Question about customizing NECA TMNT....?

psychoandy · 03-11-2011, 01:51 AM

I was recently commissioned to repaint a set of NECA TMNT into the 1988 Playmates colors. I have yet to do any NECA TMNT customs, so I wanted to ask those of you who have worked on them before:

How much more effective is disassembling the figure before painting, if at all? Would you recommend doing this, or is it an extra, unnecessary step?

Generally I'm not interested in painting each individual piece and re-assembling a figure, but my client wants to be able to pose and re-pose the figures on his shelf, without too much chipping. Considering he's paying me, I want to give him what he wants, y'know?

Thank you in advance for your help!

Topsu · 03-11-2011, 09:33 AM

My custom Slash wasn't disassembled at first, and there isn't noticeable chipping on it. It has been posed differently too. Altho, I did use enamel paints back then, they work surprisingly well on their "skin" material (just don't EVER try using it on their soft parts...) You also wanna do very thin layer of paint. I hope you get other opinions too, since others have done this more than me...

ScratchTheHotSpot · 03-12-2011, 05:38 PM

I'm working on a set myself. Been working on them since before chirstmas, and I've only just recently been making real progress with them. The figures where suffering with paint rub ALOT, and things were looking very messy. But since I started dismantling them, they look alot better, much easier to paint, and seal, but they are in a ton of parts, which is abit of a pain!

I would post pictures, but I haven't got a camera of my own at the moment, Im having to borrow one, but basically here's what I've took apart so far...

The head, arms, and legs and hands, pop out. Soaking in hot water is good for this, or general heat from your hands. Careful when taking off the head, you don't rip apart the neck joint..

Also the elbow joint can be taken apart. You need a knife, and something to try poke or put pressure on the plastic 'pin' that runs through the arm joint. Same with the 'ball joint' type thing that is on the leg.

The belt, shells, and leos katana covers can all come apart and be glued back again. And finally the bandanas can lifted up over their eyes, so you can paint the eye pieces really quickly.

Hope that helps, I don't want to post pictures of mine until Im finished making them, but if I get time I will post some pictures of one dismantled.

Discogod · 03-14-2011, 06:19 AM

To be honest, if you want to achieve any kind of professional finish you're gonna need to disassemble the figure and sand down any joints/parts where there'll be friction that could cause paint rub. It's a pain in the arse, and will probably be the most time consuming part.

Also, NEVER use enamel paints. You'll probably end up ruining the figures.

If you check out The Fwoosh or FigureRealm you'll find some good tutorials on disassembling figures and sanding joints.

ScratchTheHotSpot · 03-14-2011, 03:20 PM

Yep you are right DiscoGod. I forgot to mention that, sanding and filing can take along time! I did most of mine whilst the figure was still assembled. But some parts like the elbow joint a best done when dismantled. And a matte sealant is absoloutly mandatory to stop that paint rub.

psychoandy · 03-14-2011, 06:25 PM

Thanks for all your help, everybody!

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03-11-2011, 09:33 AM	#2
Topsu Hench Mutant Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Finland Posts: 272	My custom Slash wasn't disassembled at first, and there isn't noticeable chipping on it. It has been posed differently too. Altho, I did use enamel paints back then, they work surprisingly well on their "skin" material (just don't EVER try using it on their soft parts...) You also wanna do very thin layer of paint. I hope you get other opinions too, since others have done this more than me...

03-12-2011, 05:38 PM	#3
ScratchTheHotSpot Foot Soldier Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: UK Posts: 194	I'm working on a set myself. Been working on them since before chirstmas, and I've only just recently been making real progress with them. The figures where suffering with paint rub ALOT, and things were looking very messy. But since I started dismantling them, they look alot better, much easier to paint, and seal, but they are in a ton of parts, which is abit of a pain! I would post pictures, but I haven't got a camera of my own at the moment, Im having to borrow one, but basically here's what I've took apart so far... The head, arms, and legs and hands, pop out. Soaking in hot water is good for this, or general heat from your hands. Careful when taking off the head, you don't rip apart the neck joint.. Also the elbow joint can be taken apart. You need a knife, and something to try poke or put pressure on the plastic 'pin' that runs through the arm joint. Same with the 'ball joint' type thing that is on the leg. The belt, shells, and leos katana covers can all come apart and be glued back again. And finally the bandanas can lifted up over their eyes, so you can paint the eye pieces really quickly. Hope that helps, I don't want to post pictures of mine until Im finished making them, but if I get time I will post some pictures of one dismantled.

03-14-2011, 06:19 AM	#4
Discogod Hench Mutant Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Birmingham, UK Posts: 408	To be honest, if you want to achieve any kind of professional finish you're gonna need to disassemble the figure and sand down any joints/parts where there'll be friction that could cause paint rub. It's a pain in the arse, and will probably be the most time consuming part. Also, NEVER use enamel paints. You'll probably end up ruining the figures. If you check out The Fwoosh or FigureRealm you'll find some good tutorials on disassembling figures and sanding joints.

03-14-2011, 03:20 PM	#5
ScratchTheHotSpot Foot Soldier Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: UK Posts: 194	Yep you are right DiscoGod. I forgot to mention that, sanding and filing can take along time! I did most of mine whilst the figure was still assembled. But some parts like the elbow joint a best done when dismantled. And a matte sealant is absoloutly mandatory to stop that paint rub.