PAINTING FIGURES

They should be washed in soapy water. Priming is a very good idea. First, it gives your other paints a better surface to which to adhere. Second, it will help spot casting flaws such as seam lines much better than bare resin (or plastic). Better to see these when primed than when applying your final highlights.

while ajlafleche knows what he's talking about (i certainly wouldnt say he's wrong ) but i never prime my resin figures. also never wash them. everyone has their way of doing it and its probably better to do so...i just dont and have zero problems with painting etc.

(btw ajlafleche), thanks again for that michigan models club link...talking to the guy right now and the nice thing is they meet "very" close to my house!!

camo junkie wrote:

(btw ajlafleche), thanks again for that michigan models club link...talking to the guy right now and the nice thing is they meet "very" close to my house!!

You're welcome. Glad that worked out.

I'm not saying that Camo's wrong or anything .... But you should always wash and prime your figures ... but that's just my way of doing it. (hehe, couldn't resist, Camo...)

But he is right. Everyone has their own way of doing things. AJ is dead on w/ spotting flaws you missed. Priming always catches little spots here and there that I don't see. As far as washing goes, it's a good idea, I think. It helps get the oils from production and from your hands off the figure. Although if you wash it as soon as you get it, and are religious about washing your hands before working ... then I guess its ok not to wash before painting.

yeah...whatever scott!! i guess i can agree on washing them if you handle them alot b4 you paint them. i DONT so i dont wash them. as far as spotting flaws...unless your painting them white...any coat of paint you put down will "act" as a primer and you will see any flaws then. dont get me wrong again, i know its good to do it b4 hand...i have just never come across any real "blemish" issues with my resin...except my own personal castings and even then i know where the flaws lie and fix them b4 hand. dont know...and dont worry about it...but to each their own...it doesnt hurt either way as far as im concerned! (no matter what the experts tell ya!!)

camo junkie wrote:

i have just never come across any real "blemish" issues with my resin...

You just haven't been building long enough! Click here

almost 20 years aj...and i think people waste too much time with trying to perfect the perfect figure. i build it, i paint it and it is what it is...either its liked or disliked. most modeler's cant handle my philosophy...as it makes them feel like they've wasted too much of their time over the years...and personally...i think they have! but that's just me!

I think the point is, jibsail, that it would be a wise move to get into the good habits and routines at the beginning. Try washing and priming your figures for safety's sake, if for no other reason. It takes 20 seconds to wash a figure, 20 seconds to dry it with a can of compressed dust remover; 30 seconds to prime a figure well enough (in light, multiple passes), and 30 minutes to let the primer dry, if you're in a hurry. However, I do recommend letting it cure overnight. Remember, patience is the key to any good modeling, and figure modeling is no exception. In fact, I'd say even more so in figure modeling / painting, if you wanna be good at it.

To paraphrase Al; it's a drag to be putting the final touches on a figure, only to spot an ugly seam line. Can ruin your chances of kudos, or placing in figure contests, should you ever decide to go that route. Whatever you decide to do with your figures, it will just simply bum you out.

Good habits are easy to start, seam lines are hard to hide.

Steve

 

steve, i was going to go in a completely different route with this but all it would sound like is an argument...and that's NOT what im trying to do. i offered this guy my opinion based on what i do...now he can either run with it or he can do what you guys have told him to do. for the record, i dont think i create junk figures (all scales) nor do i think my work is junk. i've gotten some very good feedback on my work from alot of good people (unless they all have lied to me...which isnt beyond the realm of possibility ). so i dont think MY way of doing things is in any way a "bad habit" or unsafe! my opinions are just as valid as ANYONE in this forum and as i've stated already...to each their own! listen...or dont...make your own decisions...but so long as someone asks a question and i feel i have an answer...i will POST it until i am removed from this site.

Brutha... no affront intended, I assure you. Just tryin' to put my 2 pennies in, my vote for the priming of figures. IMHO, that's a good habit to develop. I offer my sincerest apologies if I came off as sounding like I was puttin' you down for your way of doing things.

 

steve, no issues and no worries...also no sense in dragging this into a debate. i'm fine...your fine...let's move on!