Lessons

Metallic Painting Techniques - Robot Finishes

Learn how to paint metallic finishes with master creature fx artist Rob Ramsdell (AVATAR, JURASSIC PARK, TERMINATOR 3)

January 25, 2020

Metallic Painting Techniques - Robot Finishes

Painting Metallic Finishes on the Terminator Endo-Skull With Rob Ramsdell

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Making a Runny, Tan Paint
Using an Acrylic Wash for Rust Effects on Your T-600 Skull
Applying and Wiping Paint Coats
Painting All Over for Even Coverage
Rubbing the Paint Out
Buffing Tight Sections With Tissues
Blow Drying the T-600 Skull to Work Faster
Creating a Realistic Finish for the Terminator Endo-Skull
Metallic Painting Techniques - Robot Finishes Course Highlights

In this excerpt from "Metallic Painting Techniques - Robot Finishes" by master character creator Rob Ramsdell (Avatar, Jurassic Park, Terminator 3), you'll learn how to apply an acrylic wash using affordable house paint to prepare your faux metal surfaces for rust and weathering effects.

Making a Runny, Tan Paint

(Rob Ramsdell mixes paint.)

Though you can mix colors (white, brown, yellow) to make your own, it’s fine to use standard tan-colored acrylic house paint. Transfer a few spatulas full into a small paper cup. It doesn’t take much. Then break the paint down 50% by adding water. You want a very runny consistency.

Using an Acrylic Wash for Rust Effects on Your T-600 Skull

(Rob Ramsdell applies a bit of wash, then buffs the color tint with a rag.)

Using a light acrylic wash over the dark gloss paint will provide a light background layer once it dries. This light layer will accentuate the rust colors you apply on top of it more than if you tried to simply paint your rust detail on to the black surface.

Applying and Wiping Paint Coats

(Again, Rob Ramsdell applies a generous coat for complete coverage, then removes much of it.)

Don’t worry if the watery tint drips or puddles-up as you go, you can simply wipe it away with a rag. But the light color will remain in the crevasses and divots of whatever you’re painting, making it appear as dust.

Painting All Over for Even Coverage

(Using a chip brush, Rob Ramsdell applies more paint to the surface of the T-600 skull.)

You brush the tan tint over the entire surface area you want to treat. Any exposed area will look like dust and dirt that’s gathered. Worth keeping in mind that acrylic paints darken when they dry. Rather than go too heavy, paint lightly and wipe as you go. As Rob says, “It’s fine to do a couple passes to get it where you want.”

Rubbing the Paint Out

(After the paint is applied evenly, Rob Ramsdell buffs it out with a dry rag.)

As you buff out the paint with a rag, you’re looking to make sure that the light tan color gets in the deep spots so the reds and ambers you add later will have something to show up against. This base is what gives the cast iron look its weathered and aged authenticity.

Buffing Tight Sections With Tissues

(Rob Ramsdell buffs out the deeper areas with tissue paper.)

If there are tight, detailed sections of your surface where you can’t easily get a rag inside to buff the paint, you can use a bit of crumpled facial tissue which can often work better to access deep areas.

Blow Drying the T-600 Skull to Work Faster

(Working quickly, Rob Ramsdell uses a hair dryer on the T-600 skull.)

Though not essential to achieve the effect, using a hair dryer (Rob’s is borrowed from the model shop) you can speed up the dry-time for the coat in order to move on quickly to further color application.

Creating a Realistic Finish for the Terminator Endo-Skull

(Rob Ramsdell checks his work for consistency.)

You can already see how the light tones accent the detail. As you check your surface, if you find it too dulled you can wipe away parts so the sheen shines through. But keep in mind, as things rust, they also lose their shine. Rob achieves realism by keeping it subtle.

Check out the FULL COURSE to learn the painting techniques Ramsdell has used on countless metallic movie icons, from the army of cyborg assassins in the TERMINATOR films to Tony Stark's arsenal of Iron Suits in the IRON MAN series.