Finding a "Finish" (1 Viewer)

[Aggie99]

Okay, so I just started painting figures again (as it has been a while since I was last into this hobby), and this is my first time to (1) paint plastic figures and (2) use acrylic flat-finish paint.

So, my question is this:

When I have completed a figure, is it necessary to use a "finish" of some kind? Whether it is a spray-on or paint-on, is it necessary??

I only thought of this when I saw that my hobby store carried flat-finish spray from Testators.

Thoughts??

(Also, if anyone has any tips on a good finish, or something I should watch-out for/avoid, please let me know...)

Thanks again!!

 

[theBaron]

Hi, Aggie, you have to ask yourself first, what kind of finish do you want to achieve, matte or gloss.

There are many varnishes and lacquers out there for either purpose, available at hobby stores, but also at hardware stores, or at your local supermarket.

For matte finishes, I use a product made primarily for scale modeling, Testor's DulCote.

For gloss finished, I use a product which is sold as a floor polish, Future. It's a liquid acrylic gloss. You can brush it on, airbrush it, or even dip pieces in it (though I use that method with model aircraft canopies, not with figures). For my toy soldiers, I find that the Future gives a little bit of richness to the colors underneath.

If you browse the hobby shops, craft stores and hardware stores, you'll find other products that do the same things as DulCote and Future. Testor's also makes a clear gloss lacquer, for example. And at the hardware stores, you'll find clear lacquers in the Rust-o-leum and Krylon lines, too.

And along with providing a gloss or matte finish, that coat serves to seal the colors underneath and protect them, as opposed to leaving an unsealed painted surface. However, many paints will dry to a firm finish--gloss enamels, for example.

Hope that all helps, prost!
Brad

 

[Aggie99]

Alright, thanks!

I am guessing I need to find a matte finish (spray). I think my hobby store carries the Testors DulCote, so I will look for that.

Thanks...

 

[kilted vampire]

I agree with everything Brad said and will add that there are some clear finishes available from the acryllic manufacturers that are brush on. I find the sealers help protect the paint from handling too. Also there is a satin finish for people who look a little shine.

 

[Wolfie65]

Soft plastic figures (with bendy parts) have a tendency to reject paint, which means you need to be very thorough in the cleaning, priming and sealing departments.
Clean with hot, soapy water with a little vinegar or lemon juice added, scrub with toothbrush, rinse, let dry.
Prime, let dry again (preferably overnight).
Paint with medium of your choice, watercolors and acrylics dry pretty much instantly, enamels take a little while, oil paint can take several days, weeks or even months to dry.
I'd recommend using gloss sealer first, it gives a tougher finish than matte, and with soft plastic, you need all the tough you can get.
Brush-on sealer not an option if you used watercolors or oils, btw.
If you don't like the shine, a squirt of Dull Cote or Figure Flat will fix that.