Beginner Help!!!

[Commandergree11]

Ok im new to customizing (and by new i mean never done it before) and i wanted to try customizing transformers figures. I thought i start with just repaints and better paint jobs. I need you guys to tell me what i need to do this. I appriciate it!!!

[Commandergree11]

no ones gonna help me?

[Hatchet]

This isn't a super busy site, you'll have to be a little patient with responses but you'll get some. :)

As for repaints, with TF's you'll want to take as much of the toy apart to repaint it so you'll need some smaller screw drivers. ALWAYS keep parts/screws together. Putting them all in a ziplock bag is so much better than spending hours searching for a errant screw.

A good set of paints works wonders. Never go cheap on paint. It may cost you more in the long run but it will last so much longer if you have good paint. As for the type that's up for debate. I prefer acrylics but a lot of people use enamels on TFs. Brand is up to you. I'm not sure about enamels but Tamiya acrylics are pretty damn awesome and have always served me well.

You need a good set of paint brushes. Again, this is an item you want to spend your money on. Bad brushes wont last and if you're painting large surface areas they'll leave brush marks. Treat your brushes like gold, they're expensive and if you dont take care of them they'll break/ fall apart easily, especially brushes used for fine detail.

If you use enamel paints you'll need a paint thinner and cleaning agent for your brushes.

Masking tape or painting tape is great for creating crisp lines. It's also good for blocking off areas that you're not painting.

Here's a good tutorial for painting the outer body (http://www.cybertron.ca/boards/showthread.php?t=4006&page=61)

Hope this helps!

[Commandergree11]

what about an airbrush? would that be good?

[enclinedesigns]

What?!!! You getting impatient after only two hours!!! First thing you need is plenty of patience to customize figures. You need to remember this is a place full of artist who do not live on here:)

Also, I already posted a link in you introduction thread. We will be building a lot more how to's and posting them so you can look do this on your own time frame. For each artist there is a different way to do things. So check out the tutorial section and start having fun.



http://www.procustomizers.com/showthread.php?t=539

[enclinedesigns]

what about an airbrush? would that be good?

You don't need an airbrush...learn some basics first like fine detailing.

[Hotwire]

Airbrushes are a WHOLE different ball game. But these are just like the brushes and the paints. As a rule, when it comes to your supplies, good stuff ain't cheap, and cheap stuff ain't good. If it's an airbrursh you're looking for, PM Encline, he's a master.

As for a starter kit, check here. http://procustomizers.com/showthread.php?t=478


::edit:: Before I can mention the dude's name, he posts.

[Commandergree11]

What?!!! You getting impatient after only two hours!!! First thing you need is plenty of patience to customize figures. You need to remember this is a place full of artist who do not live on here:)

Also, I already posted a link in you introduction thread. We will be building a lot more how to's and posting them so you can look do this on your own time frame. For each artist there is a different way to do things. So check out the tutorial section and start having fun.



http://www.procustomizers.com/showthread.php?t=539

sorry for being impatient, im just exited.

[enclinedesigns]

Yeah, I know!!! I was the same way back when I started airbrushing cars and stuff!! The best advice I ever got was....

"you can eat an elephant, but only one bite at a time"..

[Commandergree11]

ok like dont bite off more than you can chew right? I understand.... Im making notes right now. For my forst project i thought about taking ROTF swerve and giving him a more shiny red paint job, what do you think?

[Hotwire]

ok like dont bite off more than you can chew right? I understand.... Im making notes right now. For my forst project i thought about taking ROTF swerve and giving him a more shiny red paint job, what do you think?

This is a mold I have some experience with. Before you start anything, you need to take him apart. I use the Ziplock reusable containers for my works in progress. Then you'll need to strip the existing paint. The easiest way to do this is with simple rubbing alcohol and q-tips. I prefer the cheap knock off q-tips. They have less cotton and don't pull apart as much. When using the alcohol, you can soak most of the parts with the exception of the clear plastic! The alcohol can weaken the clear plastic and will also strip the color of the windshields. More to come...

[Commandergree11]

Again i am new to this.... sense you have some experience with this figure do you think you could walk me through the process, do you have an email?

[Hotwire]

You will need to sand a joint or two. The biggest rubbing issue this mold has is where the door meets the rear fender. (See thumbnail) Sand this joint a bit and keep the paint coats thin, and you should be ok. Also, seal all of your paints and let them dry for at least 24-48 hours befor you put him back together.

[Hotwire]

Again i am new to this.... sense you have some experience with this figure do you think you could walk me through the process, do you have an email?

Just PM me.

[Commandergree11]

You will need to sand a joint or two. The biggest rubbing issue this mold has is where the door meets the rear fender. (See thumbnail)

what thumbnail?

[Hotwire]

what thumbnail?

Sorry, look again.

[Commandergree11]

Sorry, look again.

ok i see, and how did you go about making the lights blue?

[Solrac333]

Use this tutorial. It's how I got started two years ago. Very easy.

http://www.angelfire.com/mech/jinsaotome/WorkspaceSetup/TransformersPaint.html

[Hotwire]

Use this tutorial. It's how I got started two years ago. Very easy.

http://www.angelfire.com/mech/jinsaotome/WorkspaceSetup/TransformersPaint.html

That's the same tutorial I used to get started as well.

[RyanUybengkee]

yeah man. take your time.. don't go rushing into things..i know you're really excited but learn from your mistakes....yeah..make a lot of mistakes..so you will learn.

its one thing that the pros teach you and "spoonfeed" you on what to do..
but.. just like encline said, you know , the elephant thingy.. so, yeah.. take your time.
learn your own style.. know how to approach a custom and create a way to make it work.

anyway, just PM the pros here..they are the best around.

[Lionfireshg]

that sounds like a pretty good first job if you are just repainting. large brushes for large areas always works for me. thinner will most likely help a lot, i just got some and the paint doesnt muddle up as much. i get better results with it for sure.

[Solrac333]

That's the same tutorial I used to get started as well.

Then I found a you tube video that Chih did (whatever happened to that guy?). So my style is a combination of the two, Jin and Chih.