Painting Recast MPC Five Inch Spacemen

[space.trucks]

Stay Home project. All I have are acrylics, thinking of a clear-coat method if they end up looking right. I like that blue, the copper and the red one. Was thinking of the vintage hard plastic metallic colors when mixing them. The paints are liquid acrylics by Golden's in iridescent silver, iridescent copper light, and iridescent pearl mixed with quinocridone red and manganese blue hue. One was an experiment with iridescent pearl + a primary green medium over silver which was not successful. Scrubbed clean under a hot faucet in a couple minutes & the others can be as well. Will polish him off with an old toothbrush and start over.

 

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Just to show how the paints don't stain whatever the heck plastic that is. Rubs right off with your thumb which is helpful in this case.

 

His blue inspired by a Thomas figure with broken gun hand I fitted with a pirate's hook.

 

[space.trucks]

Got a decent green using Golden's liquid "Green Gold Hue" and the Iridescent Pearl. It's not a classic Archer shade but has the look of a foil suit. I want to see one in orange too. Am about to re-do all their boots, the black and white acrylics just peel off and I've found that the iridescent copper adheres to the plastic fairly well so I'll try using it as a primer layer. Faces get done last & am thinking about trying to make helmet face plates with their liquid Clear Tar Gel which dries to a very glassy flat layer which can be peeled up, trimmed to size and fitted in place.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have three other recast figures yet untouched + a pair of duplicate vintage MPC figures in somewhat rough condition which can be experimented on as well. Also making three paintings of scifi scenes to serve as "backdrops" for shadowbox constructions with sculpted terrain (made of a canned crack sealer material called Great Stuff) into which some of the figures will be fitted. At some point I will order actual plastic modeling paints but have a connection to Golden Artist Color's Foundation for the Arts and they are loving this.

[Phil R]

Looks good with the metallics.  As you might know I have a degree in commercial art and advertising.  As an avocation I have 40 years experience in antique advertising restoration.  Eagle and I and Jim Knower, have collaborated on numerous projects. I usually Mix gold or silver with opaque airbrush colors to get the exact metallic I need for the project. I use airbrush colors to paint with the airbrush or by brush.  Matte, satin or gloss clear Krylon is used to seal the painting work or restoration. Also If I want a slightly different finish after painting  sometimes I use  waterbase satin or gloss clear Polycrylic  which dries very quickly.  On flat surfaces after coats of Polycrylic I often use OOOO steel wool and then buff it to get an aged patina look. The figures have a tendency to look more realistic if they have a satin or flat appearance.

[Andyman]

Sometimes you gotta use what you have on hand. I think they look sharp, ST.

 

Nice work on the restorations, Phil.

[space.trucks]

The results on that car is amazing! Superb work. The other thing totally rules whatever the heck it is.  

[Phil R]

You never heard of the space whale? Probably the oddest space toy ever made. He moves like he's eating space krill.

[space.trucks]

Nope!! Out of my idiom, but That Thing Rules.

[space.trucks]

Will call this one "Mint On Card". Markup done in like ten minutes waiting for supper, so. It's an experiment, but something I've wanted to see since last fall.

 

[Phil R]

I like your price, the reference to Hong Kong, the art and most of all , you did a great job with the painting.

[Andyman]

Only 99 cents? I'll take it!

[space.trucks]

Thanks much!! An idea that came after is a now defunct shady sounding NYC area shelter company they were made in Hong Kong for with a January 1967 date codd. Trying to work detailing. I've never had the kind of hand needed for model painting even when I made models so I'm keeping it minimal until the confidence level goes up.

 

 

You can see how the Carbon Black I like is already peeling off his hands. I think the metallic colored paints used to mix the suit colors stick better to the plastic cos their pigments have a granular base which creates the reflective properties. The straight-up acrylics are just dyed petroleum on petroleum & slip right off.

 

 

He's the favorite. I'd like to see more of that blue too.

 

 

 

 

I'm also eyeing a rather large box of the things that would come in at about a dollar a head, just to paint. We have a seasonal local arts/crafts vendor's event in November which I'm somewhat obliged to take part in but hate showing actual paintings at: wrong crew. But I could see these selling as individuals ziplock bagged with a hand painted "header card" and a disc shaped stand with sculpted terrain they clip onto (most are top heavy). Have an executive set or two in painted packaging like the .99 cent mockup for showy presence and peddle the singles off a folding table.

[Andyman]

Good idea.

[space.trucks]

 

Foil Suit Crew Update. Newest is the one in front of the Thunderbirds packet whose mix turned out more Mother of Pearl than tinfoil.Scored my crateful so, will need more of that Iridescent Copper (Light) as it adheres best to the plastic & finer detailing brushes.

[space.trucks]

Got my crate full and here's the first group made up of the Broken Gun Squad of examples with broken guns. Plus some others. Currently giving them patches of moon terrain using Golden's Crackle Paste. If used right it looks like the ground is all cracked.

 

The big Planetoid Scene dance number from ALIEN: THE MUSICAL

 

 

[Andyman]

Looks like a lunar dance party.