Question

[hobub]

I'm guessing not but is there any viable way dying mego waxy plastic?

[REMOVED]

possibly vinyl spray dye... the auto kind

[hobub]

Thanks Laurie, would it work on the waxy plastic like boots and marvel gloves?

[REMOVED]

I've used it on boots and softer items and it sticks remarkably. I've read that is will work on vinyl bodies and on some plastic bodies but I haven't tried it. I suspect it will work. Be sure to use a degreasing agent on the parts before spray though....

[ctc]

Hmmmm....

If you're talking about the stuff they make the bodies and boots out of then, no; nothing sticks really well. Even the spray dye doesn't sink into the material. (You can scrape it off with a fingernail, and it'd chip if played with.) BUT if you're not gonna handle them a lot it'll work well enough.

Don C.

[misterdroid]

I learned this from an old guy at a hobby shop... he said they used to do it to change the colors of model airplanes.
You take your plastic pieces and submerge them in a near boiling (not so hot that it will distort your parts) bath of Rit liquid fabric dye. Do not liquify and use the powdered Rit, often pigment doesn't break down and it will leave darker colored spots.
You just kind of dump the parts in the dye bath and try to keep them submerged. I will use a couple metal spatulas to press the pieces down.
Bear in mind different plastics will tint to a different degree (and some not at all), and that the original plastic color will to some extent affect the final color. I'd test it on junk parts first.
Vinyl and pvc dye tremendously well, as does plain old model grade styrene. Softer, thinner plastics dye pretty well in most cases, Shiny hard plastic is the hardest and may take multiple dips. I have used this on clear Micronaut bodies and Clear henshin cyborgs to good effect.
Also, some colors are simply weaker than others. I dyed a Henshin Cyborg a vibrant purple in one dip. Tried green and it was a bit lighter, but still looked great. I tried to do another red, and in 4 dips it never got darker than a very, very pale rose only visible in good lighting.

[misterdroid]

Actually, I've got a solid double handful of beat up white action jackson boots and lots of various junk mego bits laying around. Give me a couple days and I'll try to dye some in different colors and I'll post the pics.

[megomaniac]

I've used the liquid Rit dye to dye a Doc Mego female head a brown color. The dye did stain the plastic head, but not the rooted hair or face paint. However, the head was a dark brown when it came out of the bath, but did fade over the next few weeks to the current lighter greyish brown, so the original skin tone did bleed thru somewhat. Still looks great tho. I've no clue how it would work (if at all) on the harder plastics.

[ThatBatmanGuy]

Rit dye will not work on original mego bodies or boots. It does work on Doc Mego bodies, but not his boots. Been there and wasted my time already.

Don knows what he's talking about as for trying to paint 'em too. It works, just not very well. I've tried STRONG automative primers that have alot of acid and get very hot. Still doesn't work on the boots.

Bob

[misterdroid]

Has anyone tried the flexible airbrush paint used for RC car bodies? Would probably peel if picked at, but might be good for a display custom... just a thought.

[jacsfc]

i have great success painting the boots and gloves. i have not tried the bodies so i cannot give an honest opinion. to paint the boots you need various automtive refinishing agents. you need a raw plastic cleaner, a raw platic primer and flexible interior automitive paint. the company sem makes all of these products that work great. you can find them at any local automotive paint supply shop. also the eastwood company sells all of the items i mentioned. i paint cars for a living and have to deal with painting raw plastics all of the time. if you follow the procedures that the manufacturers recommend you will have success as well.

joe

[REMOVED]

Hmmmm....

If you're talking about the stuff they make the bodies and boots out of then, no; nothing sticks really well. Even the spray dye doesn't sink into the material. (You can scrape it off with a fingernail, and it'd chip if played with.) BUT if you're not gonna handle them a lot it'll work well enough.

Don C.

The duplicolor stuff I use paints boots, hats and cast resin and I can't scratch it off. It bonds on a molecular level. I think it's called Dupli-Color Vinyl & Fabric Spray. Also works for gloves.... It sinks in And sits on top of the substrate (whatever you paint with it).

[jacsfc]

the bottom line is whatever product you use if you do not properly prep the plastic and follow the directions the product will fail.

[hobub]

Thanks for all your input.