Advice on doll customizing: painting the body

[Salli]

I am wanting to customize some MH dolls and I got the body prepped, airbrushed some acrylic paint on the head and body as an experiment, the head is doing great, but the paint is not sticking to that hard plastic. I read somewhere online that spray paint that's meant for adhering to plastic is the way to go, I am a bit worried about the joint areas getting scraped as I repose the arms.

Does anyone have advice for me before I spray paint?

[VincentVJ]

You'll need some sort of primer for the plastic. And sadly there will always be rub at the joints. I don't know how to fix that.

[wystearya]

I was wondering about that spraypaint that is supposed to 'bond' to plastic.   Reading reviews of people who have used it for lawn furniture say that apparently it still can chip off.   So, I am not sure how will it really 'bonds'.  Or maybe those people didn't have the pieces properly cleaned beforehand..?  I am not sure, but I would love to know how it goes should you try it!

[Rhini]

I'm using Testor's spray paint and so far it has worked beautiful on the body but it wont stick to the head. I think there's some kind of weird reverse paint thing going on. You need to prime the head with acrylics to use spray paint, and you need to prime the body with spray paint to use acrylics

If you spray it too thick it will be prone to chipping. scratches but as long as the coat is thin and you use a sealant afterward you should be fine

[wystearya]

If you spray it too thick it will be prone to chipping. scratches but as long as the coat is thin and you use a sealant afterward you should be fine

What kind of sealant do you use?   I know a lot of BJD people use something called Mr. Super Clear, but it is pricey.  :/

[jupiternwndrlnd]

a few friends of mine have customized MH dolls with FBRs and they used Mr. Super Clear to seal them. the joints still scrape, but not nearly as bad.

[Rhini]

If you spray it too thick it will be prone to chipping. scratches but as long as the coat is thin and you use a sealant afterward you should be fine

What kind of sealant do you use?   I know a lot of BJD people use something called Mr. Super Clear, but it is pricey.  :/

I just got some Testors dullcote. I haven't used it yet, but I'll let you know how it works :]

[NoDivision]

I used rustoleum plastic primer on my skeleton girl body. Her thighs have scratched a bit from her hip joints, but the rest of her has held up really well.

[Salli]

Thanks everyone for replying. I am going to try using Krylon Fusion and see if it works. They had a nice light beigy color and I think I will use a thin coat of airbrushed pale flesh color over it. I will post pix of her when I am done if I succeed.

Oh, and I use Dull coat for my ponies and plan to with my dolls.

[Gingerbread]

I just used really thin coats and then Mod Podge on top. Rubbed and scratched (the doll, not me ) to make sure it stayed on and it actually seems surprisingly durable. But I only painted a seamonster CaMs' fins, so small surface area with no other bits rubbing on it.

[MacabreDarling]

The testors dullcoat acrylic spray should work as a base. I purchased some slippery plastic wings at the dollar general to use for my anime sisters, and paint wouldn't stick to them no matter what I did. I coated them with testors spray and then painted, and it went lovely.

[Salli]

I hadn't ever thought of using dullcoat as a primer. Thanks! The Krylon Fusion seems to be doing well so far! even on the joints! No scrapeage at all so far yea!

[wystearya]

I hadn't ever thought of using dullcoat as a primer. Thanks! The Krylon Fusion seems to be doing well so far! even on the joints! No scrapeage at all so far yea!

Did you use a primer (or the dullcoat) first or just the Krylon paint?   I'm probably going to need to paint my own MH custom and I'd like to know.  <3

[Salli]

I just used the Krylon Fusion, then dullcoat, then airbrushed acrylic. Light coats, drying between coats, blah blah blah... It's looking pretty good so far. She's almost done *squee!!*