Mcfarlane Figure Questions

[Viking Slade]

I've got two questions at the moment regarding the Mcfarlane figures. I have five figures that I'm looking to paint up, but I know there some best practices for this.

 

First is, what is the best way to safely partially disassemble the figure for easier washing?

 

Second, my Assault Intercessor is one of the pre-painted ones. Do I need to strip this one first somehow, or can I simply prime over the factory paint job?

[Grotsmasha]

1 hour ago, Viking Slade said:

First is, what is the best way to safely partially disassemble the figure for easier washing?

Soaking in hot hot water will aid assembly and disassembly. 

When reassembling, on warm one piece at a time. For example, start with the chest piece, warm abdomen and push into chest, warm arms, push into chest etc. work inside out.

1 hour ago, Viking Slade said:

Second, my Assault Intercessor is one of the pre-painted ones. Do I need to strip this one first somehow, or can I simply prime over the factory paint job?

A light wet sand with fine sand paper/sanding stick will give a better surface for a prime coat to adhere to. You don't need to sand all the way through the factory colour, just a good solid roughing.

[Evil Eye]

Hot water will help, but be aware the McFarlane figures are designed to be disassembled for painting so it should be fairly simple. As for painting, you can paint over the factory paint; most of it is coloured plastic anyway. That said I would recommend priming with a good lacquer primer, and doing the majority of colour "blocking in" with a durable, solvent-based paint by airbrush (Tamiya, Mr. Color etc) and reserving acrylics for details. You COULD use full acrylics but be aware they won't handle wear as well, and for a poseable figure that could be a problem. Topcoating should help in any event but still.

 

I'd actually recommend looking up videos and tutorials on Gunpla painting, as the principle (painting a poseable figure that's going to be manipulated) is much the same.

 

I gave my McFarlane Flayed One a complete paintjob, used Tamiya for the majority of it.

[Viking Slade]

22 hours ago, Evil Eye said:

Hot water will help, but be aware the McFarlane figures are designed to be disassembled for painting so it should be fairly simple. As for painting, you can paint over the factory paint; most of it is coloured plastic anyway. That said I would recommend priming with a good lacquer primer, and doing the majority of colour "blocking in" with a durable, solvent-based paint by airbrush (Tamiya, Mr. Color etc) and reserving acrylics for details. You COULD use full acrylics but be aware they won't handle wear as well, and for a poseable figure that could be a problem. Topcoating should help in any event but still.

 

I'd actually recommend looking up videos and tutorials on Gunpla painting, as the principle (painting a poseable figure that's going to be manipulated) is much the same.

 

I gave my McFarlane Flayed One a complete paintjob, used Tamiya for the majority of it.

Thanks for the input. In my case, I don't plan on reposing them at all, really, and I'm honestly considering gluing the pieces together as I reassemble and pose the models, specifically so they move as little as possible. Still on the fence about it, though. Anyways, I only have access to and the funds for acrylics at the moment, but maybe down the road I might look into repainting them when I get my airbrushing skills up to par. I've also got both spray and paint-on topcoat, and I'll be sure to seal the paint jobs well.

 

Your Flayed One looks sick. I've got a Warrior (and a Battle Sister) AP I'm going to do eventually, and I got my son a factory-painted Genestealer and a Flayed One.

[Firedrake Cordova]

If it's any help, Vallejo's Mecha Colour range is specifically designed for painting moveable Gunpla models, and is supposed to be pretty resistant to abrasion. It's acrylic, so it doesn't have the drawbacks of solvent-based paints (unkind to rubber airbrush seals, and potentially noxious fumes).

[sbarnby71]

6 hours ago, Firedrake Cordova said:

If it's any help, Vallejo's Mecha Colour range is specifically designed for painting moveable Gunpla models, and is supposed to be pretty resistant to abrasion. It's acrylic, so it doesn't have the drawbacks of solvent-based paints (unkind to rubber airbrush seals, and potentially noxious fumes).

I use that when I'm base-coating any size pieces when I can be bothered to get the airbrush out.  It is an amazing primer and very, very hard wearing.  One thing to mention is they recommend letting it dry overnight as it shrinks and leaves crisp detail.  I've never used it without leaving it dry overnight.

 

I have used it to prime a McFarlane Space Marine a few years back and it stood up to me overhandling it while painting. 

 

One extra thing I would do is after each section has been painted, add a Matt varnish coat so you don't end up rubbing away that nice layer of colour you applied.

[Viking Slade]

33 minutes ago, sbarnby71 said:

I use that when I'm base-coating any size pieces when I can be bothered to get the airbrush out.  It is an amazing primer and very, very hard wearing.  One thing to mention is they recommend letting it dry overnight as it shrinks and leaves crisp detail.  I've never used it without leaving it dry overnight.

 

I have used it to prime a McFarlane Space Marine a few years back and it stood up to me overhandling it while painting. 

 

One extra thing I would do is after each section has been painted, add a Matt varnish coat so you don't end up rubbing away that nice layer of colour you applied.

Awesome, thanks for the tips.