Painting 3D Printed Models

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My P2S has been ordered and I'm keen to print out some 3D mini models and some slightly larger models to display. I'd like to look at painting some of these rather than just relying on mutlicolour prints. I'm just wondering if anyone else is into that space and can help give me a steer on the best type of primer to use and what sort of paints would be a good starting point. I've lost my creative side for a number of years, so hoping to get into something pretty creative here for me and my kids. Thanks
 
My P2S has been ordered and I'm keen to print out some 3D mini models and some slightly larger models to display. I'd like to look at painting some of these rather than just relying on mutlicolour prints. I'm just wondering if anyone else is into that space and can help give me a steer on the best type of primer to use and what sort of paints would be a good starting point. I've lost my creative side for a number of years, so hoping to get into something pretty creative here for me and my kids. Thanks

It depends what you are after in terms of the finish. I’ve done a fair bit of painting using the model paints that you can get from hobbycraft. Most of the time I haven’t bothered with primer and it’s been absolutely fine. In fact I haven’t ever used primer, but have used white as a base coat as it saved me doing primer and then white, then the other colours on top.

What sort of models are you looking at doing?
 
I know a number of miniature hobbyist Youtubers recommend car primer when are doing scenery type prints, as it has a stronger bond to PLA and PETG than hobby acrylic primers. Then pretty much any paint on top depending on cost/volume requirements and pigmentation for opacity.

Rustoleum gets mentioned a bit too but that seems quite pricey compared to car primers (smaller cans for similar cost) when I was looking at it.

A lot of the colour painting element depends on whether you just want simpler block colours or you are looking to get smooth colour transitions and shading.
 
I'd like to be doing nice colour transitions and shading, but as someone who's not done it before it looks really interesting but I have nothing to base that on! :-) I'm sure it's really hard
 
I'd like to be doing nice colour transitions and shading, but as someone who's not done it before it looks really interesting but I have nothing to base that on! :-) I'm sure it's really hard

I bought a cheap battery powered air gun that I've had good result with. It was about £12 and I think it works great although I haven't been doing anything really small
 
If you’re getting back into it after a break, I’d keep it simple first: a light rattle-can primer made for plastics usually grabs well on 3D prints, nothing fancy. Then basic acrylics – the kind that don’t fight you and dry quick enough that kids can jump in too. Do you plan on doing small figures with lots of detail, or more display-size stuff where you can be looser? And are the kids painting with you or just watching for now?
 
If you’re getting back into it after a break, I’d keep it simple first: a light rattle-can primer made for plastics usually grabs well on 3D prints, nothing fancy. Then basic acrylics – the kind that don’t fight you and dry quick enough that kids can jump in too. Do you plan on doing small figures with lots of detail, or more display-size stuff where you can be looser? And are the kids painting with you or just watching for now?
Probably more display sized pieces with the odd mini here and there. My kids are 15 and 13 and have much better art skills than me. They've not done any 3d type painting, so hoping to nurture them in lto exploring that more.
 
Ive only painted a few models but just used acrylic paint and didnt use primer and it was fine.

Baby groot is a fun model to paint.



This playlist might be worth a watch to -

 
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