Mego History: Head Paints

[SecretSquirrel_4]

Hello all !

I recently received the amazing book by Benjamin Holcomb, "Mego 8" Super-Heroes: World's Greatest Toys!".

I've looked it over, it's impressive. It shows all the nuances between the different figure and releases.

One thing I was specifically looking for was more "production history facts and info.".

How did Mego make the bodies ? How did Mego make the heads ?

My biggest Mego production question is, "HOW did they paint the heads?"

Mego painted eyes, eyebrows, and hair (or beards) on each head, How ?

Does anyone know ?

What kind of paint did Mego use in their factories ?

Did Mego assembly line paint these little heads ?

Did Mego tape up each head and airbrush them ?

Were there templates used ?

Is it done with some kind of machine ?

Is it a painted 'stamp' of some sort ?

If anyone has any insights as to HOW .. Mego painted the WGSH (and other series) heads ... please .. do tell.

I'm interested.

Thanks for any info!
SecretSquirrel_4

[SecretSquirrel_4]

I did bounce around on the forums to see if anyone had asked these particular questions and they did NOT pop out in the search. Thanks for your time.

[timb]

Really good question. I always assumed (given the accuracy) the paint job was applied via some type of machine.

[megoscott]

From the Neal Kublan Interview



Museum: you guys were pioneering the small format figure and probably had a lot of bugs to work out such as why aren't their faces painted?.

NK: In those days, you used little paint masks made of paper and you couldn't keep them together, then we went to copper and you just couldn't get it fine enough and today that's no longer a problem but in those days it was a problem.

Museum: So in the factories even on the 8" figures you would have a paint mask that went on each one?.

NK: (Each worker) would have a different spray, one guy would have black, blue (etc) You had these little mounted heads and they'd apply a little copper mask and the spray gun would go by.

[SecretSquirrel_4]

thanks MegoScott

that is Amazing !

Thanks for that info .. MegoScott.

I love that kind of detail !

I missed seeing that interview.

I need to kick the tires of the "Museum" more !

Thanks again ! Fantastic !

Any links or more info ... would be much appreciated.

[SecretSquirrel_4]

awesome interview !

[megoscott]

It's not hard to miss. You're welcome.

[emeraldknight47]

Fascinating. I have also wondered about some of these very same facts myself and now I know some of the answers!!!

[SecretSquirrel_4]

It took me a while .. I read both Neal Kublan interviews.

What a wealth of information.

that was great to find.

Thanks again for pointing me in the right direction!

[pmwasson]

It would be interesting to try and make paint masks for custom figures. Has anyone every tried it? I'd love to have an easy way to paint eyes!

[ctc]

>It would be interesting to try and make paint masks for custom figures.

Hmmmm.... I think it'd be more of a pain to use masks than brush.... unless you were making a bunch of the same character.

>I'd love to have an easy way to paint eyes!

-Paint the whites
-Paint a large dot for the iris, a shade darker than the colour you want
-Paint the center of the iris the colour you want, leaving a bit of the darker colour exposed so it forms a barely perceptible outline
-Paint black pupil in center
-Paint white hilight off to the side; same spot on each eye
-Touch up skin paint around eye so's to cover any oopses when trying to do fine work like eyeballs.
-If you feel ambitious and/or do a lot of detail work, this would be a good time to run a thin (VERY thin) wash of whatever colour you shaded the skin with around the eye. Or red for a maniac look. Eyelashes, hilights, and guyliner optional.

Don C.

[MIB41]

What kind of paint was it? I use acrylic to touch up mine. But it can wash off. How did the Mego paints stay on? What did they use?

[ctc]

>How did the Mego paints stay on? What did they use?

It's a special vinyl paint. The stuff they paint car interiors with is pretty close, works awesomely on original Mego heads.... soaks right in. Unfortunately you can't really paint layers of it: a new coat will soften the one under it, dry or not. Also, it's INCREDIBLY toxic.

Don C.

[Megotu]

There is a product called Ez Eyes or something like that which are the old water transfer stickers of just eyes. Soak it, slide it off and position, let it dry.

[emeraldknight47]

>How did the Mego paints stay on? What did they use?

It's a special vinyl paint. The stuff they paint car interiors with is pretty close, works awesomely on original Mego heads.... soaks right in. Unfortunately you can't really paint layers of it: a new coat will soften the one under it, dry or not. Also, it's INCREDIBLY toxic.

Don C.

Mmmmmmmmm----toxic!!!!!!!!!!! Would it mix well with rum...?