This is a horrible question I know, but is anyone else doing it? I have custompainted a few lego star wars figures for myself some years ago, and if I got worn shabby vintage figures and want to put some details on them, what paint can I buy to use? Or is this a tabu question, lol

I don't think it's a taboo subject, may people make custom figures using old beaters.

However repainting old figures and trying to pass them off as mint is a big no no.

Customs thread....

http://www.imperialgunneryforum.com/t69-vintage-customs-thread

I just bumped up a Vintage Customs thread for you to check out . I am not sure how everyone here feels about customs but I like to do them myself . I have a few rules though - I only customize real "beaters" and I never customize them to look anything like the original paint jobs . I never want there to be any confusion as to the paint job not being original - if you paint a figure to look original its a "touch up" and not a custom - I know "touch ups" are really frowned upon by us collectors .
I use Testors Model Master Acrylic paints myself - Commander Clint does some awesome customs so hopefully he will chime in on what type of paint he uses . I deffinitely don't recommend using any type of enamel paint .
Hope this helps ... to TIG by the way

H*ll no, I meant for my own display and put them in the cabinet. Thanks for link!

Ps Is acrylic smell-less?

I would say acrylic is pretty "smell free" - particularly after it dries . If it does have a very minor smell it isn't offensive like enamels tend to be .

Why not? Since the cool prototype paint schemes that Kenner tantalized us on the card acks was not translated into the production figures. Take Squid Head for instance :



A bit of custom painting won't hurt!

I have used a variety of different paints. Both Testors Model enamel and acrylic. I've tried acrylic with an air brush. I've even tried automotive paints. It has all been trial and error with me. Some figures, I've stripped the paint 2-3 or even 4 times before I'm happy with the outcome. When most of them dry, they don't have much smell to them at all. But can stink the joint up without a window open. The one thing that I have found, is one paint may work on the bodies, doesn't always work on the arms and legs. The limbs are a different plastic and the paint doesn't always dry or can "feel tacky" even weeks and months after being painted.

Acrylic - softer and easily marks
Enamel - harder finish

Testors if you can find it, has an Acrylic/Enamel combo.
Someone mentioned a brand of paint called "Humbrol" and I have yet to try it out.
Visit your local automotive paint supply store, lots have small touch-up spray bottles.
Createx for air brushes is an acrylic and works well


Here is a web site that is a great reference for customizing.
http://www.ffurg.com/articles/basics.htm

Hope this helps.

Clint

btw. Linda

Commander Clint wrote:

This is a copy of my first custom that I worked on about a year ago. It was a simple one to make. I just removed the colour from the original cape and then re-died it black. The gold on the belt was a little trickier. I finally found an automotive paint that hardened. I ended up selling on ebay to some guy named Dr Dengar. Some of you may already know him.
I will try to show some of the other customs that I have been working on.


Sorry for the picture being rotated.

For Chancellor_Peter, in case you missed it in the custom thread.

That's a great custom, Clint!

That dr dengar guy is a lucky bastard having it added to his collection.

Dr Dengar wrote:

That's a great custom, Clint!

That dr dengar guy is a lucky bastard having it added to his collection.

He was "one lucky bastard"

Edit. Marco was the "only one" to bid on it.

im going to be the black santa here and say id rather a beater that shows its history than have a touched up figure.
Imo, the unique scuffs and marks add to the charm and story of the figure, once its touched its no longer a true vintage figure its a vintage figure touched up in 2013, it loses its charm and collectibility in my eyes.

You can see my "Dark Leia" in my avatar. Black & red paint.... now my loose Vader in the cabinet has a new apprentice.

Aussie Fortuna wrote:

im going to be the black santa here and say id rather a beater that shows its history than have a touched up figure.
Imo, the unique scuffs and marks add to the charm and story of the figure, once its touched its no longer a true vintage figure its a vintage figure touched up in 2013, it loses its charm and collectibility in my eyes.

and I am going to be the black Wampa here...

Touching up figures is a no GO for me but

I like beater figures being transformed into nice customs of never released figures

(see the custom thread)

Dr Dengar wrote:

Aussie Fortuna wrote:

im going to be the black santa here and say id rather a beater that shows its history than have a touched up figure.
Imo, the unique scuffs and marks add to the charm and story of the figure, once its touched its no longer a true vintage figure its a vintage figure touched up in 2013, it loses its charm and collectibility in my eyes.

and I am going to be the black Wampa here...

Touching up figures is a no GO for me but

I like beater figures being transformed into nice customs of never released figures

(see the custom thread)

I couldn't agree more Marco - theres more than enough good quality figures out there for people to add to their collections . Taking a occasional beater and transforming it into something cool doesn't harm the hobby - if I take a trashed c-3po that no one would even give me a $1 for and turn it into a cool K-3po or R-3po how does that cause the figure to lose its collectibility ? No one wanted to collect the trashed figure in the 1st place - making something cool out of it brings it a new life and saves it from the trash bin .

TishomingoSith wrote:

You can see my "Dark Leia" in my avatar. Black & red paint.... now my loose Vader in the cabinet has a new apprentice.

I've admired your Sith apprentice since joining the site. I have a prime candidate or 2/3/4/5/6 etc... for a makeover.

I too have had the thoughts of taking away the vintage aspect of the figures as well. I just want to bring life back into them. Heck you all remember when there was no Tie fighter pilot and you had to make your own :scratch: I don't have a pic but I remember the Older brother's creation with doing that around 1980. Ya that was a different story of course, but it's the customizing aspect of it.

Thanks Linda-m for asking and thanks guys for sharing what paints are best

Dr Dengar wrote:

Aussie Fortuna wrote:

im going to be the black santa here and say id rather a beater that shows its history than have a touched up figure.
Imo, the unique scuffs and marks add to the charm and story of the figure, once its touched its no longer a true vintage figure its a vintage figure touched up in 2013, it loses its charm and collectibility in my eyes.

and I am going to be the black Wampa here...

Touching up figures is a no GO for me but

I like beater figures being transformed into nice customs of never released figures

(see the custom thread)

I fully agree with you, customizing figures is a totally different story, but for me theres a magic about every beater

linda-m wrote:

H*ll no, I meant for my own display and put them in the cabinet. Thanks for link!

Ps Is acrylic smell-less?

Hi Linda,

That is precisely the whole idea.

Acrylic paint is deemed user and environmentally friend. Nevertheless working in a well ventilated room is recommended

Anyone paint Warhammer figures here? Some of the paint jobs you see on them are incredible

Josh wrote:

Anyone paint Warhammer figures here? Some of the paint jobs you see on them are incredible

I painted D&D lead minatures when I was around 12 - 14 years old - wow 30 years ago

These are far from incredible but still kind of neat . here are a few of some that I still have after all these years ...









I have bought a few more recently that I want to try and paint now that I'm older and have more patience and have better paints / brushes than the junk I had as a kid .