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Collecting => Customs => Customizing Tips and Tricks => Topic started by: Ner_vod on July 9, 2005, 03:33 PM

Title: Custom colors
Post by: Ner_vod on July 9, 2005, 03:33 PM
I want to know what the best acrylic paint to use because I'm starting to make my own customs and I need to know.
Title: Re: Custom colors
Post by: CHEWIE on July 9, 2005, 10:46 PM
Different people have different opinions... but I always like the cheap 97 cent acrylics that you can buy at Walmart.  Can't think of the name of them for sure... maybe they are called "Folk Art" or something similar to that.

 :P
Title: Re: Custom colors
Post by: Gregorbian on July 11, 2005, 03:01 PM
I can't say enough good thinks about Games Workshop brand paints (aka Citadel Paints).  They mix really well, go on smooth, and do not chip/flake as easily as the cheaper paints.
The only drawback is the cost, but I think it's worth it considering how much time you end up putting into the customs.
Title: Re: Custom colors
Post by: ThePerennial on July 11, 2005, 11:11 PM
Oh, Man, Gregorbian, if you love citadel, then you'll ADORE tamiya! They're a bit thicker and they take a while longer to dry completely, but  the end result is great! Also, they cost almost as half as much as citadel and the portions are slightly bigger!
Title: Re: Custom colors
Post by: Phrubruh on July 12, 2005, 11:03 AM
Tamiya rules! I use them exclusively now. I find craft store paints are too grainy to the touch. I always had to use a thin cote of elmers glue on craft store paints to remove that grainness feel.
Title: Re: Custom colors
Post by: Gregorbian on July 12, 2005, 12:41 PM
Oh, Man, Gregorbian, if you love citadel, then you'll ADORE tamiya! They're a bit thicker and they take a while longer to dry completely, but  the end result is great! Also, they cost almost as half as much as citadel and the portions are slightly bigger!

Really?  I've heard some good stuff about Tamiya paints but have yet to try them myself.  Are they available online?
I kinda like the quick drying qualities of Citadel Paints (I'm very impatient, which isn't a good trait for a customizer ;))

I use Citadel paints because I used to paint Warhammer 40k miniatures 8 or 9 years ago.  Plus, now that I live in South Jersey, there's a Games Workshop store near me and I pop in there and get my paints whenever I need 'em.  The employees at Games Workshop stores are the most helpful and friendly of any store that I've ever been in, so if you have one by you, I highly recommend checking them out.  They have organized painting clinics or you can just ask the guys for any tips/help you might need because they are all excellent miniature painters. 8)  (at least the guys that I've talked to)
Title: Re: Custom colors
Post by: Ryan on September 1, 2005, 06:28 PM
I'm going to bump this up, since I have a question about Tamiya paints. 

I bought 5 bottles the other day, because I wanted to try some better paint and they had it in the colors I was looking for. Everyone says these are supposed to be thicker.

The paint seems to be much thinner, instead of thicker. When I go to apply it my brush just wipes it off and it won't cling to the surface, it seems way too watery. I wonder if it is the brush I'm using or if I am completely missing something and I just suck at using them. Anyone have any tips on how to use this stuff correctly? ???
Title: Re: Custom colors
Post by: Gregorbian on September 1, 2005, 06:53 PM
I'm going to bump this up, since I have a question about Tamiya paints. 

I bought 5 bottles the other day, because I wanted to try some better paint and they had it in the colors I was looking for. Everyone says these are supposed to be thicker.

The paint seems to be much thinner, instead of thicker. When I go to apply it my brush just wipes it off and it won't cling to the surface, it seems way too watery. I wonder if it is the brush I'm using or if I am completely missing something and I just suck at using them. Anyone have any tips on how to use this stuff correctly? ???

I haven't used Tamiya, but a problem that I've noticed with all of my acrylic paints is that they tend to settle a bit.  Did you try mixing or shaking the bottle to mix up the paint?  I can't see that the brush would be a problem, unless it had some sort of oily coating on it (which I have never before experienced). 
Title: Re: Custom colors
Post by: Ryan on September 1, 2005, 06:58 PM
I shook it like mad, for almost a minute, then I stirred it when it was still thin. And nothing worked.
Title: Re: Custom colors
Post by: ThePerennial on September 1, 2005, 07:45 PM
I'm going to bump this up, since I have a question about Tamiya paints. 

I bought 5 bottles the other day, because I wanted to try some better paint and they had it in the colors I was looking for. Everyone says these are supposed to be thicker.

The paint seems to be much thinner, instead of thicker. When I go to apply it my brush just wipes it off and it won't cling to the surface, it seems way too watery. I wonder if it is the brush I'm using or if I am completely missing something and I just suck at using them. Anyone have any tips on how to use this stuff correctly? ???

 I've never experienced this problem with tamiya paints before aside from the Metallic colours, which tend to run a little, but not too much. Depending on the colours, the thickness can actually vary (From my experience, the flat colours are more thin), but even the thinner ones I've used can stick onto to plastic exceptionally well. One thing I find helpful is to "bathe" your figure first. SOmetimes a figure can accumulate oils and such from your fingers and just plain being exposed; and in some cases, being packaged. You can reduce figure oilynedd by rinung the figure with warm water and using a dish soap to clean it a bit. That should help make it stick.

 EDIT: The thing about tamiya paints, also, is that sometimes there's a thicker layer of paint on the very bottom that cannot be mixed by shaking at all. Use a paint mixer or even a chorstick or toothpick to scrape that thick bottom layer out, mix it in a bit and then shake it again. Maybe that could help.
Title: Re: Custom colors
Post by: Ryan on September 1, 2005, 07:48 PM
Thanks Perennial, I'll give that a try. :)
Title: Re: Custom colors
Post by: ThePerennial on September 1, 2005, 07:50 PM
no problem, SLC.  ;D
Title: Re: Custom colors
Post by: speedermike on September 1, 2005, 09:46 PM
Just curious...does the plastic need to be primed in any way for acrylic paint to adhere to it?
Title: Re: Custom colors
Post by: Gregorbian on September 1, 2005, 10:06 PM
Just curious...does the plastic need to be primed in any way for acrylic paint to adhere to it?

Not necessarily - when I am painting a clone, I usually do not prime him, however if I am painting a figure completely or at least for the most part, then I definitely prime him.  Priming the figure allows the paint to go on a lot smoother and it will adhere better to the figure.  Unless you are only painting over a few parts of the figure (like making a white clone into a 501st clone or something) or if you don't feel like repainting the head or some other detail-heavy part, then I highly recommend priming the figure.
Title: Re: Custom colors
Post by: jokabofe on September 1, 2005, 11:59 PM
Plus, now that I live in South Jersey, there's a Games Workshop store near me...

How far South in Jersey are you? There's a Pearl Arts & Crafts that I go to in Woodbridge that carries Tamiya, I'm not sure how close you are to there, or if there are any Pearl stores near you.

Where I live, Woodbridge is South to me, but I'm sure you're probably a little more South than that...  :-\
Title: Re: Custom colors
Post by: Gregorbian on September 2, 2005, 12:16 AM
Plus, now that I live in South Jersey, there's a Games Workshop store near me...

How far South in Jersey are you? There's a Pearl Arts & Crafts that I go to in Woodbridge that carries Tamiya, I'm not sure how close you are to there, or if there are any Pearl stores near you.

Where I live, Woodbridge is South to me, but I'm sure you're probably a little more South than that...  :-\

I went to Rutgers New Brunswick so I was pretty close to Woodbridge, but since I graduated I live w/my parents down in Cherry Hill (next to Camden, the most violent city in America  ;)).  Woodbridge would be a bit of a treck for me. 
Title: Re: Custom colors
Post by: jokabofe on September 2, 2005, 12:49 AM
Oh well. Do you know if they have a Pearl Arts & Crafts near you anywhere? I know they carry Tamiya paints there...
Title: Re: Custom colors
Post by: Gregorbian on September 2, 2005, 08:00 AM
Oh well. Do you know if they have a Pearl Arts & Crafts near you anywhere? I know they carry Tamiya paints there...

I'll have to check, thanks for the head's up!
Title: Re: Custom colors
Post by: Ryan on September 5, 2005, 09:26 PM
I tried washing the figure, but I am still having the same dame problem. The paint seems way too thin and won't stay on, when I brush it is just runs off like I'm brushing water over it. Anyone know anything I can do to fix this?
Title: Re: Custom colors
Post by: Gregorbian on September 5, 2005, 09:57 PM
I tried washing the figure, but I am still having the same dame problem. The paint seems way too thin and won't stay on, when I brush it is just runs off like I'm brushing water over it. Anyone know anything I can do to fix this?

That's really strange, I've had that problem to a small degree, but priming the figure or just adding more paint usually fixes the problem.  If you don't want to prime the figure, try sanding it a little bit with a very fine sand paper (or an emory board).  That will give the paint something to cling to and hopefully it'll stay on.
Title: Re: Custom colors
Post by: ThePerennial on September 5, 2005, 10:23 PM
That's weird, I've never had any problems like that with my Tamiya paints before.