Making Customs

[caliman]

What kinds of paint do I need to start painting my own I would love to try a couple of customs but not sure about kind of paint.

[Mightyfanatic]

Definitely acrylic (not oil based... will NOT dry on plastic) ... several kinds to choose from ... I've heard good things about Liquitex art paints and Krylon in addition to some of the more generic brands. Anybody have some specific recommendations?

[originaldrdoom]

Go to your local Michael's store and buy the stuff called "Paint Plastic." Works really well for the cheap price. Also, go to your local hobby shop and insist on Citadel Acrylic paints. They are amazing...expensive, but amazing. Just remember, Citadel is somewhat rare and hard to find/order.

Oh, and be sure to use Dull Cote for the final stage of painting. It will make your custom look incredible and it will seal the paint job without attracting dust like other sealants/clear coats tend to do.

[stollmer3]

Cool im gonna attempt making a custom of my own, gonna see if they have that Paint Plastic stuff at AC Moore

[gdxtoyz]

The main things you'll need are :

ACRYLIC paint! Enamels will NOT dry and may melt/eat through the plastic. On the lower end of things, go with Apple Barrel paints and the kind you find at Wal-Mart. These are GREAT for starting out, and building up your confidence with. at 50 cents to a dollar a pop you can get a LOT of colors at a good price.

I painted with these on my figures for YEARS. You can make some good stuff with these, but the issue with the cheaper paints are that sometimes they can be kinda clumpy and powdery when they dry. They tend to not have a smooth appearance.

On the higher end, (like originaldoom said) go with Tamiya, Citadel, Vallejo, Model Masters.... basically the stuff you find at a hobby shop. these are a bit more expensive ($2.50-$5.00) a bottle, but the quality difference is there. Most of these brands in this range go on smooth and dry wonderfully.

And some tips for painting in general:

Be patient! Layering with even coats is the key. I know sometimes you want to get a cool idea for a custom out and done (especially when you think someone else might "beat" you to it:)), but resist the urge to glob on the paint. Put on a coat, wait for an hour to let it dry, coat it again. I say this, because I'm impatient like that, and have spent hours sanding and repainting some I've rushed on. Now i just juggle like four or five custom projects at once, so when one's drying, I can paint another:)

Sand down features on faces and bodies. Sanding down the features on the figures help greatly. The factory-created features make it extremely hard for paint to stick to it, so sand it down with fine sandpaper, and it will be a lot easier to work with. You should also sand the body and legs down a bit too. The hard plastic on the Muggs tend to have a really slick surface that resists paint.

Wash the Mugg! Just like with other action figures, I suggest washing the Mugg with a light detergent or soap to remove any oils or factory coating. This should improve your painting greatly

Use a primer! I use Tamiya brand, and Krylon Fusion (Satin Grey and Satin White). The help the paint stick nice and evenly, and in the case of white primer, make bright colors "pop".

Whew, hope that helps!

[jle05]

Do you guys use a black sharpie to draw on the detail after painting? I've never done one before and would like to try just for fun. =)

[jayp7]

I use Mr. Color lacquer paints, which are imported from Japan. I airbrush it on, usually giving a smooth finish

[Allykitten34]

Ooooh I'ma give a go at the laquer paints spray paint just gave me a BIG let down today.

[jpidgeon]

Does anyone use 2-D digital templates to work out their designs ahead of time? I'd like to try that, but I figured I'd see if anyone had built one in Illustrator or PhotoShop already.

[Allykitten34]

Lots of people have. If you go to the art expo you cann see tons of illustrations that people have done, that will all translate well into muggs.