Painting Action Figures

Intro: Painting Action Figures

This instructable will show you how to take old beat up action figures, or just ugly ones like I use in this instructable, and make them look great. I recently got my hands on a collection of action figures and wasn't sure what to do with the beat up and ugly ones. In the winter I paint models to pass the time so I figured I could treat the action figures like pre-assembles models. The photos above are a before and after to give you an idea what you can do.

STEP 1: What You Will Need

You will need: Everything here can be found at most hobby stores. -an action figure- goes without saying. -Sand paper- very very fine. Normal sand paper from a hardware store will leave big noticeable scratches. -paintbrushes- you will need a couple of brushes a few different sizes from a very fine brush to a little wider. -paints- you will want acrylic paints for this project. I used testors paints originally which are oil based but the problem is oil based paints don't react well with the plastic action figures are made of and never seem to dry properly always feeling tacky when you touch the action figure. -water- a small glass of water is used for cleaning acrylic paint off of your brushes and for thinning paint.(only works with acrylic paints)

STEP 2: Sanding

This step is what will make your action figure go from looking like a toy to looking like a model. Look for all the seams where the halves of your action figure were glued together, usually running the full length of the action figure from head to toe down its sides. Sand all of these off so they look seamless.

STEP 3: Priming

This step can be skipped. Some people just paint the action figure strait out but I like to start with a blank slate. Prime the whole action figure with some sort of primer paint. Make sure to put on thin light coats. Thick coats will glob up and leave streaks. Start by painting the hardest to reach areas. For me this was the back of the cape and under the arms. Pose the figure in a way that you can paint everywhere for instance with the figures arms in the air.

STEP 4: Painting

Start by painting hard to reach areas and main colours, I started with black and painted the inside of his cape. Same as before, Pose the action figure in a way that's easy to paint every part of it, for example with its arms in the air. Paint light coats and be patient some times it will take several coats. If you get impatient it won't end up looking the best. Once this drys start painting more details. Don't worry if its not perfect the great thing about paint is you can switch back to other colours and repair mistakes.

STEP 5: Details

Some places can be very hard to paint such as eyes, mouths and on my figure the bat symbol on his chest. There's Is a few tricks to this. One being use a very fine tipped brush and a steady hand, which is what I did for the eyes. Another trick which I used for the bat symbol is to take the colour your using and water it down a bit making it runny. Then all you do is dip your brush in the paint and dip it onto the spot you want your paint. It will flow easily into small places and cracks now with out needing to brush it on. Used the watered down paint methods and used gun metal black to do some shading.

Comments

[seamus1968]

Thank you for messaging me back I appreciate it. There are some figures I have that I won't be able to sand( owing to the fact that it will damage the figure and the paint itself) So I won't be able to sand those I'm afraid. So after washing the figures it would be okay wouldn't it to prime the flesh of the figures and then paint when I am able to do so. Some I can just touch-up with paint as only a little bit has come off. I am new to this you see so I just want to do a good job. So any help or advice you can give me would be most appreciated thank you.Yours, Sean.

[mbecks]

Both of those ideas of your spine just fine. Remember to make sure you don’t use oil based paints. The best part about painting a figure is, I’d your not happy with the results you can always paint over it again. Light coats are best. Don’t rush it, don’t try to paint to much in one go.

[seamus1968]

Hello. Thank you for your help and in contacting me back I appreciate it. I am having problems trying to find the right liquid primer I can use( as I don't want to use a spray primer as I've never used them before you see) so I'd rather use a liquid primer with a brush.And I'm not sure how much water I should use with the acrylic paint and with the primer ( once I get it ) . I thought about buying some Windsor and Newton clear gesso but I don't know if it will work or not so any help you can give me on this would be truly appreciated thank you. Yours, seamus1968

[mbecks]

There is no real right answer. I bought paints from several places that all worked. The best quality paints you would by from a hobby store. I bought paints both from a store that sells models and from a. Board game store that sells miniatures, but you will pay a lot more for those paints. I’ve also gone to Walmart and bought small bottles of craft paints. One brand I would avoid that you can find everywhere bit I have never had luck with is Testers paints.

[seamus1968]

I've made certain that all the paints are water based and have decided to try out the Vallejo Surface primer instead of the other gesso because it won't work on the figures. I've been looking on the internet ( on YouTube) and they've given some good information that I need. All I'm worried about, is putting too much water on the acrylic paint so it runs and putting too much primer on the figure too. But if I just take things easy then I should be okay. I suppose it's always the same when you've not done anything before as it's always hard to get started I guess but thank you for your help as you've be a good source of information thank you. Yours, seamus1968

[seamus1968]

Hello. I have some plastic figures that I would like to paint and I know that you have to sand the paint off before doing anything else.but some of the figures can't be sanded( as it would take off some of the detail that is on the figures and would ruin them you see) so could I either just paint over the figure( by using a primer first) or using a sealant to make certain the paint stays on as the last thing I want is to damage the detail on the figures so could someone please advise me on what I can do and thank you for reading this post. Yours, seamus1968.

[mbecks]

Absolutely you can just primer it. If you look at the instructable closer I didn’t sand the whole action figure. I just sanded the seams on the action figure and then primed it. To keep the details I would buy a spray on primer and do 1 or 2 light coats.

[mbecks]

No problem glad you enjoyed. I'm not sure why the toy came painted as like jazz batman.

[FushichoKurayami]

Because its a 1996 Kenner 100th Edition Batman. He was modeled to look somewhat like classic Batmans attire, if I remember right, which was Blue and Grey Originally and had a slight shimmer to the blue fabric though that didnt always translate on the old TVs. You can notice it more on newer TVs now. They did black and blue to give it a Fresh look or some such hullabaloo. OR it was cause some special Midnight suit thing or some such situation that was in the 90s Animated version. I forget which the reason was. Anyway it was meant to look Shiny and "Awesome" and such the gimmick was cause thats what they did back in the 90s. Either way my cousin broke mine long ago and never replaced it. And now I just do Funko Pops. WHICH Speaking of, will this technique work on them as well? I think they are all made of Vinyl so it SHOULD work in theory but I just wanna be sure before I buy the thing then start sanding away. Maybe Ill get a tester Funko. I wanna make me a custom colored Funko without the having to "Custom build the actual Funko." Also spray can primer seems to be what lots of people are saying use. What do you think of using it? Is that better or is the regular liquid better in your experience?

[GothamNeverSleeps]

Hello there, I was wondering if you knew the name of the flat matte sealant spray you use? I've been searching for a matte spray but each one still comes out shiny. Thank you for your time.

[mbecks]

If you tried Testers paints they will always be somewhat shiny even the ones labeled matte. I was always disappointed in there paints. I went to a hobby store that sold stuff for painting board game miniatures and bought War painters Warpaints. I love there paints. Here is a link to there site but I’m sure you can get it on amazon or elsewhere. The exact clear coat I used of there’s is called matte varnish. https://www.thearmypainter.com/

[Tapout519]

Hello there great job!

Do you spray any finish on the figure after to prevent chipping? If so what should I use?

[mbecks]

I don’t typically with action figures because they just sit in display and never get moved but I have painted figures that come with board games and I use any clear matt spray or brush on such as me.super clear. Just make sure it is flat matt because an all gloss or semi glass figure ends up looking very cheap and plastic. Also if there is parts you want to have a slight gloss to like eyes or a dogs nose buy a small bottle of brush on gloss clear coat, after the Matt clear coat dries you apply the gloss to the areas you want to look shiny or wettish.

[mauclair]

Oh Snap man I think I sold you that figure on ebay a few years ago. good job on the customization!

[mbecks]

That hilarious that you found it again. Thanks.

[mbecks]

I believe 500 but the finer the better for a smooth finish.

[AndrewB45]

What grit sandpaper do you use?

[troopersmachine]

Excellent tip about the oil based paint. I learned that lesson the hard way as a kid.