How To Prep And Paint Your 3D Resin Sculpture

3D printed models and parts have become quite a large part of the modeling hobby in the last 10 or so years. 3D printing is a great way to either design and print the part you need yourself, or purchase those hard to get parts if you dont yet have the printer. Here i have put together a basic step guide on how to prep and paint your 3d Resin part/sculpture. 

Firstly, sand and file any support marks

If the model/part has any left over support marks from the printing process, these will have to be removed. You can use cutters or a small file for large support leftovers, then use standard sandpaper for the rest. You may also like to sand any visible layer marks on the surfaces of your model.

The sanding step is entirely at your descresion. Sanding minatures can be quite challenging at times, but the effort will always pay off.

After the sanding step, it’s best to clean off the dust with some water and a soft toothbrush. You will then have to use a piece of soft tack cloth to dry the surface of the print. Make sure to get into those small spaces to ensure that there is no dust or droplets of water left.

Apply A Primer 

A primer coat is absolutely necessary when painting resin prints. It provides a nice matte surface for the paint to bond with and can fill in minor imperfections on the surface of the print.

There are lots of good primer options out there. We sell the SMS brand of primers in the store, including the Grey and Black Surfacer Primers as well as the Etch Primer. 

Painting The Model 

Once the part/model is primed - painting is much the same as it would be for any other model or part. There are many different techniques for painting scale models, and if you are a beginner, you may find yourself trying different methods. Use a combination of brush and spray painting to layer colors, working from your largest coats of paint down to the tiniest details on your model. Take your time and work slowly. Use an even hand and overlap your brushstrokes to ensure that your models come out beautifully every time. When spray painting, use quick bursts of color to apply coats evenly. 

Final Thoughts

Once your model/part is painted, you may chose to then apply a wash or clear coat and even decals to really bring it to. life. We wont cover that here as there are many great tutorials and even videos around the net to help you with this. Just remember - painting and finishing models/parts should be a fun experience. Take you time and have fun.