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Size 15/0 of the MICRO-MAESTRO Series 100 is micro detail with slightly more reserve. The body measures 0.55 mm at the ferrule with 4.5 mm of visible hair. Made in Nuremberg from pure Siberian Tobolsky Kolinsky red sable.
Note the total length: 145 mm. That is 38 to 45 mm shorter than an ordinary Series 10 or Series 35 detail brush. A shorter handle means you hold the brush closer to the tip and can rest your hand almost on the figure itself – and at micro-detail scale that is what makes the difference.
Specifications
| Series | 100 (MICRO-MAESTRO) |
| Size | 15/0 |
| Hair | Tobolsky Kolinsky red sable |
| Shape | round, ultra-fine point |
| Visible hair length | 4.5 mm |
| Brush body diameter | 0.55 mm |
| Total length | 145 mm |
| Length with protective cap | 148 mm |
| Handle | short wooden, black-polished, hexagonal with silver banding |
| Ferrule | silver-coloured |
| Paints | acrylic, watercolour, gouache, oil |
| Manufacturer | da Vinci Kunstlerpinselfabrik DEFET GmbH, Nuremberg |
| Country of origin | Germany |
| Manufacturer code | VA-100_15 |
What it does on a miniature
- Repeating detail – A 0.55 mm body with 4.5 mm of hair – half a millimetre longer than the 20/0. On a run of identical dots (rivets, buttons, stars on a cloak) you do not reload after every one.
- Eyes at larger scales – On 54 mm busts this is the size that handles both the pupil and the lid line.
- Fine transitions in detail – A glint on a blade, a highlight on leather, wet lips.
When a micro brush makes sense – and when it does not
The smallest ordinary size we stock outside the micro range is the Series 10 size 00, with a 0.90 mm body and 6.5 mm of hair. This size 15/0 has a 0.55 mm body and 4.5 mm of hair. The difference is not only thickness – it is also the handle (145 mm against 183 mm) and how much paint the brush holds.
It makes sense if you are already hitting the limit of an ordinary detail brush: pupils, glints, micro lettering, seams. It does not make sense as your only brush – you will not paint a face with it, let alone a whole figure. It complements Series 10 rather than replacing it.
For a cheaper alternative doing the same job, the MICRO-COLINEO Set 172 holds four synthetic brushes in the same sizes. Synthetic fibre carries less paint and the point does not last as long, but it survives metallics and pigments that would wear sable down.
FAQ
Why do I need a size 15/0 if I already own a size 0?
A Series 10 size 0 has a 1.10 mm body. This one has 0.55 mm. On a pupil on a 28 mm figure that is the difference between a dot and a smudge. For everything else the size 0 is better – which is why a micro brush is a second purchase, not a first.
Why is the handle shorter than on other brushes?
145 mm against 183–190 mm. At micro-detail scale you need to hold the brush close to the tip with your hand supported. A long handle wobbles in that grip and transmits every tremor. It is a design decision, not a saving.
Does a brush this small hold any paint at all?
Very little – 4.5 mm of hair is a small reservoir. Expect to reload after every one to three dots. If that bothers you, you need a larger size, not a different brand.
Kolinsky or synthetic?
Sable holds more thinned paint and keeps a sharp point longer. The synthetic MICRO-COLINEO is cheaper and survives metallics and pigments. Painting eyes and freehand: buy sable. Varnishing and technical paints: buy synthetic.
How do I look after it?
Keep paint out of the ferrule, wash with lukewarm water and brush soap (da Vinci makes one on a pure vegetable oil base), reshape the point and dry it flat. On a brush this small, paint dried at the ferrule is the end of it – there is no cleaning that out.
Not sure which series fits your work? The complete guide to da Vinci brushes for miniatures compares every series by hair length, shape and use.
- price11.90 €
- price11.90 €
- price11.90 €
- price11.90 €
