Inanimate Objects » Painting

Should I apply anything after Dullcote or am I finished?

I use Dullcote to bring the various lusters of paint into line with each other. As you might guess by its name, Dullcote’s sheen is flat, not at all shiny. So I will follow with a LIGHT coat of Testor’s Gloss. This give the final effect of a slight shine, (read more...)

What about semi-gloss sprays?

When the figure is fully painted, I apply a coat of Dull Cote first, followed by a very light dusting of Testors semi-gloss. This give the figure just a tiny shine, enough to make it look like manufactured plastic, preserving the illusion! [Update] Testor’s semi-gloss has become difficult to find. (read more...)

Can I use enamel paints?

I strongly recommend against the use of any enamels. They simply don’t work well with plastic, and they rarely dry fully. Your figure will forever be tacky. (read more...)

What is primer?

I always prime a piece before painting. Most of the time I’ll use Testor’s Dullcote as an “invisible” primer. It creates a bit of texture, allowing the paint to “grab” on. Without it, water-based acrylics can react in unexpected ways. On occasion I’ll use a white or grey primer, if (read more...)

Should I spray my figures grey? White? Black?

Most of the time I will prime a figure with Testor’s Dullcote. It acts as an “invisible” primer. But occasionally I will prime with white or grey. In unusual circumstances I might follow with a solid color, depending on the depending on the color scheme at hand. On really rare (read more...)

Can I use spray paint to paint my figures?

Yes and no. Obviously, you’ll want to use spray primers, as explained above. I’ll sometimes apply spray paint to a large area that requires a single color. However, this can be tricky. It often requires masking off other parts of the figure. Also, most spray colors do not come in (read more...)

What is Dull Cote?

Dull Cote will become your best friend when you’ve finished a project. It’s a matte sealer produced by Testors. (The company that makes enamel paints for models.) A few sprays of Dull Cote and your figure will have a smooth, even finish. Dull Cote is great for bringing paints of (read more...)

Where can I purchase Dull Cote?

Most hobby stores that carry Testors products will have it. You can also learn more about Dull Cote via the Testors site. (read more...)

What kinds of paint do I use?

Primarily, I use acrylic paints. Most any acrylics will work fine, be they the $.99 specials or the high-end professional series. Acrylics mix easily, dry quickly, and react well with primer. Primarily, I use the Ceramcoat brand of acryclics, commonly found in craft stores. I’ve used these since I was (read more...)

How can I get vibrant, smooth colors with acrylics?

It takes planning and thinking ahead. In general, you want to paint darker colors on top of lighter colors. The quick and dirty solution would be to spray a figure with white primer, and then paint everything on top of that. But that can have some downsides. Maybe you don’t (read more...)