Thread: A question about custom scales ....

Originally Posted by thehattr

Depending on the material you could possibly use a dye or paint; rub on and wipe off, similar to the antiquing or weathering process used in other crafts.

Analine dye?

Enamel paint then wipe and bake?

Is it a plastic material?

I'd say enamel paint would probably be your best bet. It seems it's a common method for model making. Using an enamel wash and then letting it dry for a 15-45 minutes and removing the excess with a cotton ball or qtip and some paint thinner.

Before you wreck the scales

You cannot use any Naptha, Toluene, Acetone type solutions on Celluloid it will destroy them REALLY fast

Basically rule of thumb, "If you sniff it and you jerk your nose away Keep it off the scales until you test it"

Well, I did not think these were celluloid so I tried naptha and acetone on different areas.

Boy was I wrong!

The acetone started melting the scales immediately!

I wonder how Antoni Tadross made those multicolored scales? Hmmmm .....

Yes any chemical and plastic is a no no

What sprung to my modest mind was Rub n Buff.. Of the top of my head.

I've done it with a sharpie, and denatured alcohol.
Color in a bit, then quickly wipe with alcohol dampened rag, then do another section.

Gotta work quick, though.!

I have had good luck with a sharpie, blacken the part you want darkened, then with WD40 on a paper towel remove the ink from the tops of the relief. You can adjust the amount of darkening, by adding and removing the ink with WD40 on the towel.

If you want to remove it all, hose it with WD40 and scrub with a toothbrush.

A toothbrush and Simple Green will remove the greased compound or just clean them up for good paint / ink adhesion.

I have also had good results with Acrylic paint, about a buck a bottle. Walmart and a Craft Store will have a selection of colors, I like various hues of brown. Dry brush the scales with one-inch chip brush with the bristles cut short, about ½ inch.

Wipe the relief with a paper towel and Simple Green. Once it dries, it is pretty durable. Again, if you do not care for the look, a quick soak in 50 % Simple Green and water and a good toothbrush scrub will remove it all.

A thin wash seems to provide the best look and makes the relief pop. Acrylic is more of a mat finish and looks very well.

I've got 6 or 7 of these type scales. Guess I need to break out the colors.

Wondering how white would look on the black set I have?