Desert Shadows

[SteveD]

Sounds to me like it's my impatience to get started that caused it! I didn't have any undercoat, so I thought "what the hell" and gave it a go! I suspect I may well be starting again with some undercoat, as after 3 days it's still a bit tacky!

Getting into this customs lark though - a whole new dimension to it. I'll have to clear out some cabinet space.

[Chopper]

Sounds to me like it's my impatience to get started that caused it! I didn't have any undercoat, so I thought "what the hell" and gave it a go! I suspect I may well be starting again with some undercoat, as after 3 days it's still a bit tacky!

Getting into this customs lark though - a whole new dimension to it. I'll have to clear out some cabinet space.

I haven't yet had the Humbrol stuff stick to the Palitoy figures without using the acrylic undercoat. With the Hasbro figures, no wukka's. I had exactly the problem you are having Steve. The SAS guy in the pic I took has one coat over the Q force blue and it sticks well, I touched up the face too, again with acrylic. I had to strip that one down originally as the Humbrol wouldn't take.

[SteveD]

Sounds to me like it's my impatience to get started that caused it! I didn't have any undercoat, so I thought "what the hell" and gave it a go! I suspect I may well be starting again with some undercoat, as after 3 days it's still a bit tacky!

Getting into this customs lark though - a whole new dimension to it. I'll have to clear out some cabinet space.

I haven't yet had the Humbrol stuff stick to the Palitoy figures without using the acrylic undercoat. With the Hasbro figures, no wukka's. I had exactly the problem you are having Steve. The SAS guy in the pic I took has one coat over the Q force blue and it sticks well, I touched up the face too, again with acrylic. I had to strip that one down originally as the Humbrol wouldn't take.

Stripping? Touching up??? Crikey! I barely know where to start!

[Ross SC]

Sounds to me like it's my impatience to get started that caused it! I didn't have any undercoat, so I thought "what the hell" and gave it a go! I suspect I may well be starting again with some undercoat, as after 3 days it's still a bit tacky!

Getting into this customs lark though - a whole new dimension to it. I'll have to clear out some cabinet space.

i have some figures that i used enamel on, still tacky after 3 months!
my sand viper is starting to come together, used white primer then sprayed it a sandy color, then started from there!

[The Baron]

Malcolm - can I ask what paint you used for the Desert Shads. I know we've discussed it elsewhere before, but I just love the Mat finish to these. I'm just venturing into the world of customs and my first daliance with Humbrol Matt finish pots seems to be taking an age to dry.

Are the Games Workshop acrylic paints (I know Andy uses these?) a matt or gloss finish?

Humbrol Matt paint should be the quickest to dry compared to satin or gloss, it may be a problem with the base figure as some softer plastics dont take well without an undercoat or it may be that you didnt stir the paint enough, I sometimes get that problem unless I give it a very very very good stir...

I was gonna say that, Humbrol paints need a LOT of stirring. Use a matchstick and don't stop until all the lumps are gone.

[Ross SC]

the same goes for tamiya acrylics.

[The Baron]

Acrylics in pots? Whenever I used them (admittedly for painting my leather jackets), they came in tubes.

[Ross SC]

Acrylics in pots? Whenever I used them (admittedly for painting my leather jackets), they came in tubes.

used to do the same!
no, for figures/models it's liquid, pretty much industry standard now. the tubes are useless, this stuff is like the games workshop stuff, there is a really good brand now, but i forget the name.

[Malcolm Orr]

Steve, sorry for not replying earlier, just seen it now!

I use Citadel Minatures paint which, on the whole, is probably the best brand to use for customs. The actual finish on them is a soft satin. When I do customs, pretty much unlike all my mates, I try to go for a finish that will match the other figures in that range, so for the most part I don't use facial washes on customs where the main figure ranges don't have them. So the acrylics tend to match in well with other figures.

Generally I don't prime and I don't use a matt sealant, although I occasionally use a gloss/matt mix on boots (Gloss is too glossy other than things like tongues etc)

Red and yellow aren't great in the Citadel range, but Humbrol acrylics from Modelzone seem a bit better.

[Malcolm Orr]

Out of interest the base figure is Temple Guard from Indy Jones. Just bought 3 more for £1-50 each (!!) in Asda. All the Temple of Doom wave scanned for this (they had stickers for £3 on them)