Hand painting models

[paulsroom @paulsroom]

I’ve just got some Polar White ABS filament to allow me to hand paint model figures, etc. I’m wondering what the most suitable paint is - nail polish has been suggested. Is anyone else painting their models and if so, what are you using?

I note from a post above that one person has had a bad experience with a reel of Polar White. I’m hoping that this may be an isolated case and that perhaps the new AM upgrade (coming soon) might offer improvements anyway.

[Andy S @andylion My Robox is a Blue Commercial Version]

If/when I paint printed figures I will use acrylic hobby paints - but then I already have significant collections of such because I paint table-top war-gaming models. (Some of which are produced in ABS, I believe)

P3 paints would be my first choice due to quality of paint and ease of use, but Vallejo are a solid second.

If you felt like reading up a little, http://blog.brushthralls.com/ has a good collection of tutorials.

[Aimdy @mistsoul]

@paulsroom i currently use krylon spray paint, but I have used other model kits glossy paint with a fine brush before. Both work well, a fine paint brush is good for details, but the spray paint works better to cover all surfaces evenly. see post below:

http://www.cel-robox.com/forums/topic/tools-and-support/#post-4720

[Terry Taylor @n6mon My Robox is a Green Kickstarter Early Bird]

I have used Krylon Fusion for solid colors and Testors hobby enamels for brush painting on both PLA and ABS.

Terry Taylor

[paulsroom @paulsroom]

Thanks everyone, there’s a lot of good information for me to gather together. Although using a spray paint is easier and probably gives a better finish, the idea is to paint individual features. So brush painting is likely to be the preferred method.

[pelgrim @pelgrim]

paulsroom
in art school we use gesso as a base layer,
you can use that on just about any surface, as long as it is clean and dust-free.
Gesso comes in different qualities, and I recommend a good quality gesso for this kind of work
so that your paint lasts.
Gesso had also other uses besides putting a base layer, and that’s why there is lower quality gesso
with some other properties usefull in different art forms.

Gesso is usually white, but if you want you can mix pigments in your gesso to give your base layer
some color.

When the gesso is dry, you can use anything you want to paint on that,
from artist grade oil paints and acrylics to the cheapest hobby paints available.
That depends completely on the wanted result, your budget and your experience.

Your 3D model figures will never be big, so with 1/2 liter gesso you will be good for a year or 2.
Go to an art supplies shop to find it and ask advice there how to keep your gesso in good working order
for such a long period of time.

java (EE), JavaFX, HTML, GIS) programmer, database wizard, framework inventor, looking for a job ! http://roboxing.com/wizards

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