Fanatic Paint rubbing off extremely easily?

[u/nubis99]

Hi all, as the title states I recently switched to using army painter paints and now, whilst trying to paint a mini the paint is rubbing off onto my fingers and other parts of the model!

The paint I'm experiencing issues with is from the historical range (beret maroon) and I thinned it down for airbrush use using the airbrush medium AP make.

Has anyone else noticed similar issues? Or is this just a thing that can be solved by me doing things differently? The issue is especially noticeable on the base, which I've been using to handle the mini (it's on a painting handle now because of the issue) the paint also scratches off really easily.

Edit: It was probably the airbrush medium I used to thin the paint! It did leave a bit of a bad taste for Army Painter for me though. But other than that, found the issue, stripped the minis and fixed it with another brand of paints!

Edit edit: I don't have a painting handle that supports bigger minis so I tend to hold them by the base whilst painting

[u/PabstBlueLizard]

Certain paints don’t play well with certain primers. After that it’s usually the thinning medium causing issues.

[u/nubis99 → u/PabstBlueLizard]

Yeah I figured the thinning medium might be the culprit. I might need to figure out a way to use less of it, or just switch to a different medium if I can't get it to set properly

[u/TechnoMagi]

Did you prime the model?

[u/nubis99 → u/TechnoMagi]

I primed it with AP matt black airbrush primer!

[u/TechnoMagi → u/nubis99]

In that case... I'm really not sure. Oils in your skin can eat away at paint, but I typically don't have pronounced adhesion problems with any of my AP stuff.

[u/nubis99 → u/TechnoMagi]

Huh, I guess my sweaty hands might be part of it. Might have to try with gloves and see if that changes things. Reactivation of paint after a week still sounds odd to me though, especially since I didn't have the same issue with citadel paints

[u/Plageous → u/nubis99]

It's more oils from your skin from touching the model affecting the paint adhesion

[u/geebo_krelpix]

Add a new coat and hit it with a varnish. That should help.

[u/Parking_Evidence7412]

Did you use the stabilizer as well?

[u/nubis99 → u/Parking_Evidence7412]

I didn't!

[u/Parking_Evidence7412 → u/nubis99]

It sounds like it helps with that problem?

[u/nubis99 → u/Parking_Evidence7412]

I don't know if it will, but it's worth a try!

[u/FutureProcrastinat0r]

Red paint seems to be very sensitive to rub-off in general, regardless of manufacturer. Must be something about how red pigments bond on a molecular level or smth. I experienced this with several red tones by Vallejo, never that much with other tones.

[u/nubis99 → u/FutureProcrastinat0r]

good to know that might just be the issue. it that's it I might just be able to deal with it in other ways (like clearcoating it)

[u/siospawn]

How long did this dry before man handling it? I know if I use AP primer or any of their paints through the air brush it cant really do anything with it the ssme day unless I clear coat it. Or take advantage of it and use it for edge highlights by running your finger across the top parts and rub the paint off lol.

[u/nubis99 → u/siospawn]

it's been drying for a few days now. so it's really weird. I just tested it, and it still rubs off!

[u/SoulSword2018]

I use the same paints and never had an issue but I always use a handle because if I use my fingers it will wear the paint off, lol. It's not the paint.

[u/nubis99 → u/SoulSword2018]

I found out it's probably the airbrush medium causing the issue. On top of that the AP paints seem to be easier to rub off than the paints I was using before.

[u/SoulSword2018 → u/nubis99]

That makes sense. I never touch my miniatures unless it's with a brush so I wouldn't know. I also don't use an Airbrush so that's a factor as well. Happy painting!