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 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...)

What color did you use for (any random) custom?

I get this question a lot, and the truth is I rarely use a color straight from the bottle/tube. I do try to as often as possible, as the color is easier to reapply later if I need to, but most times I have to mix colors. Unless it’s white, (read more...)

How do I mix colors?

There are entire books and courses of study devoted to this question. Needless to say, I can’t even begin to scrape the surface here. Assuming you’re already familiar with the color palette of pigment, acrylics mix well together. I usually mix up just as much as I need at a (read more...)

How can I paint those tiny little details like eyes?

First, make sure you have some tiny, clean brushes that come to a good point. Use only a small dab of paint on the brush. Beyond that, it takes practice, a steady hand, and luck. I often paint an eye poorly, then cover over with a new base coat, and (read more...)