Going back into the depths of instagram and found these customs from around 2013 - most of which are either with acrylic or MK paints I still like the look of some of them so here's a record from the old days with the airbrush.. View this post on Instagram View this post on Instagram View this post on Instagram View this post on Instagram View this post on Instagram View this post on Instagram View this post on Instagram View this post on Instagram View this post on Instagram
I think the Hawaii Hedorah-style Eyezon looks very good, I'm not personally a fan of that sculpt but the colors and finish seem right. Maybe there's something about it you don't like that like the pictures aren't showing. The Jamila looks like something you were testing out colors with. It's sort of halfway to being a riff on Captain America, which would actually be appropriate. This is a general opinion I have about sofubi customs, so it may or may not apply to the stuff you showed above. It's not a criticism of your stuff, just the phenomenon in general: To me, the cardinal sin of painting sofubi is completely obscuring the vinyl. I am the first to point out that the toys I collect represent a very narrow focus (MaruBuru originals, reissues, and toys that carry their DNA). This may inform my expectations too strictly, but those toys always relied primarily on the vinyl itself to convey the color and texture. Paint on classic sofubi figures was minimal to moderate, depending on the character. Every year, I see more and more customs where the original toy is buried under layers and layers of paint. The "fugliest toys" thread has plenty of examples. To me, there's no point in doing a figure in vinyl if you're just going to cover it up. The "spirit" of the toy is being drowned. But hey, if someone is paying for it, what do I know...
I know acrylic would be a disaster, but what's wrong with Monster Kolor, if you don't mind me asking? I got a pretty good amount to get started with, but haven't put it on any vinyls yet. If it's gonna be bad news, I'd rather not ruin anything. Anyway, they all look fun. You seem to have developed a pretty good eye for where to spoot those gradient shots.
This is comforting to read because I've slowly started to feel a similar way. I held off painting some of my vinyls due to feeling unprepared in a myriad of ways. My airbrushing experience is with more 'realistic' toys and model kits, and I'm fairly decent at that. While detailed paint apps are great on that type of collectable, most vinyls really require lighter touch. My first impulses I think were valid too: Keep the color pallet simple, aim for bolder gradient coverage instead of tiny bursts, use masks sparingly, and save the sharp brush work for only the most important details. However, I sort of was planing to completely cover the figures with a new base coat color. Yet, after several years of really carefully studying my favorite vinyls, and considering why they work so well: I realized that base vinyls has to shine through. So, on this 1 figure I've got that I want to repaint, I'm not doing it until I can strip off the existing paint app. Its base color would work for my plan anyway, so leaving that original paint on would just be lazy.
The paint doesn't adhere to vinyl, easily chips off, the clear coat will fuck your airbrush sideways, paint will dry up in a few months unless you transfer it to glass, and it's got a good chance of fucking up your lungs etc
WOW! Thank you. You saved me a ton of heart ache, because I was gearing up to ruin a sofubi for sure. And you also confirmed what I already feared: it's over 2 years old and probably ruined anyway. I checked it out a few weeks ago and some colors look totally fucked. Huge waste of money because I got a pretty good selection w/o knowing it had such a painfully short shelf-life. But, I feel a little better knowing that even if I had used it: I would have just made a horrible mess on whatever I painted.
Technicolor vomit, which they chunder all over the poor toy in abundance. Its a fucking tragedy most of the time.
Anyway... Sorry. Back to BadTeeth's customs: Did you use like a paint marker or brush to do the face on this thing's belly? Pretty awesome. Like wearing a shirt with a photo of your own face on it- I love it.
Bravo! If only every potential ruiner had your patience and insight. Looking forward to seeing what you come up with.
HA! Thank you. Of course, being overly cautious can be the opposite problem of rushing in. Because I'm all just talk right now, and certainly not amongst the many actively getting shit done. And apparently, I'm even further away than I had hoped now that I know the $100 worth of paint I got is trash. On the bright side, I did pick up a few bottles of this paint, Sofvi Color, specifically made for soft vinyls when I visited Japan. Hard to find much info on it, but I've heard it bonds well and stays put. Just wish I had gotten a few more colors now that I know Monster Kolor won't be going on my vinyl.