Cleanup, primer, & paint ?'s for the masters...

[JSA]

Howdy folks! Last week I got an Iron Giant bust casting, and I have some
questions for the resident paintmasters please. I've got to clean up the
bust and remove the flash and extra material where the mold came together.
How best should I go about this so I don't mess it up - files? X-acto knife?
Emery board? Something else that is better still that I don't know about?

After that, would like to know what primer would be best to use.
Certainly grey would be my choice given his overall color scheme.

My last question is what paint would be best for him? I'll be just purchasing
the small aerosol cans of paint available at any model shop, so if there is
anything special I should look for or do, please let me know. I'll spray his
overall color, and then do any detailing like his eyes and any outlining like
his teeth, by hand with a brush.

I hope to make this a great looking item for my collection, so thanks for any
information that will help me do that!





Here's a finished example for reference:



JS

[RickDTM]

JS - If you don't have a dremel tool, I would attack the seams w/ the back of an x-acto blade to remove the majority of the seam, then take the rest down w/ a good file. If you don't have an offset, a little med. grit sandpaper followed by a fine grade of sand paper to smooth it out. If you have an offset (one side higher than the other) you will need to use some epoxy putty (I recommend Aves) to raise them up to level then sand it smooth.

For primer, I recommend Duplicolor Gray. It actually should be pretty close to his coloring.

Happy painting!!

Rick

[JSA]

Thanks Rick.

Why use the back instead of the front of the x-acto blade?

I was going to go with a solid Grey color, but I thought that perhaps if I go
with a metal color - iron, silver, metallic, whatever - that it may look neat.

Do you have any thoughts or opinions on that possibility?

JS

[BattyDave19]

with the back of the blade it easier, ya dont have to worry abought the nife slipping, trust me on this i came vary close to lossing my finger, and it backs ya up a week from painting

[RickDTM]

What Batty said...less chance of your gouging the resin too.

As for the color, methinks an iron look might be pretty cool if you're not going for the animation coloring.

[Azog]

JS I gotta ask if you got info on where you got it, lemme know...

[JSA]

E-mail sent to you with the info Azog.

Next question: Where can I pick up some aves to fill in the mis-match
on the mold seams? There is quite a difference in some places, and I'll
need to fill it and sand it for it to look the best.

JS

[RickDTM]

Aves Studio

[JSA]

Thanks again Rick!

Is Aves only available thru their web site? As in not at a local hobby shop?
I don't think I'll need a ton, and this'll likely be the only time I need it.

JS

[RickDTM]

I'm able to get it from my LHS in small sample quantities. You should be able to do the same. You can order the same thru Aves....just ask for the 2oz. packages as shown on their site (The 2 small tubs on the card)...