Is there a right way, wrong way to apply paint to my Stikfas figure?
Yes... and no. There are several ways to apply paint to your beloved Stikfas Action Figure Kit, and everyone has a method that they prefer. A couple tips to keep in mind to minimalize your trial and error:
Most have found that acrylics work best.
Apply the paint in light, even coats. Heavier paint coats will take longer to dry and will tend to "glob up" and also to chip off more easily.
You may want to consider starting with a layer of primer over your figure in a flat, light to medium gray or flat white. This gives a better surface for your paint to stick to and also will help insure that your final paint is bright.
Take the time to scrape, file or sand excess plastic "burs" from the sprue off of your figure to get the best look possible. It can be very time consuming (for me it's one of the most time consuming elements of the process), but the results are worth it.
Allow ample dry time between coats to ensure you are getting proper bondage between coats. If the previous layer is tacky when you apply subsequent coats, the underlying paint will not fully dry giving you a less durable finish. I paint my figures in pieces, moving from one to the next in succession, and often times the piece I painted first is dry by the time I finish the last.
Always remember that these are guidelines and that the most important aspect is to do what works for you and to have fun during the process. What works for one custom may not work for another.
