Which type paint for Lionel "Blue Man"?

Rich, I used those little bottles of Testor's model enamels when I was a kid to paint the blue man in the 027 Animated Boxcar and the white one in the Milk Car almost 60 years ago - paint job is still okay. I don't know if Testor's is still in business, though.

First of all wash it real good in dish soap. You can even use a spot of bleach, Then prime it Tamiya spray primer either white or gray. Pretty much all I use for modeling.

After that don't matter what you use.

To safely remove paint use ELO, Easy Lift Off. I've soaked models in it for an hour to remove old paint. It is noncorrosive to plastic. You can even reuse it if you filter it properly after use.

you better check and make sure all the other little blue men on your railroad haven't up and left you.......once they find out you tried to drown one of them in paint thinner.......your liable to have a 1/48th scale revolt 

Thanks, guys, for the suggestions. The paint I used was from the little Testors bottles. The problem was that three days later, the paint still hadn't dried and was sticky to the touch. I'm wondering if the enamel paint is not compatible with whatever material the figure is made of. I'm considering trying acrylic paint but might also try the spray primer method. I don't have any Tamiya primer but do have some Model Master brand.

Oh yeah, I really didn't try to drown the little fellow. It was more of a "sponge bath" with an old paint brush.

I have no clue what material they are.made.of, but "rubberised" paints for "proffesional" halloween masks should work. (Laytex, but not the stuff for walls.)

Was the figure given access to the saftey material on the product before work began?

Someone here at one time posted to cover these rubber blue figures with wood glue like Tite-Bond, Gorilla Glue, etc. Completely cover the figure, let it dry and then paint it with anything.

This for me was an unexpected tip that I have not ever thought of myself... a bonus for scrolling about on the forum here. Thanks to whoever posted that one originally!

I tried this and have since done many a figure successfully with this method. I use regular acrylic paints for painting the figures. No wet paint for several days after initial application. Try it... it works!

Adriatic posted:

Was the figure given access to the saftey material on the product before work began?

evidently if RICKOSHAY is willing to bathe his employees in paint thinner, all "safety in the workplace" regulations are thrown out the window......I have one of his former "blue employee" .....I was told they were even allowed to smoke in the dynamite plant.

I haven't painted any blue men, but I have painted a few milk men. Good wash and scrub, then painted with normal hobby store acrylics. They have held up well, even when at train shows on a modular layout.

Rick, I don't know why you're having trouble with Testor's enamel paint on your little blue man.  I used Testor's to paint my Barrel Loader man and the blue figures on my two #50 Gang Cars years ago, and none of them have ever given me any trouble.

I suppose it's possible that at some point, Lionel was using a different plastic formula for these little figures.  If that's so, then Ross' suggestion to use acrylic paint should work.

Really? I think you "know a guy" who could help? LOL

Did you wash/rinse him? Clean your hands? 

The glue is essentially acting as a hardshell primer, sealing it. Some white glue doesn't take acrylic well, it puddles, so test the glue& paint on paper(or something.)

Testors is still alive and well making model paints and glues.

http://www.testors.com

Sean

Mikado posted:

Really? I think you "know a guy" who could help? LOL

Hey Mike! Yeah but didn't want to bother the guy when he's working. I guess I could have called WOK. Hope everything is going well and see you in a week or so.

Well now, that's the benefit of having "friends" in this hobby! See you in 7-ish days, when we get to play "lumberjack" for a week! Make sure the layout's bolted down, heard the winds are kicking up today?

Mike, quite breezy here this morning and just starting to see some raindrops. Looks like a good day to clean the rails and run some trains!