Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Hello fellow hobbyists...

My first post here, after sneaking around for a couple of years just reading...

I have a small problem and just wanted to vent a little to see if anyone else have the same or maybe if you have a smarter way to work. When I paint my minis somehow paint allways seems to rub off. Doesn't matter if I hold them by one hand of if I attach them to some kind of holder. It happends all the time! I don't have sweaty hands at all... and I'm not (usually) reckless with the minis, rather the opposite - trying to handle them very carefully while handling them.

It is especially frustrating when you have done two (or more layers) and suddenly some of the details are back to the basecoat color. Speaking of which, I use a bunch of different brands of basecoat - Vallejo, Army Painter and Citadel - hade the same problem with all of them so either they are all bad or it has nothing to with them...

Any suggestions? It's gone so far I start to feel like I oughta varnish the mini after each layer of paint. (Was not allowed to upload a picture as it's my first post...)

You are using a primer aren't you?

In an ideal world you should not be touching the parts of the mini you are painting. Glue bits to handles/sticks, set bases on empty pots, etc.

Wash minis to make sure there is no release agent/oils on them.

Prime for a good base for the paint to adhere to.

If you do need to touch painted parts before you are done, give the layers time to cure. Just because it’s dry does not mean it’s done doing it’s thing and is safe to handle.

Sounds like you aren't using a primer (or at least not a good one). A lot of newer painters don't realize this, but primer is not just paint, its a specially formulated product intended to bond to the plastic/metal/resin substrate and subsequent layers of paint. If you're using a non-primer product as your first coat onto the mini, then you're going to have a hard time. Depending on the mnis in question (for example, resin or metal minis) the issue you may be having could also be down to residues from the casting process (specifically lubricants/mold release used for those methods - technically speaking they are also used in plastic injection processes but the process mostly eliminates it from being an issue). Even if you're working with plastics, if you have naturally greasy/oily skin, you may be leaving enough of a grease residue on your minis to cause adhesion issues. Likewise, if you're using superglue with a spray-on curing accelerator (popular in the US) - you really need to wash the mini after assembly as the accelerator will cause issues with painting if its not removed.

After cleaning the mold lines/nasty bits on plastics I wash them in ajax super degreaser. The oils on your hands could grease up the plastic while building stuff as well. When i'm almost done painting a figure I've got into the habit of painting citadels ardcoat onto areas of the miniature that get handled or are mostly likely to be worn. Then painting over that with AKI ultra matte varnish to eliminate the shine. After countless years in the hobby i've tried to reduce exposure to solvents as much as possible so i've had to come up with ways to get a durable finish without rattlecans/spray paints and varnishes.

 ingtaer wrote:
You are using a primer aren't you?

Sorry, brain temporarily out of order… I meant primer but wrote base coat.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Thargrim wrote:
After cleaning the mold lines/nasty bits on plastics I wash them in ajax super degreaser. The oils on your hands could grease up the plastic while building stuff as well. When i'm almost done painting a figure I've got into the habit of painting citadels ardcoat onto areas of the miniature that get handled or are mostly likely to be worn. Then painting over that with AKI ultra matte varnish to eliminate the shine.

Good points, thanks. Just adding you see some handling their minis by the hands and it never seems to be a problem for them…

So the primer adheres properly but paint on top does not dry? What primer are you using?

If you are touching your mini,s there will alway be a rubbing down of paint, you can use gloves the the problem will be less. but best way to go is mounting you mini onto something to hold your mini and dont touch it with your bare hands.