Recommended paint for flexible vinyl?

Please let me know if this is the wrong section of the forum for this.
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I'm looking to completely repaint my gorgosaurus action figure.



The main torso is made of soft vinyl. Model Master acrylics won't properly adhere to the vinyl without cracking if the vinyl bends. Is there some kind of solvent I can add to my Model Master acrylics to make them bind and flex better? Or is there another kind of paint entirely that I can use? Airbrushes are out of the question at this point, as I don't have the kind of money to spend on one, and I especially don't have the slightest bit of experience with one. I don't want to screw up the vinyl on my gorgosaurus while practicing with the airbrush. Also, I want to paint very fine details, like 0.5 millimeter thick spots and lines. My intention is to meticulously detail every single scale on the dinosaur if possible.

What do you guys use to paint foam latex and silicone masks/busts? Could the same paint be used on vinyl?



I also own 2 of the original tyrannosaurus action figures from Jurassic Park and The Lost World. They're made of pretty much the same type of vinyl as the gorgosaurus. However, given their precious nature, I also cannot practice painting on them. They're my vintage beauties. I only mention them because they have more exposure among people who buy dinosaur toys, so there's a better chance you guys are familiar with the vinyl used on them as a point of reference for my gorgosaurus.



Thanks in advance.

Automotive places sell a flexible paint called SEM, its made to repaint the vinyl seats in your car.

jango5204 said:

Automotive places sell a flexible paint called SEM, its made to repaint the vinyl seats in your car.

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Is that what prosthetics artists use to paint foam latex and silicone?

People who do masks use paints that have latex mixed in with the paint to give it the flexibility, pretty much airbrush only. Or they will use acrylics that have a top coat of prosaide (sp?) to help prevent the paint from cracking when flexed. Check out the Hunters Lair forum. It's a Predator costuming forum run by our own Art Andrews. They have a lot of tutorials on painting latex.