Metal/Resin

[Simon]

Hello. I write with a question: am i the only one who find painitng on resin harder than painting on metal ? It's easier for me to make highlights on metal minis.. i use acrylics, spray primer, always the same.. but resin minis seem to be more difficult.. anyone know why ? Me and an other painter thought that it may be because micro holes in metal, which are filled by primer, and resin don't have it.. but..

 

[JohnLea]

One would think that any "micro holes" would be filled by priming so that advantage would be neutralized from that point on.

Do you mean the paint will not stick? Have youe washed the resin parts to remove any mold release?

 

[frank h]

Hi
As John said washing the resin parts wil remove any slickness from the surface

after that then a good primer I use Games Workshop chaos black

When it comes to the painting using the paint really thin
be prepared for your mini to look terrible in the early stages
maybe this is what looks like the paint is not staying on

After more than a few coats with some drying time in between the base coat will look even
and pleasing to the eye ready for the lights and darks to be pulled out

Hope this is of some help

Frank

 

[vergilius]

The only difference I noticed is when preparing and cleaning the figurine. Painting shouldn't be a problem but then I use oils.

 

[Simon]

Hmm, i clean it good, and i also use Citadel Primer. It's not about cleaning or primer, the paint sticks rather well its just.. err.. harder to put highlights etc.. it feels like the surface is too smooth.. a bit hard to explain

 

[Hecky_uk]

Simon
I get where your coming from , there is just something different about painting a whitemetal figure , but like you i cannot put my finger on it . The paint just seems to "go on " better

Ian

 

[CorySF]

I used to have a problem with priming resin figures also and I washed them in various different cleaners and tried different primers. What did the trick for me was switching to an automotive primer and the beauty of it is that it adds a slight texture also.
God Bless
Cory

 

[Calvin]

While the metal alloy used by most of manufacturers is almost the same, there are a zillion of different resins. In addiction, some producer uses release agents while pouring, which will alter the final finish of the resin, making it almost impossible to paint.
If the primer you are using allows you to feel a difference between metal and resin figures it simply means it is not the right one. You must use a rough primer. As already pointed out, automotive primers are the best due to its rough finish. Rough finish does not mean an heavy coat of primer, but just a different finish. Tamiya and Vallejo spray primers are the most similar to the automotive primers.