9 replies to this topic

[Nn007]

Alright I have been modding for a while now and I wanted to start painting some of my blasters. I know I have to sand everything down very well first, but any thing else that I have to do? has anyone used acrylic paint before? I know you will have to brush it on but will it work for a pistol? What do you use for detailing? do paint stores sell spraypaint to people under 18? where do you buy the right paint????

[BritNerfMogul]

BOOM. Signature

[DartSlinger]

Alright I have been modding for a while now and I wanted to start painting some of my blasters. I know I have to sand everything down very well first, but any thing else that I have to do? has anyone used acrylic paint before? I know you will have to brush it on but will it work for a pistol? What do you use for detailing? do paint stores sell spraypaint to people under 18? where do you buy the right paint????

You actually don't have to sand down your blasters before you paint them. You can if you want to. Some people say that it makes the paint adhere better, others don't (and still get great results, by the way). Before painting, you'll need to wash off each side of the shell after you have removed the internals. This is especially important if you acquired the blaster from a garage sale or thrift shop, because it will most likely have tons of kid's paw prints all over it. Even if it doesn't feel sticky or greasy, one should still wash the blaster to make sure that it doesn't have any grease or dirt. on it.

Once you have cleaned it, you can then decide what method you want to use to paint it and what kind of paint you want to use. I recommend you to use vinyl dye when you can, and don't use Krylon Fusion: it's not very good paint. Generally, the more that you spend on paint, the higher the quality is. I recommend vinyl dye because it soaks into plastic, hence making a much more permanent color.

I see that you are quite new to painting in general. I suggest that you do quite a bit of reading before painting, and once you have seen the techniques, start out with small simple projects that don't really matter if you mess them up. (One's first projects rarely look perfect.) There are many excellent guides on painting. Here are some.


Banshee's Guide to Painting: Part 1

Banshee's Guide to Painting: Part 2

Video example of how to spray paint This is from a large series of videos on how to build an Iron Man costume using Pepakura. I linked just to the part about the painting.

Edited by DartSlinger, 20 July 2013 - 10:47 PM.

[Tangerle]

If you can only get shitty spray paint I would recommend sanding though it might need sanding anyway really only if it's glossy. Personally I use Rust Oleum because it's inexpensive and works as well as krylon fusion. You should buy it at home depot because you will have more of a selection there. Or if you're really hardcore you could use vinyl dye. Using tape will make you paint jobs seem more professional then they really are. Also using more than one color looks a lot better than just a single color (details not included). Buying two cans is a good option especially if one is a more diverse color that you can use in many other paint jobs (such as black, white, or sliver). Many people have said this before, less is best. Do small 5 or 10 minute coats several times and them move on. It's also good to do a barely visible base coat with flat black (or what ever else you can use) before painting anything and wait 2 or 3 minutes for it to dry. As for details, acrylic isn't a very good option and I think krylon has some detail based brush paint for use on plastic. You also will have to use tricks to make it look like you aren't using a brush to get a good effect (such as having a cluster of paint on you brush and lightly painting the area). You should also get a can of clear matte finish to help against scratches and make it appear as one solid paint job. Finally don't add too many details, just enough to notice. As for the 18 years old to purchase thing, yes you must be 18 or older to buy spray paint so get an adult to go with you to complete the transaction and give them the money. Oh and paint should work on any nerf gun rather it be a pistol such as a nitefinder or a completely different blaster such as a magstrike as long as you have the right sized brush. Once you get more into it you can start to do more challenging effects and use harder techniques.

[ooontrprzes]

I've been a modeller and painter for about 20 years now (mostly Warhammer- tiny armymen, etc.) and am still very much a fan of the Citadel paint line. Admittedly, you will need to seal your work (Aquanet hairspray is a good cheap alternative to acrylic sealer), but the paint itself is specifically formulated to adhere to the same ugly plastic Hasbro and the like uses. It is expensive, however, and as such I would only recommend it for detailing, dry brushing and washing(the art of applying a thinned layer of a darker color, usually to a metallic, in order to create the impression of patina). Reapermini.com also sells a pretty decent line, similar in formulation and marginally less expensive I believe. Welcome to the world of painting, friend! Surround yourself with patience and bright light, and no power in the 'verse can stop you!

Edited by ooontrprzes, 22 July 2013 - 11:38 PM.

[Asdf12345]

Yes citidel paint are great but you should get Good brushes and just keep trying and you will get better. My first paint job was terrible

[Danielsaid]

I have used acrylic paint before. *Shudders.*
If you need to go this route, just remember that a few extra seconds here and there going slowly will save you hours of cleanup when you mess up. Although that applies to everything in life. More specifically on acrylic: layers. You can kinda sorta get by without them with spray paint if you are going for the "melted" look, but it just isn't going to happen with acrylic. Sanding is needed for acrylics, or you will end up wiping off all the paint with your brush because the plastic is too smooth. Also, I personally (others may disagree) like to very lightly wipe down my guns with acetone pre-painting. When the acetone eats the plastic (and it will eat the plastic) it is almost like sanding and leaves a nice matte plastic base. Don't let acetone near a finished gun. And don't breathe the fumes in, etc. As for brushes, don't buy anything spendy, they won't help you paint better quite yet. Be patient with yourself and remember it is OKAY to mess up. Everyone's first paint job looked terrible.

[evilalec555]

I know Walmart sells paint to people under 18 but they don't have good quality spray paint.

[ooontrprzes]

As for brushes, don't buy anything spendy, they won't help you paint better quite yet. Be patient with yourself and remember it is OKAY to mess up. Everyone's first paint job looked terrible.

My only disagreement is with this statement. High quality brushes completely change the way the paint is applied. Synthetic (read: plastic) bristles do not interact correctly with the pigment as you apply it, and will lead to a more smudgy finish, and an exaggerated presence of brush stroke. This is not to say you must go out and buy the highest quality brushes available, but you would be well-served to at least be insistent about using sable or camel-hair brushes. Both can be acquired in most arts and crafts shops at a reasonable price, and the difference they will make is worth the marginal markup.

[DartSlinger]

I know Walmart sells paint to people under 18 but they don't have good quality spray paint.

Wal-Mart does not sell spray paint (or any type of adhesive, for that matter) to people under the age of eighteen, but you're right about the quality of their spray paint. Krylon Fusion often splatters when spraying, and it dries with an orange peel texture.

Home Depot does not sell spray paint to people under eighteen either. I'm not sure about Lowes or Ace Hardware, but they at least sell adhesives to people under eighteen. (The chance that Lowes would sell spray paint to people under eighteen is less likely than Ace, because big box stores tend to cover their necks much more than small businesses.) The best place to get spray paint is auto parts stores. I have never been carded when buying spray paint or adhesives in any auto parts store. This does not necessarily mean that they sell to people under eighteen, because the people could have thought that I was eighteen or older, or they could have just been cool and ignored the rule, if such a rule exists. Anyway, there is a much, much higher chance that kids could just walk in buy spray paint with no questions asked, than in any other store. Also, the chances of someone being carded are significantly lowered if he looks like a respectable person—A.K.A. not like a stoner who is going to huff it.