Modeling with soft rubber

Lord Hurin · **Posted:** Fri Feb 24, 2012 4:36 am

Hey all, just after Halloween I picked up a pack of 8 decorative rubber spiders for $0.94 thinking that they'd make cool proxies. They're roughly the same size as the GW Giant Spiders, but I'm having difficulty moving forward with the project. The legs don't want to stay in one place too long, and I'm not sure if glue or paint will adhere to them. Has anyone on here had experience with a similar project?

theOneRider · **Posted:** Fri Feb 24, 2012 6:20 am

I'd try running paperclip wire through the legs. That's basically what I'm doing on my (very slow) Ungoliant project.

Dorthonion · **Posted:** Fri Feb 24, 2012 2:51 pm

From what I have seen on BOW and many YouTube clips, a lot of FineCost minis are a bit rubbery and wobbley also :sad:

Oldman Willow · **Posted:** Fri Feb 24, 2012 3:45 pm

Soft rubber can be painted if you wash it and paint it with a oil based primmer.
The large black spiders and the bats are so soft that the paint comes off if they are handled . I don't bother.They are in the boxes I allow the kids to use with out permission/supervision.
I would attach the soft rubber spiders to the base with a clear plastic rod, like I did with the bats in photo two. Then pin the legs down to the base. There are 59 WIP photos in this photo bucket album. I hope some of the photos will be helpful.

SeveredHead · **Joined:** Sun Feb 19, 2012 8:40 pm **Posts:** 57

I have painted soft rubber minis in the past -- several hundreds of them. (1) Wash figures well with dishwashing liquid and water and rinse several times. This step is important. (2) Allow to dry completely. (3) Prime with enamel primer and allow to dry. (4) Paint using enamel paint such as by Humbrol. Depending upon how annoying the soft rubber is, you may have to do multiple layers. (5) Spray with protective coating. In my opinion, enamel paint adheres better to soft rubber than acrylic paint, but work in a well ventilated area when using enamel paint.

Best Wishes,

SeveredHead

Oldman Willow · **Posted:** Fri Feb 24, 2012 4:57 pm

Quote:

enamel paint adheres better to soft rubber

very true! It may still come off some models.

Lord Hurin · **Posted:** Fri Feb 24, 2012 10:44 pm

Awesome, thanks to both of you! If we still had the gold coin system of old, you'd each get one from me!

I guess I need to get some suitable enamel paints, then. Ah well, considering what 4 Giant Spider blisters would've cost me (some $72 before taxes) I should still come out well ahead!

Modeling with soft rubber

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