I'm still an extreme novice when it comes to custom figures. I've done only one before this and it is just as amateur as this. So any advice and critiques are welcome.

But here's what I did to Drift. I repainted him with Acrylic paint I had from repainting a couple Hero Clix minis.

I'm decently pleased with the look of the results. It's more matte than I'd like and the paint peals away easily when transforming. But I don't know how to solve those problems.

I did do some detailing on the legs including gold highlights and silver vents. I also repainted his sword gunmetal silver. It doesn't look all that different unfortunately. But hey, it was an experiment. I had hoped the paint would cover the kanji on it but no luck. As I suspected would happen it is still very visible.

Sorry for the image quality. The best I could come up with was to grab every flashlight I could and bombard him with it and home my camcorder would take a decent shot.

So anyway, go ahead and let her rip.

 

you've got paint rub issues sir. if there's peeling from any movement of the figure. it just means the layers of paint on one part is moving against another. some people prime their figures, reassemble them to make sure that there is no paint rub. if there is you need to file or sand parts down (carefully) prime the parts again and then paint.

mind you most of drift is white so you can actually dye the white parts red and apply paints apps where you see fit.

 

I like the colors on the head. The two tone scheme really gives it a different look.

 

First and foremost GOOD WORK!!! Nice color scheme, bro.

As far as your paint rub, there are a ton of different ways to fix it. have a look at the tutorials here in the Radicons forum for different idea. I think doing a lil prep work (sanding areas that tend to rub) and some Krylon Fusion spray paint (Great for plastics and very durable) would be right up your alley. Still, see what works for you.

Great job though.  

 

Ha! That's what I named one of my custom characters a few years ago!

 

Looks pretty neat. Just need to take care of your rub issues.

 

Thanks for the kindness guys.

I did look at the tutorials page but to be honest, that page is very confusing/intimidating. There's so much specific information but it doesn't seem to have a good general guide. For example in my case I looked at the painting section but I had no idea what the differences were, what I could do with the tools I already had (the acrylic paints), and what pitfalls to avoid. Maybe I'm just being overwhelmed by it but it didn't seem very noob friendly.

Sanding doesn't seem like it would work because a lot of parts touch and rub during transformation so I don't see how it would help with that. The joints though are obviously a good place to sand it seems.

I'll take a look again at the spray paint method tutorial and see if that is something I can do. I'll also take a look at dying. If that is what I think it is, and as easy as I want it to be, it seems like it has the potential to be the best method for the big parts.

EDIT:
Hey look, in the introduction part of the tutorial thread is a number of threads that seem like they would have been good for me... Go team me.

 

Okay I've decided that at some point in the future I'm going to redo this. Just so I'm certain I want to describe what I intend to do and hope someone will tell me yay or nay.

First off I'm going to take him apart and dump the stuff I already painted in paint thinner to remove my paint and the original paint.

The next step is to sand some of the joints. The knees and the lower legs seem to be the only places that I need to do this on. Maybe some of the pegs too? They seem to have issues but I'm concerned about sanding those. So please someone tell me if this is a good/bad idea.

Then I think I'll dry brush him again (since I have those tools already) but I'm going to paint him in lighter coats to avoid the brush marks I have.

After that I finish him with a stain sealant, if I'm using the correct name, to give him a shiny look.

So if I do all that I shouldn't have a problem with rub issues right?

My biggest rub issues aren't from joints currently. They're from parts hitting during transformation. Like the windshield rubbing the feet and the hood as I try to get it into position. Or another example is the folding hood piece hitting the front grill and chipping the paint away there. Or the doors getting knocked around a lot which currently make them chip quite a bit on the edges.

 

I love this. Burnout is a great name now we just needs us some alt mode pics. I may sound offbeat here but I love rub on the paint gives the bot more of a real feel to me (metal hitting metal during transformation). but that is just me.

 

Well it's just a red Drift but hey if it gives me a chance to flaunt my work I'll take it. Plus I learned about light boxes so I can attempt to mimic one and try out the one inch grid layout to allow size comparisons.

You can really see what I'm concerned about on his knees, front bumper, and the top part of his right foot.

Oh and I guess I'll show you how I have them displayed and some size comparison shots.

So ask and ye shall receive.

EDIT:
Oh hey, I forgot to paint the "tail pipes".

 

I think you did an excellent job on this one  

I really like that you went out on a limb and made your own character here  

 

looks good, the sanding helps with the rub issues by simply removing layers of plastic so they don't actually touch anymore,

 

Thanks guys.

Yeah I know why the sanding is a good idea for the pieces that rotate but what about pieces that aren't connected but bang a lot on transformation, like the doors do with the back half of the car?

I would really like someone to answer this for me though: