[Kirathis]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr Kain

I tried practicing but I never got better. Sometimes you just suck at something no matter how many times you do it.

I always get paint bubbles, splotches, lines that I can never get to stay straight because my fingers constantly shake, sometimes the paint is way too dry and feels brittle, streaks, brush strokes, etc.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SymbiSpidey

It could be a case of using the wrong paint/brushes for the job. I've also heard that the key to painting is to do multiple thin layers, waiting for each layer to dry out, rather than doing one thick paint job. That way you can avoid all of the clumpiness, paint bubbles, splotches, etc.,

As for line work, maybe doing some sort of masking might help?

Sorry up front for the long post... It kind of turned into a mini customizing tutorial.

Paint can play a HUGE part in how your custom looks. Using the wrong paints can really cause issues for sure. Good acrylic paints are the way to go for Marvel Legends customs. As mentioned, Testors and Games Workshop make great paints. Others have recommended Tamiya and a few others whose names escape me at the moment. I am too lazy to go look up the Toyark rules about mentioning other sites but do a quick search for customizing action figures and you should find a site dedicated to it.

As for painting techniques, seriously go look up the Anthony's Customs video where you just watch him paint his Lady Deadpool. If you have read some of the customizing stuff and picked up technique names and ideas, you will be able to recognize a lot of the techniques he is using.

The other thing you will learn about a lot of customs is that the figures do not have stale, flat paint jobs like a lot of the stuff from Hasbro. Instead, as SymbiSpidey mentioned, there are layers. It creates depth and realism to the figure's paint job. This is often achieved using a base coat and then dry brushing over it. Sometimes multiple layers of the base and the dry brush. It all depends what you are trying to achieve.

Quite honestly, once you get the ideas for a technique, make a Deadpool. The great thing about him is that his costume changes so much, you can make one that fits, even if it was never exactly one from the comics. Base coat it black and dry brush a red of your choice. You can get head casts of Deadpool from any of the casting vendors. He's a great figure to make as a new customizer for the simplicity and forgiving nature of his costume. Best of all, then you have a Deadpool and you do not have to spend $150+ on the Legends ones on Evilbay.

Here are a couple quick and dirty pics of the Deadpool I made for myself a few months back and the 3 paints I used to do it. He's by no means perfect but for my second ever custom I was pleased and it was really satisfying knowing I made it myself.

Testors Model Masters Flat Black and Leather and Games Workshops Citadel Mephiston Red. The formula I used is pieced together from one from Chris at Happy Day Customs and another from a video from USAgent27.

Main body: Bucky Cap - The actual figure, not just the mold although if you do not want the belt, it will work
Feet: Ultimate Cap
Harness: 3 pack Cap
Heads: 2 different purchased casts
Big gun: purchased cast

Base coated everything in a light layer of black. Dry brushed it all in the red. Went back and used a fine tip brush to draw the lines in black. If your hands shake some, keep them braced on the table to minimize it. Filled in the black spaces. I also used a flat white (not pictured) on the eyes.

Flat black then leather on the harness and belt. Flat black then a silver (also not pictured) on the big gun.

I hope that helped some. I am by no means a seasoned customizer but am happy to share anything I can.