I had this little dude sitting on my desk since I made the Express Starter video, and I kept wondering: do the painting guides you get in starter sets actually work? This isn’t sponsored—I was just genuinely curious about how much, if at all, these guides have evolved over the years. So I went back through the “old days” approach (a loose list of paints), the modern “use the app” situation (which, if I’m honest, isn’t even that good), and then compared that to more premium ideas like Redgrass Games step-by-steps and even busts that come with QR codes linking to full video tutorials. Then I tested a full step-by-step guide from a Bayo paint set, using the brush that comes in the box as well—no cheating with my usual tools. The model choice is actually perfect for beginners: loads of texture, not too much tiny detail, and it’s basically a one-purchase entry into the hobby. Along the way I pointed out real-world issues a beginner will hit (mix ratios being unclear, one step hidden on the back page, and even a small picture mistake where they forgot to paint the boots), and I intentionally made a few “beginner mistakes” like not waiting for paint to dry. In the end, the result matched the reference surprisingly well. This is by far the best step-by-step guide I’ve seen in a paint set, and honestly, this should be the standard—because the easier it is for new people to enter the hobby, the better for all of us.