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Size 4 of Series 76 belongs to the MINIATURE MAESTRO range – the one da Vinci line designed specifically for miniature painting. It does not come in ten sizes like the watercolour series; only sizes 2, 3 and 4 exist, because a figure painter needs no more. Every brush is hand-shaped in Nuremberg, individually tested and packed on its own.
This size carries 13.5 mm of visible hair on a 3.00 mm body – the largest short one – flats with control.
Specifications
| Series | 76 (MINIATURE MAESTRO) |
| Size | 4 |
| Hair | Tobolsky Kolinsky red sable |
| Shape | round, short and pointed |
| Visible hair length | 13.5 mm |
| Brush body diameter | 3.00 mm |
| Total length | 185 mm |
| Length with protective cap | 190 mm |
| Handle | short wooden, hexagonal, tri-colour polished |
| Ferrule | seamless, copper-coloured |
| Packaging | individual transparent packaging |
| Manufacture | hand-shaped and individually tested in Nuremberg |
| Country of origin | Germany |
| Manufacturer code | VA-76_4 |
What it does on a miniature
- Base layers – 13.5 mm of hair on a 3.00 mm body. It covers ground without turning into a mop.
- Controlled strokes – Where long hair spreads under pressure, short hair keeps its shape. Good for textures and drier techniques.
- Larger scales – Busts and 54 mm figures, where you want area coverage and a precise edge at the same time.
Series 70 or Series 76?
This is the only question the MINIATURE MAESTRO range asks of you. Both series use the same Tobolsky Kolinsky sable, the same handle, the same ferrule and exactly the same body diameter – size 2 is 2.00 mm, size 3 is 2.50 mm and size 4 is 3.00 mm in both. The overall length is identical too.
One thing separates them: hair length. In size 4, Series 70 carries 17.0 mm and Series 76 13.5 mm – a difference of 3.5 mm.
Series 70 holds more paint and pulls a longer line per load. The point is a needle, but longer hair flexes more, so it asks for a steadier hand. Series 76 has shorter hair, less paint and more control – the tip will not wander even under pressure.
In short: 70 for freehand, long lines and layering; 76 for precise detail and control. If you are unsure, start with the 70 – it is the more versatile of the two.
FAQ
How does MINIATURE MAESTRO differ from the ordinary MAESTRO range?
The MAESTRO range (Series 10 and 35) are watercolour brushes that happen to suit figures. MINIATURE MAESTRO is designed for miniatures – hence only three sizes, the needle point, the tri-colour handle and the individual packaging. Every brush is hand-shaped and individually tested.
Size 4 sounds large. Is that too much for a 28 mm figure?
No. The numbering of this range does not match the watercolour series. The body is 3.00 mm, comparable to a Series 35 size 2. The range simply starts at 2, because da Vinci did not put smaller sizes into the miniature line.
How does it compare with Series 70 – is one better?
Neither is better, the hair differs. In size 4 the gap is 3.5 mm of hair length at an identical body diameter. Longer hair means more paint and a longer line; shorter hair means more control.
Why does it cost more than an ordinary sable brush?
Hand shaping, an individual test of every single brush and individual packaging. In volume production brushes are spot-checked; here each one is checked.
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 with your fingers and dry it flat or tip-down. Use synthetic for metallics and pigments.
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.
- price19.90 €
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