Build before choosing a paint recipe
Follow the instructions supplied with the kit, identify each miniature and keep small parts organized. The official product photographs often show painted samples; those photographs do not mean that your box contains pre-painted models.
The models are approximately 50 mm, so a tabletop-readable result matters more than copying every detail of a larger Gunpla. Decide what you want to emphasize: the main armour colour, a contrasting weapon and a few recognizable details are a workable first target.
A manageable first painting session
This is an editorial beginner workflow rather than a required competition painting standard. Bandai's painting page is the place to look for its own demonstrations and product-specific advice. Keep your tools and paint instructions nearby.
- Finish assembly and inspect the model under good light.
- Choose paints and primer suitable for the material, following the makers' instructions.
- Test your colour plan on one miniature before repeating it across the squad.
- Work in controlled, thin layers and let each stage dry according to the paint instructions.
- Pick out a few details, finish the base and check how the model reads from normal playing distance.
Use the base to help play
A clear base marking can help distinguish units without needing an elaborate scenic base. If you field multiple Mass Produced copies, the core rules require each model and its Timeline token to be distinguishable and linked to the right card.
Keep the model stable and preserve the base footprint used by the game. Avoid scenery that makes positioning or reading adjacent hexes difficult. Check any event-specific modelling requirements before preparing a tournament army.
Painting and playing are separate decisions
Do not mistake a painted promotional sample for a rule that you must reproduce that exact scheme. For casual learning, agree expectations with the other player. For organized play, read the event's current requirements rather than assuming a universal painted-model rule.
ST01 supplies the game materials, but its contents do not list a general paint-and-brush set. PA01 is a separate painting-focused product. Read its exact regional contents and release notice before purchasing supplies around it.