Little People

@seank941 posted:

I hope I'm posting this in the right place. I'm looking for some passengers to add to a coach and would like some suggestions. I'd prefer them to be pre-painted, but still very detailed. Ideally they would be dressed for the 70's / early 80's. Thanks.

There’s already a six year old 20 page thread on this very topic.

Do a web search for "Preiser O scale seated passengers", "Bachman Scenescapes passengers seated", "Scenic Express O scale passengers", "Woodland Scenics O Scale People Sitting", and search on eBay for "50 pcs seated people 1:50"

Beware:  most of the pre-painted figures are painted poorly with gaudy bright clothing colors, big bug eyes and unrealistic skin tones.  Woodland scenics and Preiser are the most detailed and the colors aren't too terrible, and naturally are the most costly.  With a little practice you can paint your own figures much better than the factory.  

I prime them with grey auto primer in a rattle can, then paint in this order:  Men's shirts, skin, jackets and dresses, pants, shoes, hair, and finally ties.  I paint a batch of 30 or so figures at a time , painting groups of 3-6 figures with identical clothing.  Don't bother trying to paint the eyes.  It always looks bad.

Buy a flesh color from Citadel, Army Painter, MIG, or Vallejo.  For the clothing, use cheap craft paints from Michaels (I prefer Ceramcoat brand).  Get pastel colors tones rather than bright ones, or just mix some white with any color to tone it down.  

Also note that most figures will need their feet amputated to fit in the undersized seats in O scale passenger cars.

Bob

RRDoc,

Thanks for posting such great information.  After the pieces are primed, are the paints you suggested for the skin, clothes, etc., enamel paints, or acrylic paints, or something else?

I grew up using enamel paints, and I kinda cringe at the thought of using acrylic model paint, which isn't water resistant and would I guess wash off if in contact with any dampness, especially given how long it would take me to custom paint the pieces.

When it comes to wall paints, several companies now make acrylic paints that are washable and scrubbable.   (Sherwin Williams Duron).  But, at $80 per gallon, it would cost me about $1,000 to get all of the colors I would want.  :-)

Thanks,

Mannyrock

Man-E-Rock :  once acrylic paints dry, they are permanent.  I use the inexpensive ones from Hobby Lobby. JohnA

Thanks John!  (Boy, . . . the stuff I don't know.)

Mannyrock

Here is another recent thread on options for buying figures.

Bob