Chloe Zhang
Painting soft plastic miniatures can be a frustrating process, but with the right tools and techniques, it can be a simple and enjoyable task. Whether you're preparing miniatures for a tabletop game or a hobby collection, the process is largely the same. This introduction will cover the basics of how to paint soft plastic miniatures, including the necessary tools, preparation techniques, and painting methods. By following these steps and choosing the right materials, you'll be able to bring your miniatures to life and avoid common issues like paint chipping or residue build-up.
Characteristics and Values Table for Painting Soft Plastic Miniatures
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Materials | Acrylic paints, hobby knife, sprue cutter, brushes, paper towels, water, good lighting |
| Preparation | Wash model parts with soap and water to remove residual lubricants or oils, then dry |
| Assembly | Remove parts from plastic sprue, clean off excess mold lines, assemble with plastic cement or super glue, fill gaps with putty |
| Priming | Use primer (e.g. The Army Painter White Primer) and wood filler |
| Painting | Acrylic paints are most common; thin with water as needed |
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What You'll Learn
Wash the miniature to remove any residue
Before painting soft plastic miniatures, it is important to wash them to remove any residue. This is because plastic model kits are often mass-produced through an injection cast-mould process, which can leave residual lubricants or oils on the surface of the plastic frame. Additionally, the miniatures may be covered in grease from your fingers or residues from production.
To wash the miniature, you can use warm soapy water and a soft tissue paper to carefully clean the surface. Rinse the miniature with warm, clear water to ensure that all soap residue is removed. It is important to completely dry the miniature before proceeding to the next step, as water can damage the adhesive properties of the paint.
Another option for cleaning miniatures is to use a Sonic Cleaner, which is a hands-free device that pulses water and soap around every surface of the miniature. This method is especially useful if you are working with multiple miniatures or large pieces.
It is worth noting that some people suggest simply rinsing the miniature with water, while others recommend using a special stripper to remove any paint or residue. However, it is generally agreed upon that washing your miniatures will ensure better paint adhesion and prevent chipping later on.
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Assemble the miniature
Assembling a soft plastic miniature can be a daunting task, but with the right tools and a bit of patience, it can be a rewarding experience. Here are some detailed instructions to guide you through the process:
Prepare your workspace:
Before you begin, ensure you have a well-lit, clear, and well-ventilated workspace. A tidy workspace will help you stay organized and reduce the chances of losing small pieces. If you're new to assembling miniatures, it's a good idea to work in a quiet environment so you can focus. As you become more comfortable, you can add some background music or a movie to make the process more enjoyable.
Gather the necessary tools:
You will need a few essential tools for assembling your miniature:
- Plastic clippers: Use these to cut the pieces from the sprues cleanly. Make sure to get clippers specifically designed for building miniatures, as they have a flat edge ideal for this task.
- Hobby knife: A hobby knife is a versatile tool. You can use its sharp edge to remove leftover bits of plastic and its flat edge to clean up mold lines and excess material.
- Glue: Plastic glue, also known as tetrahydrofuran or poly cement, is ideal for bonding plastic pieces. It creates strong bonds by "solvent welding" the pieces together. However, be cautious, as too much glue can melt the details of your miniature.
Remove the pieces from the sprues:
Using your plastic clippers, carefully cut each piece that you need for the initial assembly step from the sprues. Avoid twisting or clipping fragile parts without supporting them, as this can leave rough edges or damage the pieces.
Clean up the pieces:
Inspect the edges of the cut pieces for any leftover plastic, commonly known as "flash." Gently scrape off the excess material with your hobby knife. Be careful not to press too hard to avoid cutting into the model. Cleaning up the pieces ensures a smooth assembly.
Dry fit the pieces:
Before reaching for the glue, it's crucial to "dry fit" the pieces. Line them up and get a sense of how they fit together. This step helps you avoid gluing the wrong parts together. Take your time with this step to ensure a proper fit.
Apply glue:
Once you're satisfied with the dry fit, it's time to add the glue. Apply a small amount of glue to the areas with the best connection points. Remember, less glue can yield better results, especially with plastic glue, as it can melt the details.
Allow for drying time:
After gluing the pieces together, give your miniature plenty of time to dry before handling it. This step is crucial for ensuring the glue bond is strong and ready for the next stages, such as priming and painting.
Assembling soft plastic miniatures requires precision and patience. Take your time, enjoy the process, and don't be afraid to make mistakes. With practice, you'll become more adept at assembling these intricate models.
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Choose the right tools, e.g. hobby knife, brushes, and paint
When it comes to painting soft plastic miniatures, having the right tools can make all the difference. Here are some tips to help you choose the right hobby knife, brushes, and paint for the job:
Hobby Knife
A hobby knife is a fundamental tool for preparing soft plastic miniatures. It is used to cut, trim, and remove excess material, as well as enhance details and create custom modifications. When choosing a hobby knife, consider the following:
- Precision: Look for a knife with razor-sharp and precise blades that allow you to make clean, accurate cuts. The Army Painter's Hobby Knife, for example, is a popular option known for its precision.
- Safety: Opt for a knife with a safety feature such as a rubber-coated handle or a protective head cover. This will help prevent accidents and provide a steady grip.
- Blades: Choose a knife that comes with extra blades, as they will need to be replaced periodically. The Army Painter's Hobby Knife, for instance, includes five extra precision blades.
Brushes
Selecting the right brushes for painting soft plastic miniatures is crucial. Here are some factors to consider:
- Quality: Avoid cheap brushes, as they tend to have inconsistent quality and may not hold up well. Invest in premium or moderately priced brushes made with natural bristles, such as red sable or Kolinsky sable.
- Purpose: Different brushes serve different purposes. For fine line work and freehand detailing, consider the Artis Opus Series M or Windsor & Newton Series 7 brushes. For overall painting, the Rosemary & Co Series 33 brushes offer high-quality sable hair at a budget-friendly price.
- Water-based paints: If you're using water-based acrylics, brushes designed for watercolours can be a good choice. These brushes have sharp points, good snap, and can hold water for consistent paint flow.
Paint
The type of paint you choose will depend on the effect you want to achieve. Here are some considerations:
- Base coat: Start by selecting a base coat colour that will serve as the foundation for your miniature.
- Shading: To increase contrast, consider using shading ink or a dark paint colour to add shadows and depth to your model. Green Stuff World Dipping Inks are a popular option for shading.
- Dry brushing: This technique involves using a brush with minimal moisture to create special effects and pick up small details. The Jack Richeson Porcelain Mini Mixing Tray is a useful tool for loading your brush with paint when dry brushing.
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Understand common issues with soft plastic miniatures, e.g. incomplete casting
Painting soft plastic miniatures can be a super frustrating process. One of the common issues with soft plastic miniatures is incomplete casting, which occurs when the plastic material does not fill the entire mould during casting, leaving parts of the miniature uncast. This issue is frequently observed in thin protruding pieces such as guns, bayonets, swords, and spears. Another issue is undercuts, which refer to the presence of plastic material in areas where there should be a hole. Undercuts are a result of the mould construction, as it is impossible to remove the figure from the mould if the hole is in its correct place.
Mould lines are another common issue, arising on all materials where the two parts of the casting mould meet, creating fine lines on the miniature. These lines can be frustrating when painting and are very noticeable in photographs, so it is recommended to clean them before painting. Primer can be used to smooth out these mould lines and other tiny surface imperfections, helping to prevent paint from chipping and scratching. However, it is important to note that primer is not a perfect solution, and paint can still chip off when the miniature is handled, so care should be taken.
Another issue with soft plastic miniatures is that paint does not always adhere well to the surface, and a primer is often needed to improve adherence. Even then, the paint can still chip off, so it is recommended to thin the paint to achieve a smooth and even coverage without obscuring the details of the miniature. This is achieved by thinning the paint to a fluid consistency that can easily flow from the brush while maintaining enough opacity to cover the surface in one or two thin layers. For layering and blending techniques, the paint should be thinned even further to achieve a more transparent consistency.
Lastly, gluing painted surfaces of soft plastic miniatures can be challenging, as the glue on acrylic painted surfaces will eventually peel off, causing the miniature to fall apart.
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Prime the miniature
Before you prime your soft plastic miniature, you should wash it in warm soapy water to remove any grease from your fingers or residues from production. Then, carefully dry the miniature with soft tissue paper and let it dry completely before you prime it.
The next step is to prime the miniature. Priming is essential to getting a good, robust paint job on your miniature. A primer is a special kind of paint that adheres strongly to glossy, smooth plastic and provides a key texture for the rest of your paints to stick to. It's important to note that colour tends not to stick well on soft plastics, so priming will help with paint adhesion.
There are a few different types of primers and methods of priming you can use. One option is to use a brush-on primer, which you can apply in one to three very thin layers. Acrylic primers, such as Vallejo, Reaper, or Stynelrez, are a good choice as they are water-soluble and shouldn't react with the plastic. You can also find cheaper alternatives online. Another option is to use a rattlecan spray primer, which is a popular choice among hobbyists. Army Painter offers rattlecan primers that are well-suited for miniatures. If you're looking for a more affordable option, you can find cheaper spray primers at your local hardware store, such as Krylon or Rustoleum. However, keep in mind that these may not be specifically designed for miniatures and may have a faster flow speed, which could risk flooding the details of your miniature.
After priming, you can use a toothpick to cover any remaining rough spots with a small amount of super glue. Let each layer dry before applying the next until the surface is smooth and ready for painting.
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Frequently asked questions
First, check if the miniature needs to be washed. If there is residue on the miniature, it can interfere with the paint and primer adhering to it. Wash the miniature with dish soap and water, rinse it off, and let it dry. You can use a toothbrush or scouring pad to scrub the miniature while it's in the soap and water. Then, assemble the entire miniature using plastic cement or super glue.
You will need acrylic paints, a hobby knife, a sprue cutter, brushes in a variety of sizes, paper towels, water, and good lighting.
There are many ways to paint soft plastic miniatures, but one way is to first prime your miniature, then paint it using acrylic paints.
