[@Geistermoor]

Well, how many minis did you have to sacrifice to get one, that didn't shatter? 😂 Wonderful video and so outside the well walked paths!

[@52Miniatures]

First one honest! Thanks Bea :)

[@michaelstrange2285]

Merry Christmas, you filthy animals! Thanks for another great video. Looking forward to 2025 vids.

[@52Miniatures]

Merry Christmas Michael!

[@yagsipcc287]

Let's Go!! 💪🏻

[@ZacSheehy]

Won't putting solvent based products on hard plastic degrade it over time?

[@52Miniatures]

No I don't think so. Enamel and oil paints where standard model paints before acrylics entered the scene in the 80´s.

[@GiverThought]

Thanks for another great video, Alex! I hate to say that I'd planned on reading the Three Body Problem, but sadly the first season of the show turned me off of it. I suppose it'd be easy to find to what degree the show deviated from the original material.

[@52Miniatures]

I think adaptation to the screen always deviates in so many ways. It's a totally different medium :)

[@Oreo_cakester]

Every new video you post you look skinnier, are you ok?

[@stephenspackman5573]

I feel compelled to say, with respect to the AK thing, that one of the things that makes this really awkward is that the hobby is, well, _wargaming._ And I'm not convinced that everyone is here to learn terrible history or to sharpen their military skills against the day when an outside aggressor threatens our own friends and family. I think it's fun and games. About war. Ick. And here am I, consuming this content. If ever there were a genuine example of a slippery slope, of a situation where we can't be sure where along a scale from light to dark the condemnation should start, it's this. Of course they're imaginary, but how much thought _do_ we give, for example, to the imaginary families of the imaginary slain? You see what I mean.

[@52Miniatures]

I know, there is room for different games. I think I talked about this in one of my Space Marine diorama builds. The worship of conflict, war and killing machines. Moonstone is an example of a game where things don't have to end in death. I guess a lot of the more humorous ones like blood bowl and such can be looked at too. Even though gruesome it's pretty playful. But also more skirmish fun games that are not necessarily about genocide and such....

[@stephenspackman5573]

@@52Miniatures I think I may have babbled in your comments before about my imaginings of a game about strategic rituals and the meetings of religious communities. The painting might even become part of the strategy; I'm sure the gods care about colour theory more than mortals do; after all, they made it ;). Myself I tend to paint the things for the sake of painting the things, and when I play wargames they tend to be the ones with the cardboard counters that are a little more tied to history in one way or another. But that's a matter of taste, and I do-or on days when I'm weak, I merely think that I should-hesitate to condemn. Even in the case of modelling Russian tanks in Ukraine, I'm sure there are some to whom this is like model railways: it's a thing in the world, and it's legitimate, even right, to model things in the world. To others, it's a literal celebration of ongoing evil. And then there's the question of profit, isn't there? It's a complicated world. Thanks so much, Alex, for having a channel where these kinds of thoughts, these kinds of discussions, can exist. I might go to Vince for the technicalities, and I might go to Sam to be blown away, but I come back here for a warm and safe place to think. Thank you.

[@52Miniatures]

@@stephenspackman5573 Thanks humbly Stephen

[@nelsonrumley2618]

try trench crusade grim dark

[@Heatguyjpaints]

I love that you dropped the miniature to prove a point and in doing so proved said point 😂

[@kris-bb7fy]

klase das macht Sinn... übersezung ist gut

[@TheShaggyarab]

Ak are amazing and it’s a shame people will get upset by their actual diorama encouragement. People have no problem buying ‘Israeli grey’ or ‘Israeli Green’ same with the Russian equivalents from Vallejo. Don’t pick and choose no one cares if you do.

[@52Miniatures]

I don't agree with a single thing you are saying.

[@Vanye111]

There's a difference between buying a paint color, and buying a product that is almost glorifying genocidal practices.

[@BlackMagicCraftOfficial]

@@ImperiusCaedoI don’t know, using *actual footage* of nazi death camps to sell hobby products leaves a bad taste in MY mouth. But you do you bud.

[@smellyfella5077]

I don't know how the Great War (WW1) can get anymore grim and dark than what it was in reality. However, the figures based on Bosch's paintings are very cool, and different, I'm going to get a few of them.

[@HumanistGordian]

Oh thanks for reviewing "A War Transformed" Trench crusade Sound nice and all weren't it for the obvious christian supremacy vibes it issues forth. AWT does pull the right strings concerning my lore vibes (just like 40k). You bet that I'm going for this game, I love the them of WW1 combined with Folklore . Now I'm off to find some miniatures. Oh by the way there is an Artist known as Thomas Dubief I think his Art is focussed on WW2 but it has WW1 as well and it's very alternate history, I think you'd enjoy him.

[@52Miniatures]

My pleasure. Check out my board build series as it focuses on A War Transformed and contains interview with the writer Freddy.

[@michakucharski9719]

Thank you so much ❤I'm honored. Michal dwarfcrypt

[@52Miniatures]

Awesome! Love your painting man