Painting Bandai pilot figure

Salamander · Post by **Salamander** » Mon Aug 20, 2012 10:22 am

I'm working on a Bandai Gasaraki kit, and it comes with two pilot figures that are made from a rubbery, flesh-colored soft plastic. The seams on the figures are a pain to clean up and are slightly sticky.

Last time I tried to paint figures like this with Tamiya acrylics and Humbrol enamels the paint had a hard time sticking to the figures.

Besides thoroughly washing with detergent them before painting, are there any other things I should do to get the paint to stick? Should I apply primer?

Kylwell · Post by **Kylwell** » Mon Aug 20, 2012 11:40 am

Hit them with a good primer first, then paint.

tonyG2 · Post by **tonyG2** » Mon Aug 20, 2012 1:39 pm

Not tried painting these yet, but a trick to painting the flexible polythene figures (Airfix, Revell etc) is to:

1. Was thoroughly in detergent and rinse
2. Mix some white glue (Elmers or Evostick) with water so its a milky consistancy. Paint onto the figure. As it dries it shrinks rto a felexible skin.
3. Then a good undercoat

Salamander · Post by **Salamander** » Tue Aug 21, 2012 12:46 am

Okay, thanks! I'll try that on the sitting pilot first - he's mostly hidden when the kit's finished so problems won't show up as clearly.

dizzyfugu · Post by **dizzyfugu** » Thu Aug 30, 2012 10:20 am

These are PVC figures, and they are painful to clean and paint (as you experienced). What you should do:

- clean thoroughly before putting any paint on
- use an acryllic/water-based primer as a base coat
- use acryllic/water-based paint for finishing

While the primer might allow enamels to be used, you cannot be certain that in the long run the PVC softener reacts with the oil-based enamel.

Even after the paint dries up, the figuer remains touchy due to its softness. Handle with care, since the paint easily peels off or becomes damaged.

I know why I HATE vinyl figures of any sort...