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Post by 1st Marshal on Sept 1, 2017 2:02:18 GMT
I wargame Napoleonics and have a large number of HaT figures in my collection mixed with old ESCI and Airfix units. Due to the sheer number of figures deployed (1000's), I choose not to paint them as it would take too long and they are difficult to protect in transport. The issue is that a large number of the troops are modelled in gray so the opposing armies often are in much the same color. I also have purchased the same troops and they come in two different colors (blue and gray for example). This makes the table somewhat boring and can be confusing when trying to differentiate the units. To combat this I have tried dyeing my figures using RIT's Dyemore line and it works well. However, the colors are often too dark when mated with the underlying gray. So a couple of questions: First, does anyone else experience this issue and find it annoying and if so how do solve it? Second, has HaT ever considered creating figures in white plastic that consumers can dye to their liking? Additionally, PlasticSolierReview has recommended colors for various eras and nationalities of troops. Ever consider following those guidelines? Thoughts are appreciated! |
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Post by Tripod on Sept 1, 2017 23:41:12 GMT
Try spray painting in the colour you want and or paint the flags
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Post by Brian on Sept 2, 2017 13:51:27 GMT
Too many gray figures this is an old chestnut here on the Hat Forum, Painters want them in Grey or a light colour so they can cover them in one coat of paint and not obscure the detail or have some hideous pink plastic showing through the paintwork, Non painters want them in as many different colours as possible, there is no easy compromise, Painters can get round the bright colours with the better primer and undercoats available, for Non painters dying, spray or hand painting one colour could be the answer. If you are going to paint your figures regardless of putting on one colour or a full paint job you still need to wash your figures in warm water with detergent (dishwasher liquid) leave them to soak overnight and dry on paper towel, some people soak them in diluted Dettol (pine oil), this remove the layer of release oil from figures that may prevent paint from adhering. Remove flash and excess plastic with hobby knife or scalpel if you are just changing the plastic colour you could skip this part. Priming the figure should not be skipped if you want the paint to stay on the figures, Primer can be sprayed Krylon Fusion, Rust-Oleum, Halfords, Army painter and Vallejo Plastic Primers are all reported to be good just make sure it says Plastic Primer, Hand painting primer you may find easier and less messy Vallejo Plastic Primer also comes in a brush on bottle as does Tamiya surface primer or you can use PVA glue diluted with water, primer or paint whether sprayed or brush on should be applied in thin coats or even a mist coat not thick coats and allow time to dry before adding a 2nd coat. Paint can then be spraying or brush on in any colour you wish, model paints come in acrylic or enamel, you may decide to hand paint some detail such as hats and boots in black for example or flesh colour on face and hands it's up to you just remember 2 thin coats is better than 1 thick coat. Finally a coat of clear varnish Matt or Gloss or PVA glue diluted with water can be applied to protect your paint work. some links on painting Plastic figures www.hat.com/Tips.htmlwww.baueda.com/plastikornar/painting_guide.htmlthemodellingjournal.blogspot.co.uk/p/how-to-paint-your-figures.htmlwww.youtube.com/watch?v=X_gt4FwG47Y |
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Post by paintdog on Sept 3, 2017 6:32:12 GMT
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Post by 1st Marshal on Sept 3, 2017 13:05:01 GMT
Thanks for all the info and suggestions! Good prep and painting is certainly the most versatile solution. My biggest issue with paint on soft plastic is that the nature of the mediums involved means that chips and cracks are inevitable. That said, I might try again using one of the spray paints engineered for plastic as was suggested. And I have not tried soaking my miniatures in diluted pine oil so I might do an experiment and see if that helps increase the surface adhesion of the primer. Dyeing seems to be the only permanent chip and crack free way to change a plastic minis color, but for the best result the minis really need to be molded in white plastic (see Revell's Seven Years War Austrian Infantry) so the dye colors are not influenced by the plastic coloration. |
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Post by davidmac on Sept 3, 2017 20:05:55 GMT
I would not think that soaking in pine oil would be a good preparation if you were intending to (spray) paint with an acrylic paint.
The problem I have with casting in white plastic is that it is harder to see detail when painting.
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