Quick Question Regarding Painting Fig's For Smoother Finish

[mantaraydre]

PAINTERS OUT THEIR,

When painting a figure how do you guy's get a smoother finish ? sometimes i notice the paint goes on a little choppy, do you mix the paint with water ?

please let me know

broadway-dre

[Reginald Rutledge]

Dre,

I do not know which paints you are using but I can tell you from my experience (using FF.COM figures) that Apple Barrel is the best paint. Although it is thicker than oil-based Testor, it gives you a smooth finish. I looks "lumpy" at the start but once you seal it, you will never know. You remember the Mantarays I did for you?

Look at the paint and see how smooth that paint was. Cayman Blue from Apple Barrel/Folk Art! No distortions, just a light application with a sealant and you are good to go. Don't waist your time priming our figures. Just apply the paints and go for it.

Just my opinion.

Reg

Another tip is to try some very fine sand paper ( 400 grit for ex, that's available at hobby stores ) and to do some very light sanding between coats.

[5-13 Studios]

clear coats can be crucial to a finish. i seal my figures with a water-based varnish and then foolow that up with a coat of lacquer, it eliminates all of the brush strokes for me

I use Folk Art Outdoor Gloss Sealer. In the clear bottle with the green label in the Michaels Crafts store pain isle.

What you want to do is paint your figures with acryllic paint (i.e., Apple Barrel, Delta, Americana, etc.), and apply 4-6 clear coats afterwards.

1. coat after the initial paint job.
2. coat before decaling (apply decals to wet figure)
3. coat to seal decals
4 & 5. + 2 extra gloss coats

What you will notice is that as you continue to seal the figure in the "skin" of the clear coat the little grooves and stroke marks made by your paint brush will even out and the figure will have a bright, glossy, almost "wet" appearance with the player safely sealed inside.

Note: Apply ALL decals for the figure you are working on in one shot. That means have them all cut out in piles beforehand. It takes 6-10 mintues to completely apply the decals to a single figure.

My figures made a big splash at the Miggle Tournament due to this painting and decaling technique.

Note 2: Always use a cheap and replaceable brush for your clear coat application as the polyurithane will eventually wear out a good brush.

Use Testors paint brushes instead (the white ones with the black bristles). They are cheap, and replaceable. Never paint and clear coat with the same brush.

Every person who I have shared this simple technique with has stepped their painting game up to the next level.

Enjoy,

--DM

[5-13 Studios]

those are good points. clear-coat brushes should always be strictly for clear. i have learned the hard way over the years of production painting, that brushes should always be paint-type specific. oil brushes are always for oils, acrylic brushes are always for acrylics, clears always for clears.
to take it a step further, if you take certain steps in care for your brushes, they will last for years and not get dried out and the bristles will stay compact. for oils and/or enamels, when you are finished with your brushes, dip them in motor oil, yes, motor oil. it keeps the paint from drying out in your ferrule causing the bristles to seperate and ruin the brush. for acrylics, use dish soap in the same way. and always clean your brush before using .

[mantaraydre]

coaches,

thanx for the paint class, i thought maybe i was doing it entirely wrong. D-mass, the outdoor gloss you recomeneded works great, but what if you want your pants and jersey's to have a dull finish and your helmets to be extemely glossy. I spoke with mike beal on this topic and he told me he learned techniques from a great painter from years ago, the painter told him clothing should never be shiny (glossy). He told me just look down at what you are wearing, do you see anything shiny ! Also i hear if your teams uni's are extremely matted, the helmets will glow like diamonds when gloss coated.

D-mass, i will have to see your giants again because if painted to perfection, they must have the prettiest color helmets when then sun hits those things I like both, (matte and gloss), i guess it's a choice on what will make the team look best. That outdoor gloss is amazing.

One other note, what do you guy's use to get that straight line between the jersery's and pants, also the socks and the bottom of the pants ? the paint brush was ok but i took a toothpick and that works better.

Does anybody have a picture with a player that has tape wrapped around his cleats, DON HUTSON of the DWF had some nice redskins with that look. That look would be nice with some grass and dirt stains on the tape(paint) and also on the thigh pads and elbow pads.

BROADWAY-DRE

[mantaraydre]

COACHES,

I recently saw some pic's of the icebowl (cowboy's vs packers), guy's had on sweaters, sweaterface masks under their helmets with eyes cut out ofcourse, real thick gloves. The frozen tundra, hard look to figure !

reg / d-mass/ paint guru's

How would you go about this, i think the qb's and receivers had those pouch hand warmers in front of them. I know reg rut can make the field, the players are hard to figure. That would be a fun game to play, if you really want to get crazy, play it outside in your neiborhood when it's below zero if you live in a cold weather climate ! no gloves, no heaters, you would probably last 5 minutes outside. Also it must be a day with no wind !

THAT WOULD BE FUN

BOY THAT TTQB WILL BE HARD TO HOLD (BRRRRRRRRRRRRR !)

BROADWAY-DRE

[5-13 Studios]

i personally use a satin finish varnish for clothing and a dull lacquer for skin. as far as straight lines, i tend to use either a striping brush or a small flat, but if you used a toothpick and are comfortable with it and the results, go with that. i paint tape on shoes and wrists with an off-white, and then dry brush grass stains. i am working on my saints custom team right now, i'll post some pics (if i can get good ones) soon.

It's personal preference & you can get great looks either way - however, I like the look of the matte finish with gloss on the helmets.