Painting Figures

First, if you're going to get serious about figures, forget the paints you're using, especially Tamiya, agnd invest in some Vallejo and Andrea paints. Colorado Minauitures has he Valllejo line at good prices. Second, you relaly should either wash tyour figures thourooghly or use a solvent based primer. Acrylics tend to not adhere well to plastics, especially if there's any mold release agent left. Get some good brushes, Kolinsky sable brushes are the top of any brand's line. They hold a good amount of paint and keep their points.

Lastly, practice, practice, practice. Check out the tutorials at Acrylicosvallejo, Armorams, Timelines, and Planet figure as well as here.

Thank you for the advice! I am going to buy some of the products you said and see what I can do. I enjoy Painting the figures & doing the research on how to paint them. I do 1/35 WW2 Figures. I am dieing to try detailing the figures to make them look more real.

Thanks again!

Charles Somers

as i always say its a matter of taste/preference. i always use humbrol enamels (none better in my opinion). i never have to prime if i dont want to using these paints...however u do have to allow a good 2 days to dry and not "lift" but worth it again in my opinion. other than that i agree with the previous posting as far as getting rid of the tamiya paints. my

Howdy Charlie,

First off, thank you for your service, welcome back to hobbie, and welcome to the site.

camo said it right .... everything that you use, that we use, is personal preference. EVERYTHING. However, some techniques are basic. Washing your models is key. When you first get the model and just prior to putting on the primer. (I always prime, just my personal opinion.) I also use small, home-made wooden vises to hold the figures during painting so that I don't get oils on it during the painting process.

IMO, the BEST thing that you can do is stop wasting money and time but buying everything someone suggests. Instead, buy some good books on painting figures and READ THEM. A lot of people use books to guide them ... including me. I still open the same book, to the same page, every time I start painting faces, hands, etc. Lock - step - process .... You know what I'm talking about. (Personally, I recommend "painting realistic military figures". It's an FSM book and can be found on the website.)

Hope this helps. Good luck!

I agree with AJ above. Try some Vallejo paints - and this is coming from a die-hard Tamiya acrylic user (and yes, we've had our disagreements about Tamiya paints over the years).

There is much to be said for tried and proven methods, but at the same time, one shouldn't reject an idea or product because it's unfamiliar.

Rather than waiting two days for Humbrol enamels to dry, Vallejo acrylics can be layered in an hour or less, without lifting underlying coats. They can be mixed to almost any level of opacity with nothing more than water. They do like a nice flat primer coat to stick to, but this can be any flat paint of your choice.

I also agree about the brushes - spend a bit more and get some quality brushes. They may be more expensive initially, but if you take good care of them, they will last for many years. For 1/35 scale figures, I'd suggest a size 2, size 0 and a size 2/0 round, pointed brushes. If you can, select each one individually - examine the point, that's what you're paying for. Don't take brushes with frayed or stray bristles, or a misshaped point. The point should be as perfectly conical as possible.

And, as suggested above, practice.

ajlafleche wrote:

First, if you're going to get serious about figures, forget the paints you're using, especially Tamiya, agnd invest in some Vallejo and Andrea paints. Colorado Minauitures has he Valllejo line at good prices. Second, you relaly should either wash tyour figures thourooghly or use a solvent based primer. Acrylics tend to not adhere well to plastics, especially if there's any mold release agent left. Get some good brushes, Kolinsky sable brushes are the top of any brand's line. They hold a good amount of paint and keep their points. Lastly, practice, practice, practice. Check out the tutorials at Acrylicosvallejo, Armorams, Timelines, and Planet figure as well as here.

 I have gotta second (or third I guess) this. ajlafleche reccomended me to them so I got two and tried them out. They are so much better than the Tamiya's. I have not upgraded all my paints to the vallejo's yet, but what I have (just some flesh colors) is so much better and really does help when trying to blend skin tones and they adhere so much better with none of that annoying lifting found in the Tamiya's.

David

Thank you all for all the information you have given me. I am going to buy some new paints and try them to see which one will work for me. There is so much to choose from that it will blow your mind. lol I will be getting more brushes too. Again Thanks for input because I will be trying all.

I really love this site. It is so handy.

Have a great day all!!!!!!!!!!!

Charles Somers