Rosemary & Co Red Dot Synthetic Short Flat Size 1

The Short Flat (or "Bright") is the brush shape miniature painters reach for when a Pointed Round would give too soft an edge. Flat brushes deliver clean, controlled strokes across defined surfaces, and the short head of this one keeps it responsive and precise rather than floppy and unwieldy.

Made from the same proprietary synthetic fibre as the rest of the Red Dot Collection, the Short Flat replicates the snap and paint-carrying qualities of natural sable without using any animal hair. 100% vegan, handmade in Yorkshire, and noticeably better in the hand than the flat brushes that come bundled in hobby starter sets.

For miniature painting, the Short Flat earns its place for specific tasks:

• Edge highlighting on armour plates, tanks, and vehicles where a clean, straight stroke is exactly what's needed
• Basecoating large flat panels quickly and evenly without the wandering edge of a pointed round
• Blocking in large areas of single colour — infantry bases, terrain, large model sections
• Applying washes or glazes to defined flat areas with controlled coverage
• Stippling textured effects on skin, stone, rust, and earth

The synthetic fibre holds up well to solvent-based products: oil washes and enamel products are less damaging to synthetic than to natural hair, making the Red Dot Short Flat a sensible choice if you regularly use these techniques.

If your current toolkit is pointed rounds only, a mid-size flat is the most useful first addition. The two shapes cover different tasks without overlapping, and the combination handles most situations a miniature painter encounters.

For a good Pure Sable alternative try Series 77. 

Brush Care: Rinse in clean water after use, reshape the flat head back to its squared profile, store upright or horizontal. A quality brush cleaner or mild soap used occasionally will extend brush life significantly. The synthetic fibres are more resistant to solvent damage than natural hair.