ChaosGerbil Posted February 10, 2015 Report Share Posted February 10, 2015 Hi, I just primed some Reaper Bones figures in addition to some plastic and lead ones. I used Rustoleum Flat Black Primer, 2x coverage. It's normally great, only $4 a can and does a good job for me. On the Reaper bones minis which are a flexible white plastic, the spray came out very glossy and tacky. It even looks shiny through a coat or two of paint. The other minis turned out fine, although the Mansions of Madness softer plastic minis (and one rubberized dinosaur) also came out a little glossy. The plastic farm animals, lead D&D minis and all the GW stuff I sprayed at the same time was totally matte and not tacky. Has anyone else experienced something like this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WestRider Posted February 10, 2015 Report Share Posted February 10, 2015 Interesting. I've had something similar happen with Satin finish sprays, but never Flat. I wonder if something in the plastic messes with the surface tension or the curing of the paint or something. In the case with the Satin spray, the tackiness went away completely and the extra shininess toned down somewhat over time. I think like a week or two. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torg Posted February 10, 2015 Report Share Posted February 10, 2015 almost sounds like the paint didn't adhere well … did you wash the reaper figures before priming? Some plastics continue to "out-gas" or sometimes they have powders or fine residue on them from the molding process. I would give them a bath next time as a test… and see if things change. But I agree with westy… thinking surface tension or something messing with the primer's ability to grip onto the plastic. -if it were ink on plastic (printing industry)… I would say the base needs either heat treated / or electro-treatment to remove any static…. and to prep the substrate (the figure) for ink or paint. It all depends on the type of plastics they are made out of. I know printing on frisbees we would have to re-treat if the flyers sat in the warehouse to long - because they built up a charge that would literally pop the ink off after it dried lol. -d Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChaosGerbil Posted February 10, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2015 The figures were not washed. I even tried doing multiple coats, switching to grey on one mini, and I got a glossy, sticky grey. I don't paint a lot of soft plastic minis so this is more of a curiosity topic than a practical need for a solution. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMGraham Posted February 19, 2015 Report Share Posted February 19, 2015 Bones and primer is a known problem. The vinyl in the figs reacts with the spray primer. Best is to wash well and either don't prime, or brush on a layer of paint or gesso. Here's Reapers take on it: http://forum.reapermini.com/index.php?/topic/48669-bones-the-first-coat-is-the-difference/ 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sammy Posted February 20, 2015 Report Share Posted February 20, 2015 The link that JMGraham posted is a very useful resource. I lightly prime with Vallejo primer through an airbrush, and don't experience a tacky finish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VonVilkee Posted February 21, 2015 Report Share Posted February 21, 2015 I used army painter uniform gray on a couple I have, primed just fine... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChaosGerbil Posted February 22, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 22, 2015 Huh. I tried white primer, same brand, and it came out fine. Weird. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WestRider Posted February 22, 2015 Report Share Posted February 22, 2015 Different pigments can actually make a pretty big difference in the chemical behaviour of a paint or dye. At one point I was looking into starting a business making hand-dyed fabric and yarn, and it was amazing how different colours of dye could change the texture and other properties of the same batch of cloth. Big manufacturers presumably do some work to compensate for that, but there are almost certainly still some differences. Of course, there are a lot of other potential lurking variables as well. Batch-to-batch differences, subtle differences in weather conditions, probably a ton of others I can't think of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PourSpelur Posted February 23, 2015 Report Share Posted February 23, 2015 So I primed a bobble-head My Little Pony (because I thought it would be hilarious as My Little Bloodthirster) and it's sticky too. Is there anything I can do besides start again? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChaosGerbil Posted February 24, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 24, 2015 I just put some layers of GW paint down and eventually the tackiness went away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WestRider Posted February 24, 2015 Report Share Posted February 24, 2015 I dunno, I think a MLP Bloodthirster is always gonna be kind of tacky ;) 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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