Size 5/0 of the MICRO-NOVA Series 175 is the larger of the two angled micro brushes: 4.5 mm of fibre, a 0.75 mm body and 145 mm overall. Compared with size 15/0 it has half a millimetre more fibre and a body a fifth of a millimetre thicker, so it carries more paint and pulls a line further before you need to reload.
The ferrule is bent at an angle behind the fibre. That gets you into places a straight brush cannot reach without catching another part of the model – under the hem of a cloak, behind a shoulder pad, into a cockpit or between a monster's limbs. The fibre is NOVA extra-fine gold-coloured synthetic, and the brush is vegan.
| Series | 175 (MICRO-NOVA) |
| Size | 5/0 |
| Fibre | extra-fine gold-coloured synthetic |
| Shape | pointed round on a bent ferrule (angled) |
| Visible fibre length | 4.5 mm |
| Brush body diameter | 0.75 mm |
| Total length | 145 mm |
| Length with protective cap | 150 mm |
| Handle | short wooden, black lacquered with a red band |
| Ferrule | silver-coloured, bent |
| Paints | acrylic, watercolour, gouache, oil |
| Vegan | yes – no animal hair |
| Manufacturer | da Vinci Kunstlerpinselfabrik DEFET GmbH, Nuremberg |
| Country of origin | Germany |
| Manufacturer code | VA-175_-5 |
Size 15/0 (4.0 mm, 0.55 mm body) is for the finest dots – pupils and highlights. Size 5/0 is the more versatile one: it still handles most detail but carries more paint, so it is better for lines, trim and rivets. If you buy one angled brush, take the 5/0.
For straight work and for painting parts before assembly, reach for a straight brush of the same size – the synthetic one from the MICRO-COLINEO Set 172 or the sable MICRO-MAESTRO 100, which in size 5/0 has longer hair (5.5 mm) and holds paint the longest.
What is an angled brush for on miniatures?
For detail you cannot reach with a straight brush on an assembled model: eyes under a helmet, kit behind a shield, vehicle interiors, recesses under a cloak. Your hand stays clear of the model, so you do not smudge finished areas.
How long is the fibre?
4.5 mm with a 0.75 mm body. The whole brush is 145 mm, 150 mm with the cap – as short as the other da Vinci micro brushes.
Can I also paint normally with it?
You can, but it is not more comfortable – the tip is off the axis of your hand. Use a straight brush for everyday work and keep the angled one at hand for places you could not otherwise reach.
How do I look after it?
After painting, wash it in lukewarm water with brush soap, shape the tip and dry it flat. Do not bend the angled ferrule – it is set at the factory and bending can loosen it.
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.