I’v been eyeballing this Custer’s Last Stand (Fight) that’s been sitting in my closet for about two years now. The one question I’v had since I bought it is what’s best paint for soft plastic figures ??
Sam
By soft plastic, I assume you’re refering to Vinyl. Doesn’t hold most paints well. I use Krylon Fusion from a rattle can as a primer. Seems to help.
Regards, Rick
Thanks for the info. I have two kits of the Halcyon Nostromo from Alien that has vinyl parts and I’ve been wondering what kind of paint would work best.
Never ever use enamel on bare vinyl.
Fusion will work well as a primer because it’s formulated for plastics. Once primed with a suitable barrier you can try whatever you want, but I’d stay with acrylic.
What about solvent-based products like Mr. Surfacer as a primer?
Ok, thanks, I think I’ve got it now. I take my soft plastic vinyl figures and put them in an old Krylon paint can, and i guess with some rocks. Shake them so that they rattle, because you can’t sand paper them? Then infuse them with some some primer. And then paint with acrylic paint, red for Indians and blue for cavarly.
You could also try ‘bumper paint’ made for rubber and rubber-like plastic parts on cars. You can find it at an auto parts store of course. Mine came in a medium grey primer colour. Once it’s primed you can paint over it with whatever you want though I wouldn’t tempt fate by using enamel.
I can’t agree with AgentG more- I sprayed some rubber model car tires with gloss coat over fifteen years ago and I still don’t think the paint is dry!
They used to make paints specifically for painting vinyl. Unfortunately it was extremely toxic… A former member (late) of our club spent part of his life doing artwork for rich people who wanted their shower curtains painted. The effects from exposure to this stuff accumulated over the years and eventually lead to his passing. It burned the inside of his lungs. In those days there were no laws governing it use and when you are a starving “artist” you do what ever it takes to feed your family. I still can remember his stories about being part of the Tuskegee Airmen. [t$t]
I suppose it depends on the type of vinyl. I have a Marx Civil War set I received as a gift as a child. I painted them with Testor’s hobby enamels and most of the paint is still on them.
I have Screamin’s Elvira vinyl figure. I air brushed enamel primer on her. No problems.
[:)]
I believe you are correct too. Years ago you’d open a model car kit only to find the vinyl tires had reacted with the styrene parts and melted them. Seems the vinylizer used leached out and attacked. They eventually changed the formula but you still hear of long completed kits with the wheels being melted by the tires.
Look at Dragons “Dragon Styrene” tracks. You can glue 'em, and paint 'em with anything. and they are as flexible as the old school vinyl tracks.
Is it me or did the original poster get a bit sarcastic?
Dude we are trying to help you, that’s what this forum is all about.
G
Was just jokeing around. I’ve got a strange sence of humor, I guess,that all. I appreciate all the ideas and suggestions. That’s why I belong to this forum. Sorry if I came out on the wrong side.
Sam
No worries!
You are correct about sanding though. Soft plastic and vinyl figs need careful trimming with a really sharp blade.
Back when Modeler’s Resource? was around, a mag devoted to sci fi and a lot of figures, they ran a toot on vinyl figures. I wish I could find that article. Essentially they said it was best to warm the part and trim the seam or flash off with a really sharp, i.e. new blade.
Also super glue is your friend here as is epoxy.
I’ve painted vinyl 54mm Civil War figures from Imex, Accurate Miniatures, TSSD , and conte for years. There is an excellent article on trimming and painting vinyl figures from Michigan Toy Soldiers. I did not see the article on their website today, but they have some good utube stuff now that might help. I know that one thing I learned early was to thoroughly wash the figures with a good liquid dish soap to get the mold release oils off. After production, vinyls and other plastics will “bloom” lubricants to the surface that need to be washed away. Once primed I’ve had good luck with acrylics and enamels. As with most paint jobs, the preparation is key. Rick.