How to paint ABS parts

Painting ABS parts is generally not recommended due to the risk of damaging them. However, for those who still wish to attempt this operation, here are some painting techniques that can help minimize this risk as much as possible.

Caution !

These methods do not guarantee the absence of damage to parts. Kotobukiya does not recommend painting ABS parts. Please do so at your own risk.

Why painting ABS parts is not recommended

When ABS parts are painted, the solvent (thinner) contained in the paint penetrates the resin of the parts and evaporates, causing small cracks in the penetrated areas, thus making the parts fragile. During and after assembly, load or stress is applied to the surfaces where the parts are connected (seams) as well as in the moving joints. If these areas have been penetrated by the thinner and weakened, they often tend to break under this load. For these reasons, painting ABS parts is generally not recommended.

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Preparation

Important points during assembly

1. Adjust the fit between parts: If the fit between parts is too tight, it increases the load placed on the parts during assembly, increasing the risk of breakage after painting. To reduce this load, perform a preliminary adjustment of the parts before painting, by adjusting the joints or using other methods.

2. Disassemble moving parts before painting: Disassemble moving parts before painting and reassemble painted parts at the end. The joints and other moving areas of the kits are designed to be strong enough to perform under load, but painting them while they are already under load will increase the risk of damage.

Painting Precautions

1. Avoid applying large amounts of paint at once: When a large amount of paint is applied, it takes longer to dry, making it more likely to leach into parts as they will be in contact with the solvent for a longer period. Apply light coats of paint and let them dry before applying more coats to bring out the color.

2. Don't dilute the paint too much: Paint is often diluted to make application easier. However, if too much thinner is added, parts will be directly exposed to the solvent, increasing the risk of damage. If the paint is too thick, it is difficult to apply, so dilute it carefully to the appropriate concentration.

Painting process

STEP 1: Cleaning the parts

Soak the parts in water with a few drops of neutral detergent (such as dishwashing liquid) for 20 to 30 minutes to remove any oil from their surface. This is done to prevent oil from preventing paint adhesion and to ensure an attractive finish after painting. After washing, rinse the parts well under running water and allow them to dry completely.

STEP 2: Applying the base coat

To help prevent penetration of paint solvents, a base coat (such as a commercially available primer or model primer) is first used to create a protective layer. Spray in small steps, quickly moving the spray can or airbrush gun from left to right at a distance of about 10 cm (about 4 inches) from the room. A single spray will not cover the surface perfectly and may leave some stains, but subsequent coats will take care of that. After spraying one room, move on to the next one. After you have sprayed all the parts, start again.

Ideally, the entire room should be evenly coated with gray primer, as shown below.

This required three to four coats of paint to achieve.

STEP 3: Start Painting

From here, we'll describe the hand and airbrush painting procedures separately (we use standard lacquer paint and the thinner sold specifically for it).

Brush painting

When applying paint with a brush, start with difficult-to-paint areas first, such as corners and concave areas. Use a round, pointed brush with fine bristles. The paint should not be too thin, but if it is too thick it can be difficult to cover effectively. Thin the paint so that it is approximately the same consistency as the wet paint.

Next, paint the flat surfaces. Use a flat brush and make long, even brush strokes. It's difficult to get fully developed color in one coat, so apply two or three coats of paint to finish. Before applying further coats, be sure to allow previous coats to dry completely.

Airbrushing

Using an airbrush is a great way to quickly and beautifully finish a model. Follow the same rules that were used when applying the base coat.

• Don't apply too much paint at once.
• Do not thin the paint too much.

These are the two crucial points. Take your time when spraying and you will be able to achieve a great finish.

Bad examples

Two examples of the same piece painted differently are shown below. The one on the left was sprayed with too much thinned paint in one go. In addition to increasing the risk of damage to parts, it will require multiple coats of paint to achieve sufficient color, increasing the time needed to complete the job.

STEP 4: Wash

Washing is a popular technique for improving the three-dimensional appearance of a model. This is achieved by applying heavily diluted enamel-based paint (often gray or black) and allowing it to flow into concave areas of the model, such as panel lines.

However, be careful! Enamel solvents are very permeable, and if they flow into parts under load (seams and joints) or into parts that have not been completely coated with a base coat, there is a high risk of parts being damaged. Be careful to avoid washing entering these areas.

Appearance after washing.

Precautions

• These methods do not guarantee the absence of damage to parts.
• We are not responsible for any possible damage that may occur when using these methods.

Also, sometimes images on posts may become outdated over time, so please note that you can also find this recently published English article on our blog.

We hope this helps aspiring modelers start learning how to customize their kits! See you soon !