Becky Customizer

Remove paint with oven cleaner.

Becky — Sat, 25 May 2013 15:34:33 +0000

Read on friend’s post regarding remove paint with oven cleaner, before this i heard about removing paints with DOT 3 brake fluids, which might risk making the plastic fragile and break. Beside, it will be take some time rinsing the kits clean.

So i decide to buy one oven cleaner and give it a try, it cost around rm13. In can spray, with lemon fragrance.Here is the test subject, 1/100 NG Infinite Justice back pack, which i completed years ago,dark purple paint is enamel, while the white is lacquer.

I spray the oven cleaner all over the backpack, the solution is quiet thick and it stay on the kits. Leave it for 4-6 hours before scrub and brushing it.

Here’s the result after soaked 4 hours with minimal brushing and scrubbing with toothbrush. The paints come off easily, both lacquer and enamel, even the decal come off with minimal effort (it was top coated with enamel top coat).
The plastic part is still in good condition, no melt/warp and didn’t brittle. The cleaner rinse off easily with water. Its a nice substitute for thinner and DOT 3 fluids for paints stripping.

WIP: HGUC Kampfer part 5

Becky — Sun, 19 May 2013 04:14:39 +0000

After completed the painting the HGUC Kampfer, its time to apply water slide decals.

Topcoat after decals (3 layers) to protect the decal, and i sand area around the decal to eliminate the uneven surface. I use wave option parts to create monoeye of Kampfer.

Comparison between the original HG kits with modified and painted kits.

More photo at gallery, http://www.beckycustomizer.com/completed-works-gallery/#1279

For higher resolution do visit my flickr, http://www.flickr.com/photos/beckycustomizer/sets/72157633500217503/

WIP: HGUC Kampfer part 4

Becky — Sun, 12 May 2013 16:24:38 +0000

Still working on the HGUC Kampfer. Now its painting time, tested some blue on spoons before painting on the kits.

The right one is custom mix clear blue (Gaia clear blue + clear black + small amount clear purple), the left is gaianote clear blue.

Seen like the gaianote clear blue is more vibrant and more suitable for Kampfer.

Here’s the step and layers of paints, to achieve candy coat / metallic color.

1. Gaianote ultimate black (ratio 1: 2.5 ~3 paints: thinner)

2. Mr. Color SM03

3. Gaianote clear blue (ratio 1: 2.5 paints: thinner)

I added little bit of retarder mild in the paints as well. It prolong the drying time and enable the paints to level itself, so it have smoother paint work.

That’s it for now, stay tuned for next progress.

Testing gold color

Becky — Thu, 02 May 2013 10:32:05 +0000

Bought mr hobby GX111 clear gold couple months back. Was curious about the result of that paint, therefore i decided to test out and compare with different gold color on black and white base. Here i use gunblade pearl powder + clear coat, mr color gold, mr color GX111 clear gold and gaia 122 starbright gold. Masked half of the spoon and spray gaia ultimate black (glossy) on it, take off the mask then spray different gold colors.

Gold pearl powder

Black base: The pearl pigments/flakes is obviously shown under black paints.

White base: Pearl effect can be seen under light, but hard to capture by camera. Very subtle yet interesting effect, i used on Optimus repaint as well, http://www.beckycustomizer.com/tf/repaint-takara-mp1-convoy-optimus-prime-part-2/

EX111 clear gold

Black base: The clear gold is make out of semi transparent flakes, the black color is obviously seen.

White base: Look like clear yellow but glittering.

gaia 122 starbright gold (Gaia got the finest flakes among these paints.)

Black base: Deep gold color, with better reflection.

White base: Paler gold compare to black base.

mr. color 9 gold

Black base: Darker gold. Rough pigments become obvious under dark base.

White base: Lighter gold. Not obvious pigments.
Different angle of light also create different tones.

Still finding the better usage of the clear gold, i won’t be using it to achieve gold effect. Star Bright Gold will be my option to achieve nice and bright gold, and i actually had complete a kits with that color, http://www.beckycustomizer.com/completed-works-gallery/#385

As for the mr. color gold, i used it on Iron Man repaint, http://www.beckycustomizer.com/completed-works-gallery/#1221

WIP: HGUC Kampfer part 3

Becky — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 16:22:55 +0000

Continue with the HGUC Kampfer, adding more details and sanding / preparing the base for glossy finishing.

Here i replace the pipe in the waist with spring and metal parts.

The original horns on the shoulder are lack of details and the shape is not sharp/pointy enough. So, i replace it with Bandai Gunpla Builder’s part HD MS Spike. Saw and sand the original horns, replace and glue with MS Spike, follow by filling and sanding.

I also enhance the details on the neck. Just by replace the original pipe with spring, and add a screw and koto parts at the inner frame.

Tutorial for water slide decal and metal transfer decal

Becky — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 18:30:01 +0000

Steps to apply metal transfer decal
1. Cut the decal out
2. Remove the wax paper at the back
3. Adjust the decal on the place you want, then stick it on the surface, press the decal a little
4. Remove the transparent plastic
5. Remove the excess glue with masking tape
6. Done

Steps to apply water slide decal
1. Tools needed
2. Cut the decal out and trim the side as much as possible
3. Soak the decal in water for about 5 seconds
4. Slide the decal on the part, then pull the paper out
5. Use cotton bud to remove bubbles trap under the decal and remove excess water
6. Apply mr. mark softer on top of the decal, after that don’t move the decal until its totally dry, then apply top coat

Transformer factions metal transfer decal and water slide decal

Becky — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 07:42:39 +0000

Starting to sell some decals and metal transfer for transformer factions. It can be use in customizing figures and also as decoration for gadgets like handphone, laptop, camera etc. It come in various sizes and design, do drop by my facebook pages for the prices and description https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.292915610840575.1073741831.100252123440259&type=1
Everything still in prior testing, will put up a proper website if everything going well. So, at the mean time if you need anything don’t be shy, just send me email or private message for the details.

Happy customizing.

Hot Toys Iron Man mk 3 repaint part 2.

Becky — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 04:55:48 +0000

Continue with the repaint of Hot Toys Iron Man Mk 3. I shade the armor with subtle black painted on the lines and grooves, the shade is visible even with few heavy wet coat of the semi clear red. After painted the red its time to touch up on the details, i use acrylic matt black to paint the detail and panel lines. The before and after repaint, i use brighter red compare to hot toys iron man mk 3. I do observe that Hot Toys iron man mk 3 painting is different from the battle damage version, battle damage version is better than normal version. But the cons is battle damage version faded (abdomen armor) over time. I do believe is due to the paints hot toys used, whereas normal version is just color of the rubber. So, it won’t faded as much as battle damage. Of course dust and oil do affect the rubber to look ‘worn out’. More photo coming soon. :)

Hot Toys Iron Man mk 3 repaint part 1

Becky — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 09:00:45 +0000

Commission repaint for the Hot Toys Iron Man mk3. The figures was in very bad shape when i receive it, color look dull and dirty, some paints even start to crack. Wonder what this Iron Man gone through with his previous owner.

So my job is to repaint and give back the shine he should have, so i decided to paint it in slightly different red and gold.

The paint work of the head.

The paintwork for the leg.

I use mr. color gold (no. 9) with custom mixed semi clear red, bout 30% gaia bright red 70% gaia clear red.

I had finish painted the torso as well, and the next step would be painting the details and touch up the those error during masking, for stay tuned for more.

WIP: HGUC Kampfer part 2

Becky — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 16:29:28 +0000

Continue with the metal parts. HGUC Kampfer got dozen of thruster, going to replace them with metal thruster. The back thruster is very easy to replace, just drill a hole at the slot and insert the metal thruster.

Comparison for the normal and metal.

The thigh thruster is a bit tricky to replace, need to modify the diameter of the peg to fit in the pc caps.Now the comparison of the original parts compare to metal parts. It look more details and the contrasting red make the details stand out.

Stay tune for more updates, next will be enhancing the weapons.