Type of Paint to Use on Bend-N-Flex?

[z3zep]

Hi,

I bought a beat-up Bend-N-Flex Shazam that I would like to repaint.

What kind of paint would work best on Rubber? Should I use Acrylic or is there something that will adhere better to the rubber?

thanks!
Maureen

[Megospidey]

Hey Maureen -

Just about any paint you use on rubber will eventually crack. I've painted on rubber with acrylics in the past - but the moment you flex/bend it, the paint will crack.

I would think acrylics would be fine as long as you put him up for display immediately after he's dry.

[nightowlghoul]

You can use acrylic with some "aileens stretchable flexible fabric glue" added for the flex it may need to be powdered after wards because it will be slightly tacky.
Another option is to tint Contact cement it's flexible and will bite into the rubber but it's noxious so be careful.
Just remember nothing with oild like enamels etc.

Justin

[ctc]

Hmmmm....

The fabric glue trick sounds pretty good! The actual paint they used on these things is incredibly noxious until it settles. (As I recall, seeling it to individuals is illegal.) I've used auto interior vynil paint on Mego heads; it soaks right in, and probably won't kill you if you use it outdoors.... but I'm not sure if it'd work on the rubber for a bendie figure. If you've got a spare fig you MIGHT consider trying it.

Don C.

[megocrazy]

Try your local paint store for flex agent. They use it in auto paint for the wrap around bumper covers. Also try your local hobby store for paint for lexan bodies for Radio Controlled cars, it has flex agent in it already and comes in a bunch of colors. If you have an airbrush it will work even better. The only problem is getting a sealer to mix with the flex agent so you can seal the finished item. I haven't ever had to do that because with R/C car bodies we paint them from the inside out so it's always a gloss finish. Maybe you can mix the flex agent and some sealer to get a flexible finish. Flex agent can be found at some auto parts store or try an auto body place, especially a big one that might blend their own colors as they would probably have flex agent separately.

[z3zep]

thanks for the advice, gents. I will look for the stuff you mentioned.