03336: Children of the Zodiac: Cancer

[Mercius]

That is the same basic lightbox I use. It works well, you will want to add more lamps as you get the chance.

[Cyradis]

Aye, need one on the left side. Friend loaned me a reading lamp but it has very weak light, and doesn't stand on its own, as it is meant to be clamped over a headboard. If I can find a cheap lamp that has a bright light and stands up, I'll snag it.

[twjolson]

The purple strand of hair is brilliant. Simple, yet I think it adds a lot to the mini. I will have to remember that.

 

Though, I don't think Judas Bloodspire with a strand of purple will have the same effect...

[Cyradis]

The purple strand of hair is brilliant. Simple, yet I think it adds a lot to the mini. I will have to remember that.

 

Though, I don't think Judas Bloodspire with a strand of purple will have the same effect...

 

The figure I'm using as my avatar has almost purely striped hair, with no base. Gives her a ridiculously wild look. One of my favorite ways to spice up eccentric or cute characters.

[Enchantra]

Primer: You should be using it. It will help with the paint peeling problem. Primer sticks to the metal better than paint and acts as a surface for the paint to adhere to. Without it your paint will continue to peel. Varnish might help but in the long term you'll still have some problems with peeling paint.

 

Using a base to hold your mini on while painting is essential for it keeps your skin oils from getting on the mini - which incidentally skin oils can cause peeling paint as well.

 

Before you prime your minis you should at least be giving it a bath in some soapy warm water to get rid of any oily residues and mold release from the manufacturing process. If those are left on they will cause peeling paint as well.

 

Hope that helps.

[Cyradis]

I recently tried some primer and absolutely hated the results. That figure was the only one I have ever had issues on peeling with, so an anomaly. I sometimes glue the figure to a piece of cardboard while painting, but they seem to like popping off of those, and it gets irksome.

Unless there is a consensus from a bunch on here on a type of primer, I will not use primer again. I followed the instructions and it shat all over my figure. I managed to salvage the figure for the most part, but there are still signs on her that were irreversible damage in texture.

[Ferox]

I'll throw in on the +primer side. The graining problems you ran into (if I'm thinking of the right figure) could be related to humidity/storage issues with a spray-on primer. I live in Vancouver, which is usually too humid for rattle-cans to behave themselves, so I use Liquitex gesso as a primer. It's outstanding in terms of coverage and, more importantly, not messing with the detail or surface of the mini.

 

As Enchantra mentioned, scrubbing the mini in warm soapy water before priming/painting is a damn fine idea. I've been able to get away without it on a few Reaper figs, but GW plastics in particular need to be stripped of mould-release compound and won't tolerate skin oils on the bare plastic.

 

This might depend very strongly on the humidity here on the Wet Coast. YMMV.

[Cyradis]

I live in Colorado, we have no humidity. Going outside without chapstick is asking for a lip-bleed. Scrubbing the minis is easy enough at least.

A few paints I know could benefit, most go on OK without. If there are other recommendations for primer go ahead, but the stuff I got was awful. I think it was Armory brand. Perhaps a defective bottle, I don't know.

[Darius Glenwell]

I've told you on FB that primer is a good thing. Wash your minis in warm soapy water is a must as well. I've also taken to "shining up" my minis with a brush attachment on my dremel tool. This takes off even more impurities and deburrs the mini too.

 

What ever primer you use shake the can thoroughly for at least a minute. Then give it a test spray on a piece of card board. If it's still coming out grainy, then it's the paint. If not, then hold the can about 8-12 inches away and use quick short bursts rather than long ones. This allows the primer to dry evenly, and not get clumpy on the model.

 

Take everyone's advice on here, we are only trying to help, and you'll have better looking paintjobs without the peeling.

[Cyradis]

I may try to take some advice; but once bitten twice shy sort of deal. I think I'll just get a brush on primer though, it is easier to know what is going on with it. Soapy wash I can do easy though. Did on my most recent project -my group's paladin. I found that my ultra sonic toothbrush is ideal! Use an old toothbrush head and buzz it!

[Cyradis]

Alright alright, I got a different primer. It is a paint on primer so I won't worry as much about spray cans. I will use it on my next figure.