Assembled or not when painting ?

[Sgt Stryker]

I've been on a 6 year painting hiadeious but still enjoying the great works on Planet Figure and have always had an inner battle with this question .I was wondering how many planetiers assemble their models before painting or blue tack and prime and then paint and assemble the piece ? I am trying to work into bigger figures 75 mm and up. I was just curious on members thoughts.
Thanks Stryker

 

[Ned Ricks]

Hiya, Sarg-

You pose an interesting question, and I will be watching this thread to see other answers.

For me, it depends upon the scale. Almost always, if the head is a separate piece, I will finish that on its own and assemble just at the conclusion. same with hats / head gear. If the assembly of the arms, etc will create hard to reach (and hard to paint) places, I try to estimate if such places will be seen. Shep Paine was once quoted as saying something like "If you can see it, you can paint it." Yes, Shep, but how well can I paint it?

Then, there is the question of "fiddly bits." For aircraft and AFV modelers, it is pitot tubes, radio antennae and such. For me, this includes feathers on hats, swords, hand held telescopes and other small, easily broken parts. These usually will be painted separately and added at the end.

I look forward to seeing the wisdom of other planeteers posted here.

Thanks for asking the question we might all have been thinking. Keep calm and model on!
N

 

[peedee]

Assemble everything you can, that you can reach comfortably with the brush, if in doubt, leave it out and paint seperately.

 

[DaddyO]

I'll put everything together except for sticky-out bits (technical term) such as swords, scabbards spears etc; I know that if I add them early on I will need to repair them a couple of times before I've finished. (The main reason is I like to see where shadows actually fall which is difficult if everything is painted separately)

Heads, helmets, arms etc all glued together (I've tried painting separately and made a right mess when trying to glue together, fill minor gaps and then touch up. One thing I have found if you are painting metal figures the weight quickly becomes an issue so I paint riders and horses separately and for large figures you may need to paint them in bits. (I usually only paint 54's and it's not a problem)

NB - A 'rigger' paintbrush can help for those hard to reach areas if you do put everything together first

Cheers
Paul

 

[Nap]

Hi Sarge

Great to have you back and glad you were still enjoying PF during the interlude

I don't do legs or things with the technical term "sticky out bits" ...nice one Daddy0'...lol

As a busty bloke I build fully including fixing to a wooden base , covering with cling film and paper tape using it as a handle

Look forward to seeing your benchtime

Stay safe

Nap ( moderator now ! )

 

[Mirofsoft]

As Ned says, mainly mount everything before paitnting
+ if you want to avoid pre or not assembling fase, just buy busts coming in one casting
or visit ebay and buy old Lasset, Hinton Hunt, Stadden premounted and undercoated ready to paint

 

[theBaron]

My process, generally, is to assemble as much as I can without making it impossible to get to a specific area. And I paint from the inside out. I do this with a figure or with a scale model. I say generally, because there will be exceptions, but most of the time, that's the process I follow.
Prost!
Brad

 

[Ferris]

I do the same as Brad mentioned above.
Just make sure that all the parts that are painted seperately are easy to fix when done. I spent considerable time preparing for this during construction. You don’t want to handle painted parts extensively, so make sure they drop-fit.

Cheers,
Adrian

 

[Gary D]

Sometimes I'll use both CA glue and 5 minute epoxy on the same joint. apply the 5 minute and just before joining the 2 pcs together add a drop or two of CA glue close to the edges. The CA glue will hold everything in place while the epoxy sets. Also, I paint figs like I'm dressing them. Skin first then the consecutive layers of clothing finishing with the jacket.
Just my way of doing things...
Gary

 

[Range Rat]

I just do busts and put as much together as possible but usually very little needs painting separately.

 

[MCPWilk]

I assemble as much as possible, but leave some items off if they will hamper painting or make some areas inaccessible.

Mike

 

[Ronaldo]

I try to get as much on as possible but a bit of common sense will let you know what can and can't be painted in situ .
Never thought of blu tac the bite paint and glue , but might give it a try

 

[Sgt Stryker]

Thanks for looking and replying everyone. I will try the tips you gave.

 

[Blind Pew]

Shep Paine I think coined the phrase, "If you can see it, you can paint it." But you have to ask, "But can I paint it well?"

Basically, it varies from figure to figure. If it's easily knocked off, fragile, of hampers painting - it stays off.

 

[Ned Ricks]

Concur.

 

[David Spencer]

Coming late to this one, but...
Assemble as much as possible here, leaving off capes/back-packs/shields and anything else that might get in the way, and can be mounted on a Heath-Robinson pin & base assembly if necessary, to paint separately and attach at the end. It saves trying to perform key hole surgery with a spotter brush.
I find gluing as much as possible first means not having to deal with seams and blending them together late in the project. You can file & fill before applying any colours.
Hope that helps.
DS