I'll admit that I'm new to the whole customizing scene. I've done some dry-brushing, and a little detail painting, but I'm trying my hand at my first major repaint, of Movie Voyager Ratchet. Right now, I'm trying to find a good match for the green color of the plastic (I don't really want to re-paint the whole thing, just the details.) So this got me thinking. Could we get a listing together of paints we've found that match the colors on existing Transformers (or other toys) for customizing purposes? Then, we wouldn't have to dig through the forums, or try to mix our own paints to match the gray on Optimus's gas tanks, or the green on Movie Ratchet's left knee. But please, can we start with a match for the green plastic on Movie Ratchet?
well, you're still going to have a LOT of situations in which mixing your own color will be mandatory. However, I DO think it'd be great to have a running-thread that people could update when they've found a great match, whether by mixing, or from a factory-paint. The brand and number/name of the factory paints used (either straight or in a mix) could be listed, and in the case of a mix: the ratios required.
Exactly my point. There's no reason that customizers should be in competition with each other. Let's pool our resources a little.
ahh ok, that's the ticket. (didn't have to show the actual bottles, but that's just as good I s'pose ) I think for the thread to work, when someone posts up a mixture, that the exact brand and name of the color, or even the number if there's one assigned to it should be listed as well, since there are so many different shades, especially if you talk about different brands, and if someone wants to copy a mixture, it wouldn't look the same without using the exact same paints.
its' kinda pointless to make a thread specifying paint ratios, I'm sure some basic direction would always help, but it really is necessary to mix paints by eye.
QFT. This has always been my process as well. While I won't go so far to say that this thread with paint ratios is "pointless", but I would say that typically mixing model paint(s) aren't like going to Wal*mart and getting your paint mixed for your home or whatever. f_r is very correct in saying that basic direction is useful, but one who expects a thread to give them such a calculated formula for something like this might become disappointed. Typically, if I mix a color, I'll try to make a lot of it because the mixing process is so non-specific other than the colors used. That way if I need the color again, I'm not having to try to match the mixed color again (which can be next to impossible to do so). For example, my Alternators Screamer has a custom blue-gray, and the batch I mixed up would be probably the equivalent to 4-5 bottles of a typical Testors acrylic/enamel bottle.
I wasn't just trying to find out mixing ratios for colors. I was more trying to see if anyone got an out-of-bottle match for any colors. For example, if someone said that "Model Master Insignia Red" was a match for the red on Masterpiece Prime. (It's not, by the way, I'm just using an example.)
I'd still say what what f_r said (and what I piggybacked on with my comments) would still hold true to even this suggestion. Hasbro/TakaraTomy use different paints for the most part than we do for our customs. That being said, however, I think your original intention for this thread and what this thread could actually function well as would be for any of us to post a toy and a bottle of paint that we find equivalent to it (again, as you suggested here). For example (and I'll just use yours): Masterpiece Convoy (MP-01): Model Master Insignia Red Also, if I learn of another color that works for me, instead of adding another post with the same info, I can just edit my original post: Masterpiece Convoy (MP-01): Model Master Insignia Red Testors Acryl Red 1364 I think it to be important to note that many Transformers do sport basic colors. For instance, if I buy a set of Testors Acryl that has my basic colors, I hardly see the need to point out that my black would work well for a custom of 2007 Ironhide. I think the real usefulness of this thread would be a listing of sorts that would point someone towards a difficult color to seek after. Even then, one could come back to what f_r and I said about "eyeballing" a color. Before we take on such a "database" of sorts as suggested here, let's all of us discuss such a thread using this one. Pros? Cons? What will work? What won't work? Etc. What do all of the Radicons (you guys) want to see? Post your comments!
One problem would be that most of the colors you need to match are the actual plastics, and even if you get the exact same hue you won't duplicate the transparency and texture of it, which will change the actual appearance. Generally, you'll need to repaint all of the original color anyway, unless it's a really small detail. For example, I'm looking at my MP Starscream that I have on my monitor. (yay me!). The chest is a slightly orangey red and it would be rather easy to mix it, but it's also a very thin plastic that becomes slightly transparent when backlighted.
I agree with F_R and SQ in that a paint mixing database would be a logistical nightmare. There are so many brands and ranges of paints, and trying to duplicate an exact shade is extremely difficult even when you do have a recipe to work to, so eyeballing is really the only way to do it. But if a bottle match can be found for a requested colour, then that could be handy info, especially for popular repaints.
I think an actual color match thread for out of the bottle paints would be a good idea. I don't see a problem with everyone keeping a single post and updating our own posts with our finds or even a separate request thread for people looking for a certain color or something. Just a thought.
it's also a good idea to maybe include the colors you used for your custom along with whatever process was used to create it. Being our database and gallery is so extensive now, details like that wouldn't be a big problem to add. Then, for instance, if someone was doing a hoist alternator (my project today) they could look for previous hoist alternator threads and see colors used (if added to that original thread)
That's actually a good idea, and I'm surprised more people (myself included) don't do that. Might be an idea to encourage posters to add paint lists to their threads so potential copiers can reproduce projects. As long as I remember, I'll try and incorporate it into any of my future repaint threads.
