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Hi all.

I have been reading some threads in regards to leaving off parts of models, painting them seperate and then putting them on.
I was wondering if I leave the arms off a model for example so I can paint the chest area without a weapon in the way, would having the attachment points already covered in primer mess up the plastic glue so it wouldn't stick? And if so would I need to cover the attachment points somehow so it didn't get any primer on it when sprayed?

Thank you for helping a newbie out in advance.

I will scrape off the paint and primer before attaching on regular plastic models but even that is really not necessary as the glue melts right through.

If I am using superglue on resin, I will always scrape off the paint primer in that area to some degree.

What I do personally is use some simple poster hanging putty, commonly referred to as blu-tack (You can get it at most any decent sized hobby or office supply store).

Pull a little of it off and wrap it around or secure it over the 'join' portion of the model you don't want to spraypaint with primer. You can leave the bit on the sprue and just wrap it around the areas you want to stay bare plastic, then peel the blu-tack away once the paint dries and you're good to go.

It's how I'm able to keep the sections of my Blood Angels I'm currently painting secured to the tops of a paint pot while I paint, as well as keep the plastic glue able to bond the parts I want to assemble together correctly.

Here's an example picture:



Note the little bits of blu-tack (Spraypainted red) on the sides of the torso. I've also got a small dab of it in the neck/head hole, had some on the bottom of the foot, and on the back where the jump pack will attach. Also note the white spot on the resin base where I covered it with some blu-tack and spraypainted it black, leaving a nice bare spot to glue the bare bottom of the marine's foot to the base securely.

You can also do as Rickfactor suggests and scrape the primer off if you wish, but I find it a whole heck-uv-a-lot easier to just cover the join portions of a model and let the spraypaint/primer fly.

Just a suggestion on that end. I hope it helps. Take it easy for now.

-Red__Thirst-

Wow thank you for the replies guys those suggestions are really helpful. I actually have a large pack of blu-tack so I'll give that a try when I prime a few models tomorrow.

And of course if any primer / paint gets onto somewhere I'll know just to scrape it off for good adhesion.

And thanks for going out of your way to take an example picture Red Thirst. I appreciate that, thank you.

Was no trouble at all sir! I had that picture already in my Gallery for my on-going return to painting Blood Angels thread here in the P&M forum, so it was easy to just toss it in here too. Picture's are worth a thousand words after all.

What army are you building up to paint and play with? Just curious. I can try to offer some other tips and suggestions that may be handy for you if you'd like them, and assuming I have some experience painting the army you're starting.

Also, Love the signature image. I really enjoyed that anime when I watched it a while back. Great story too.

Catch ya on the flip side Valres, take it easy for now.

-Red__Thirst-

I use the Blu-tac trick as well. It's really good if you are spray painting models.

Alternatively, use a Q tip cotton bud moistened in acetone nail polish remover to wipe off the paint covering the joining surfaces.

I will sometimes use blutack to mask the area for painting. Alternatively I just scratch up the area slightly. If you're using plastic cement, you only need a small attachment area, the whole joint doesn't need to be free of paint, just enough so that the plastic cement can soften some of the underlying plastic.

When using plastic cement I sometimes don't even bother cleaning the paint off, as it has a tendency to soak through the paint anyway (though if it's a small joint it's best to clean it, but something like a shoulder joint for a Space Marine is huuuge compared to the tiny part that it's supporting so that it doesn't really matter). Though if I were using superglue I'd definitely either mask the area or scratch off some of the paint before gluing.

Yeah, plastic glue doesn't need to be cleaned at all as it will just eat the paint, super glue does though as it bonds to it.

It's usually easier to clean away the paint though, as sometimes the glue will come out and melt the painted areas around where you've just glued.

Wouldn't that happen anyway if you've used too much glue? If you're getting squeze out the problem isn't the surfaces

kb_lock wrote:
Wouldn't that happen anyway if you've used too much glue? If you're getting squeze out the problem isn't the surfaces

Sometimes but even with a small amount its still possible.

kb_lock wrote:
Wouldn't that happen anyway if you've used too much glue? If you're getting squeze out the problem isn't the surfaces

Well it is more likely to squeeze out if the surfaces have paint on them, especially if the paint is thick. The glue softens the paint and so there's more soft/liquid material that can potentially be squeezed out when the parts are pushed together.

That said it's never been much of a problem for me.

Thanks for the replies all, very helpful and I've taken all into consideration, thank you.

I've put some tac on the areas I intend to glue, I think this method will be very helpful with vehicles as I will find it easier to paint the interior if I don't attach the whole thing together first.
I've also put some on my smaller models to give that a test, looking at the photo I've probably put a little too much on some areas so I'll trim that down

Red__Thirst wrote:What army are you building up to paint and play with? Just curious. I can try to offer some other tips and suggestions that may be handy for you if you'd like them, and assuming I have some experience painting the army you're starting.

Also, Love the signature image. I really enjoyed that anime when I watched it a while back. Great story too.

At the moment I'm playing around with various models. I have those from the Dark Vengeance starter set, plus I've picked up a few Orks. But most of all I've picked up a few IG units. Two squads, a command squad, two snap fit boxes and a Chimera and a Valkyrie, (I have a thing for Valkyries, they look so neat)!
I'm mostly getting some painting and modelling experience first. I love the fluff and I'll slowly be going through the rules over the next few weeks. B)

And thanks! I originally started through playing the game, then watched the anime version. Was interesting as the story differs slightly from each version.

 Valres wrote:
Thanks for the replies all, very helpful and I've taken all into consideration, thank you.

I've put some tac on the areas I intend to glue, I think this method will be very helpful with vehicles as I will find it easier to paint the interior if I don't attach the whole thing together first.
I've also put some on my smaller models to give that a test, looking at the photo I've probably put a little too much on some areas so I'll trim that down

Spoiler:

Yeah that's way more than you need. It only needs to be a very small ball. Maybe 2-3mm diameter, then just smoosh it down so it covers most of the joint the area.

You don't have to cover the entire area of the joint, just a small part of it. You're better off being too small than too big otherwise you'll end up with some unpainted parts that are visible which will look far worse.