Jin's Transformers Painting Guide

JinSaotome · 08-17-2007, 02:50 AM

Just a quick disclaimer: This painting guide isn't meant to step on any toes or rewrite the ways of painting TF figures. There's no right or wrong way to paint, and this is just a step-by-step guide . . . . that shows how I paint, step-by-step. It also features my . . . . custom Swinwave too, heh.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moonstreaker

Very nice write up for people new to repainting. Though I was kind of surprised that you didn't do a complete disassemble for a total repaint. I could see not doing it if you were just enhancing the existing paint scheme. Less experienced painters may have some difficulty doing a total redeco with out taking the figure apart completely. I would also recommend the inexperienced people not try to brush large smooth surfaces (like the alt mode car body) until they have more practice. Spray enamel is much quicker and easier for the novice. Just my 2 cents.

I've actually never taken apart any of my figures for a repaint.

I hear what you're saying about spray enamel. [How I paint is] very different than the norm, but I tried to give the most detailed examples I could do. It's completely possible to do a perfectly flat surface paint with just thinned down paint, even if you're just learning.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NotFastEnuff

I have a question: most of my hobby paint experience is with model cars. I've always used enamel paints to varying degrees of success. I noticed that it seems everyone says to use acrylics for toys. Is there a particular reason or is it just personal preference? I've never worked with acrylics, so, I'm not sure what I'd be getting into with those, except I do like the water thinning and clean up.

There's pros and cons to both types of paint. However when I say 'acrylics', I SPECIFICALLY mean Testors Acryl/Fantasy series. Not Wal-Mart or Michael's acrylics. Those may be great for wood and plaster but suck for plastics.

Enamels won't dry on soft plastics. Fortunately you don't have much of that on TFs, but you're screwed if you paint a Marvel legends fig in enamels. They even dissolve soft rubber capes and stuff like Barricade's face.

You can't use acrylic paint[ing] techniques with enamels, [or] at least I don't hear of anyone [doing this]. It's flat colors and airbrushing usually (which, granted, can look sweet). I've never seen anyone successfully drybrush or use a wash made with enamel. So if you paint like I do, [with] that weathered metal/realistic look, it's usually acrylics for that (unless you're skilled).

[In my opinion] acrylic metallics look 100% better than enamels because you can blend them, drybrush/wash/glaze them like I do, and tint them with other colors. If anyone can drybrush an enamel metallic on, let me know because again, [I've] never seen this.

The water-washup/thinning/mixing/diluting is a HUGE plus in my book. The quick drying time [is], too. You can paint a TF with acrylics in no time flat, [and] even faster if you use a hairdryer on them.

Thanks . . . and keep up the customizing!