Color painting a Stormtrooper Armor

[tk21994]

Hello friends!

I am here to ask a question on behalf of my girlfriend.

Can you color paint a Stormtrooper armor? (she has an ABS Armor from RS Prop Master)

 

She wants to paint it in (maybe you already guessed it) PINK or light pink  It wouldn't be my choice, but I am already happy my girlfriend loves Star Wars to

 

We would like to know what you need to do to paint an armor, in a good/professional way.

 

I hope you guys can help us!

 

Cheers from Holland,

 

And may the force be with you!

[plushie[TK]]

You can color your armor. The first question is, is she wanting to join the 501st? If she is, pink armor is not approvable. (But we do have members wear pink armor or under armor for Breast Cancer awareness events!)

If it's armor she is not intending to have approved.... sand.. spray the armor with primer, sand, then paint. You can use anything from rattle can paints like Krylon to using automotive grade paints or even a paint booth used in the automotive industry if you have the money to do so.

[tk21994]

Thanks for the quick answer!

 

No she is not planning on joining the 501st But thanks for the quick explanation, we appreciate the help!

 

Cheers from Holland!

[gazmosis[501st]]

Please PLEASE take the prep of this seriously. Unless the proper amount of time is given to the primer to bond to the armor surface, it will begin lifting (or crinkling) upon the application of the top coat.  2 things have worked for me: Apply the primer to all parts and let cure at room temp or better for 7 days minimum. After 7 days, sand if you wish then apply all planned coats 10 min apart.  OR......... apply primer, wait 15 minutes then apply top coats with no more than 10 minutes between coats. 

[Airborne Trooper[501st]]

Maybe you can convince her to not paint an expensive and nice armor. Maybe pick up a used kit from  your garrison and paint it. Worst case try to find pink plastidip that is removable. 

[DarkTrooper[TK]]

Michael Bender had his armor painted pink.

[tk21994]

Thanks guys! for the advice and picture

[wingnut65[Staff]]

Also, consider primer that is formulated specifically for plastic.  It has better grip than metal primer paint.

 

Would she consider a Clone Trooper?

[tk21994]

Aah thanks for the advice  

 

Well yes maybe in the future she will be a Clone Trooper, I definitely would love to have Clone Trooper Armor (Not in pink tho haha )

 

Thanks again guys!!

[falconfour4]

Try using plastidip spray paints. It's a rubberised paint that you can later peel off. People spray whole cars with the stuff. You can put a gloss top coat on too. Look on YouTube for videos and the paint can be picked up on eBay for about £14 a can. Not sure if they do pink though

[falconfour4]

just checked and they do a nice bubble gum pink

[humperdingle]

we do have members wear pink under armor for Breast Cancer awareness events

Under suit in pink would be a great idea before starting to paint armour, at least worth a try...

Edited January 30, 2016 by humperdingle

[Norman2020]

So I have a helmet I want to paint for my senior show in collage. Do I have to sand it or will primer be enough? Also I am going to use acrulic paints. Do I even need primer?

Edited October 8, 2019 by Norman2020

[ABS80]

with a few troops paint will start flaking and chipping off, plastic will flex quite a bit paint wont hold for long also the thicker the paint more prone to crack, the best is to have a flexible primer /paint like they use on bumper cars.

[ABS80]

29 minutes ago, Norman2020 said:

So I have a helmet I want to paint for my senior show in collage. Do I have to sand it or will primer be enough? Also I am going to use acrulic paints. Do I even need primer?

I light wetsand 400 grit would help, I would suggest Krylon gloss white all in one paint/primer excellent coverage especially when painting white I use it all the time for other subjects.  if you will be using standard primer unless its white you will need several white paint to cover the grey primer, with krylon all in one just a few light coats and your set

 

Edited October 9, 2019 by ABS80

[Norman2020]

When you say wet sand what do you mean?

[ABS80]

8 minutes ago, Norman2020 said:

When you say wet sand what do you mean?

 meaning you sand on a wet surface, you can buy sanding paper especially made for wetsanding,  just google wet sanding or check youtube it will better explain, basically its a a smoother sanding techniques 

Edited October 9, 2019 by ABS80

[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

You can add a little dish washing liquid to the water as it will help the sandpaper glide and reduce clogging. 

[Norman2020]

So I’ve started sanding it I just want to make it so that it’s not shiny anymore correct? I don’t wanna like have scratches in it right? Just so that it’s no longer shiny right.