Painting then attaching parts

alexandros · Nov 17, 2008

Hello gurus,
I hope I'm posting in the correct area.
I'm puzzled.

I understand the need to paint parts before they are attached to the main figure. But what exactly is the procedure? Is it:
1 - Drill holes and glue pin into one part and ensure parts fit together properly.
2 - Paint parts.
3 - Glue parts together.
4 - Putty gaps, clean up and paint joins so they blend in with the rest of the figure.
Wouldn't that be messy?
How do you handle painted parts?
I look forward to your valued advice.
Cheers

Guy · Nov 17, 2008

Hello Alexandros,

That is exactly how I paint a figure. I make sure the dry-fitting of parts is almost as perfect as can be to eliminate gaps (shoulder joints for example) so after glueing there is no gap to fill.

I use 1/2 inch dowel rods that can be placed in a 2X4 holder I made for holding small parts. Each tip of the dowel has a brass rod that I insert into an arm, for example and then paint the arm and hand and place the dowel with arm into the rack for drying.

I use toothpicks as well as old paint brush handles for securing parts with a small drop of epoxy to hold the part.

Look through the sbs I did on building and painting a 2 figure vignette and look around in each photo and you will see the many ways I paint small parts. http://www.planetfigure.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25450

I hope this helps. Feel free to ask more questions if needed.

Guy

dinovision79 · Nov 18, 2008

Hi Alexandros,

another way could be only painting the area on the part you cannot reach when glued (usually not too visible anyhow), eg inner side of an arm the rest you can paint afterwards, this way you eliminate the possibility of damaging the paintwork/painting the same thing twice.
This is the reason I like black undercoat, what you cannot reach is simply black

Hope this helps
Denes

alexandros · Nov 18, 2008

Guy - thanks very much. I suppose that's one way of avoiding messy joins; make sure they fit properly in the first place! I suppose I want to avoid handling parts after they've been painted too. Mucking around with joins could have an adverse effect on all that hard work!
Denes - that's a good idea too; paint the hard to reach bits then whack the figure together. Black undercoat? Hmmm?
Cheers

dinovision79 · Nov 18, 2008

Alexandros,

this problem is often present, I don't like to fill and sand a part after it's painted, but of course, whatever works and one prefers.
I've started to use black undercoat recently, it is getting more and more popular, nothing new though. It's used with acrylics (or mainly, I guess?!), besides fixing the hard to reach places, it changes to tone of the following colours and helps achieving contrast. Try a serach here, I'm sure you'll find out more

Denes

alexandros · Nov 18, 2008

Hello Denes,
Wouldn't a black undercoat take away from light basecoats, for example, yellows and light blues? I suppose you just have to paint more layers of basecoat to achieve the desired colour?
Cheers

dinovision79 · Nov 18, 2008

Alex,

not necessarily, as you say you have control over it by the number of layers and by modifying your basecolour, highlights and shadows accordingly, it tones down colours, which gives an unusual effect and can be very realistic.
Here is link, painted with oils though: http://www.planetfigure.com/forums/showthread.php?t=27941&highlight=black+basecoat&page=4. Check out Hardy's other threads too and I believe there are other sbs's on this topic. I think it's worth to give it a try, you can always strip it and start over

Hope someone with more experience will correct me, or add his tips.

Denes

alexandros · Nov 18, 2008

Thanks again Denes. For some reason images do not appear when I access the website at work. I'll have to have a look at the link at home tonight. As you say, it's worth a shot and if it doesn't work out just strip it and start all over again.
I have some practicing to do.
Cheers

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