discussion How to paint "white metal" figures?

[pjgtech]

Hi, after some advice from the hive mind.... I just bought some 1:48 scale figures to go with my upcoming Tamiaya GB vehicle.
I did not read the description correctly! (my fault) so I thought they would be resin or plastic figures, but now that they have turned up, they are actually "white metal" figures. Not sure what exact metal, as for such small things, they feel quite heavy, they look like aluminium but feel too heavy for that.

I will be painting them, so I am after advice on how to paint them, will it be the same as normal plastic figures? eg: clean, prime, then paint?
And if so will our normal plastic model paints be ok to use, eg: acrylic, Tamiya, Mr Hobby, Revell Aqueous, etc, etc? Or will I need some sort of special paint?

Cheers for any info you can give.... here is the eBay listing, they are quite nicely detailed figures for such small things.
Cheers

 

[wotan]

I have painted a lot of metal figures from way back when 25mm wargaming figures were always white metal. (minifigs for example) you can paint them just as you have suggested, prime and paint. Acrylic paints are fine.

John

 

[pjgtech]

I have painted a lot of metal figures from way back when 25mm wargaming figures were always white metal. (minifigs for example) you can paint them just as you have suggested, prime and paint. Acrylic paints are fine.

John

Ah great, many thanx, cheers

 

[Tim Marlow]

Yep, what John says. I’ve done hundreds, in all sorts of scales. They will be an alloy close to solder, certainly not aluminium. They will be lead free these days as well. I usually clean them up with scalpel and fine files, pretty much the same as plastic ones. I would wash them in dilute washing up liquid before painting to get rid of casting artefacts and clean up swarf. I usually scrub mine with an old toothbrush. It’s a pity old style gritty Jif has gone off the market because it was fantastic for cleaning white metal castings.

 

[Tim Marlow]

Just remembered, I did a small scale figure painting SBS here.. https://www.scalemodelling.co.uk/th...reebie-paul-hicks-sculpt-is-the-victim.31271/
The subject was a 1/48th white metal figure so you might find it useful, even if the pictures are thumbnail sized after our last forum server migration.

 

[pjgtech]

Cheers Tim, just had a read through that thread, very informative and a great result.

 

[Tim Marlow]

I still have the photos of you need any for reference. Just shout if you do….

 

[Jim R]

I read your first post Peter and had a total sense of deja-vu. Almost exactly the same thing happened to me a few years ago - 1/35 and only one figure.




I asked the forum for help, just like you, and I'm sure it was Tim who came up trumps. The figure came out quite well.


Have fun with yours.

 

[Steve-the-Duck]

Quick wash cleaning (soapy water style) and an undercoat are always my go to. Black, white or grey undercoat depending on how bright, or not, I want the figure to be

God, I have so many dozens and dozens of figures all sprayed white...

 

[Tim Marlow]

Not got many primed, but do have a substantial silver and grey army waiting for some care and attention…..

 

[Steve-the-Duck]

Not got many primed, but do have a substantial silver and grey army waiting for some care and attention…..

Yeah, got those too. Hmm, three undercoated or part-painted samurai armies, Finnish Winter War Platoon, Greeks, Danes and Norwegians

I have too many figures (you can never have too many!)