Bendy plastic that won't take paint?

[Plynkes]

Hiya chaps. I need to paint some toy animals made from bendy plastic in a bit of a hurry, and the stuff just chips off once dry if you're not ultra-careful when handling them.

I seem to recall reading some tips for this sort of thing somewhere, but don't remember where. Is there anything you can do to make them take paint better? Or are they a lost cause? Probably only going to use them once, so it doesn't really matter, I suppose.

Cheers.

[PeteMurray]

Slightly thinned PVA over the figure is supposed to work. If you can find one of those plastic-specific spray paints, that'll work as well. Avoid regular spray paint, as it will reduce the figure to a soggy clump of liver-shredding chemicals that never dry.

[Plynkes]

Actually I did spray paint the first one as a test. It turned out okay melty-plastic-wise, but the damn paint keeps flaking off whenever I pick it up.

I'll give the PVA thing a try. I think that is the thing I had heard before and was trying to remember.

Ta, Pete.

[Aaron]

There is also a hardening agent you can brush on. A friend of a friend uses it on his extensive 1/72nd collection. It is expensive, smelly, and hard to find though.

[Hammers]

Actually I did spray paint the first one as a test. It turned out okay melty-plastic-wise, but the damn paint keeps flaking off whenever I pick it up.

I'll give the PVA thing a try. I think that is the thing I had heard before and was trying to remember.

Ta, Pete.

I used that method and it works fine. Some plastics seems to be oilier than others. I usually wash these strong detergent, acetone or some similar threats to the environment.

[meninobesta]

Actually I did spray paint the first one as a test. It turned out okay melty-plastic-wise, but the damn paint keeps flaking off whenever I pick it up.

I'll give the PVA thing a try. I think that is the thing I had heard before and was trying to remember.

Ta, Pete.

Hello!

If the PVA Glue (you are talking about) is that white glue used for wood and paper, then that is a right choice!

A friend of mine mixes that glue with some water and paints the miniature with that, afterwards you can start your regular painting! he uses that on 1/72 plastic soldiers for better painting results!

Cheers!

[Skunkape]

While this might not be exactly the same issue, I've tried painting the bases of the collectable DnD minis and found that if I don't spray a couple of coats of clear finish on first, the paint doesn't cover very well. It has to do with the kind of chemicals/oils that are in the plastic that the minis are cast from. You end up getting a tacky/sticky finish that you can't paint over and never really stops being tacky, if you don't spray the clear coat first.

I'm wondering if you did the same with your animals if it would work. I don't remember exactly which paint I used, but more than likely it was testor's clear coat.

[Plynkes]

Well the problem wasn't tackiness, the paint dried perfectly. It's just that it flaked off later when the model was handled, leaving patches of unpainted plastic on the model.

I've tried the PVA thing out, and given it the first coat of black on top of that. The test will come when it comes to the next stage.

If this fails, I may give your suggestion a try. Or I might just give up.  

[poulppy]

I used to undercoat my plastic mini with PVA and water. Else i read you can varnish first.
Else did you try enamel paint ?

[Hammers]

Else did you try enamel paint ?

Enamles are no god. They flake even worse than acrylics on bendy plastic.

[Geudens]

I don't know if this is the answer, but it's worth a try: I have painted some soft plastic 1/72 figs with rifles and bayonets.  As you all know, that's where the paint flakes off most easily.  However, instead of paint I used acrylic ink, mostly because it was a job in a hurry (figs were undercoated grey).  Not only did the ink stick well, but it tended to "bend" with the rifles rather than giving way.

[bbtoys333]

An alternative to PVA is artist's gesso and works on the same principle. I have not tried it but it ought to work I should think.

Cheers, Richard

[zizi666]

Perhaps the solution isn't in the priming.
You might want to try giving the finished minis a coat of Future (Klear/Klir/Sols Plus) or maybe Army Painter Dip.
If your protective layer doesn't break I'd assume that what lies underneath won't either and from what I've heard those products provide a serious protective layer.

[snitcythedog]

Try Krylon Fusion for the base coat and highlight from there.  It has a mild solvent in it and it adheres to any plastic that I have used it on.  http://www.krylon.com/products/fusion-for-plastic/
Hope that helps.

[bandit86]

Make sure you wash them first.