[martian]

I recently got the X-Toys Batgirl costume, and like all black 1/6 coloured clothing material, and together with the gold boots and arm gloves, I soaked them all in artificial vinegar for 2 days. This is what happened.

The gold finish seems to have been eaten up for the boots (at the lower part), and the gloves are faded/thinned out gold, now yellow.

The other thing is the thin metal ring holding the zip handle of the suit seemed to have either broken or more likely eaten up by the vinegar, and the handle has therefore fallen off. This has happened for another suit I had before, but I did not realise that the vinegar had eaten up the metal connecting rings. The zip itself is okay.

So this is a warning to you guys who soak 1/6 clothing to fix of stain runny colours off the material, especially those with metal zippers with handles. You have to decern whether vinegar might destroy the material/colours.

Has anyone any idea how to repaint over the gold boots and glove material with something? Would it be die or metalic paint. The problem with paint is that it might peel off at some point with fabric. Or there might be some gold fabric paint! Would welcome any suggestions!

 

[pukingdog]

I cannot help on the touch ups, but I appreciate the warning. Sorry this happened, up til now vinegar has been SOP for stabilizing dyes.

 

[Delanie]

I don't know if this will work on a 1:6th pair of shoes but way back in the '80's we used to touch up our dancing or going out shoes with Airfix G11? or humbrol silverfox. I'm sure some of the acrylic type metallic paints would actually be more flexible.

other than that my local art shop sells a range of fabric paints, okay I'm in the UK but it should give an idea of the makes.

I have one of the Setacolor range to recolour a blue leather belt where it has worn. You paint it on let it dry then set it with an Iron or hair dryer

try the link below:

Search for products | Cass Art

I believe Urine was once a staple for fixing dyes ...... just a thought

 

[onesixthwarrior]

In the years I've dealt with pre-soaking 1/6th clothing, I've never used anything but water. It's always been enough to remove excess or unstable dye. Some dyes are designed to be used with vinegar, but there are usually precautions on the product.

There are fabric paints, found in some fabric and hobby stores, that might be used to restore the faded colors. I would build up the color slowly, layer at a time, and make sure it's fully dry and set before putting the clothing back on the figure.

 

[martian]

Thanks for the advise Delanie and onesixthwarrior .

I found 2 bottles of gold fabric paint in the house and chose the darker tone.

I'm quite happy with the results. The material is now not as shiny as Britney Spears' stage costumes any more. It's a more decent shine of gold for classic Batgirl I think!

 

[rollotomasi]

That gold looks subdued and looks way better to me.

Did you dilute the vinegar with water? What ratio? or did you use pure vinegar?

 

[martian]

That gold looks subdued and looks way better to me.

Did you dilute the vinegar with water? What ratio? or did you use pure vinegar?

The vinegar was diluted with water, 1 part to 1 part approximately, maybe more water.

 

[rogerbee]

I've only ever used water for this kind of thing. Vinegar is essentially acidic, you should be very careful with it. I certainly wouldn't have used it near plated parts.

CHEERS!

 

[dadrab]

Sorry this happened and your repair looks pretty damn good, so I'd caulk it up to "a lesson learned."

I am curious, though, about your first post where you mention "artificial vinegar." What's that? I'm not familiar with it.

 

[briefumschlag]

Could someone give me an advice for how to prevent staining helmet straps? I got a military figure without balaclava and the headsculpt is slightly stained from the colour of the helemt strap.

Thanks

 

[martian]

I am curious, though, about your first post where you mention "artificial vinegar." What's that? I'm not familiar with it.

It's just a brand name I think. It was the cheapest vinegar available in the supermarket. Slightly over SGD$1! It has worked to fix the colour running of my 1/6 clothes so far after soaking for 2 days.

Could someone give me an advice for how to prevent staining helmet straps? I got a military figure without balaclava and the headsculpt is slightly stained from the colour of the helemt strap.

I think you could use this colour run remover, or something similar you might find at your local supermart. I got this actually to replace the vinegar method. But I've not tried it yet. It's suppose to fix colours very quickly in a few hours. No need to wait for 2 days! Had I used it on by Batgirl suit, I wouldn't have had the problems!!!

 

[briefumschlag]

It's just a brand name I think. It was the cheapest vinegar available in the supermarket. Slightly over SGD$1! It has worked to fix the colour running of my 1/6 clothes so far after soaking for 2 days.
View attachment 381527 View attachment 381528

I think you could use this colour run remover, or something similar you might find at your local supermart. I got this actually to replace the vinegar method. But I've not tried it yet. It's suppose to fix colours very quickly in a few hours. No need to wait for 2 days! Had I used it on by Batgirl suit, I wouldn't have had the problems!!!
View attachment 381529

Thanks

 

[Gruff Old Bear]

Vinegar really only works on natural fabrics like cotton. It won't help with synthetics, and most 1/6 costumes are some type of microfiber (polyester). I do wonder, though, if two days in water wouldn't have done the same thing. Two days is a long soak.

Based on what I've seen on various forums, you might try touching up the boots with a metallic pen. If you have an airbrush or know someone who does, it might be worth trying Allclad metallic paint, repainting the entire boot. But the cheapest and fastest might be to look for a replacement pair parted out somewhere.

 

[martian]

Thanks for the tip Gruff Old Bear. I didn't want to risk staining a phicen/TBL body with water. It didn't work for me before. The cost of these bodies are just too expensive for me.

I did a search and found Aclad II Lacquers which appears to be for model plastic kits. I'm wandering if the paint material is suitable for this pleather material, whether the paint will start to peel after a time, from this material, which is not a rigid plastic member. I use to have a working airbrush compressor, 30 years ago! I don't think it works any more!

Looking at tv's old Birds of Prey batgirl, the gold material doesn't look so metallic, but a duller smooth sheen to it. The original X-Toys material was too glossy.

Any way this suit has a lot more detail than the X-Toys outfit, which did not provide gloves with hands. So I'll have to paint a pair of gloved black hands in gold too.

 

[Stryker2011]

If you’re going to use paint, I would try acrylics (they are more flexible).

 

[martian]

If you're going to use paint, I would try acrylics (they are more flexible).

Thanks for the advice Stryker2011!

 

[martian]

After a month to find a jointed body (VeryCool FX02-C which matched the head colour, not that anyone can see it in the suit!), and a replacement jumpsuit (because the metal zip of the original, was destroyed by the vinegar [1st post] and didn't zip up), Batgirl was finally completed.

But in the process of putting on the boots, small parts of the gold foil finish started flaking off the right boot. Had to repatch again with gold fabric paint, layer by layer after drying.

And so it is finally done! Here's a quick shot.

 

[madplowman]

I keep reading advice about vinegar being used to prevent dye transfer in several groups. It's a horrible idea for the reasons listed in this thread, but its supporters are always very adamant and seem to convince everyone with an 'easy solution'.

Dye fixatives can be used on certain fabrics. It's an simple application if you use the Rit fixative spray made for crafting. Rit is in the business of dyeing and is a safe choice. In fact, I used it today (see below). I treat any 1/6 clothing if possible and the results are great. You spray on, saturate, leave 20 minutes and follow with a gentle hand wash. You have to use common sense to whether something can be washed or not based on the material and construction methods. Use this on a fused pleather jacket for example? No way.

 

[Delanie]

I don't remember if I posted this already but a traditionally used dye fixative was urine, although I think this was used on wool.

 

[dragonrider]

I avoid using vinegar and frankly avoid anything that could stain/ruin the figure or clothes. I usually give plenty of time for glues or paints to fully dry and vent on any dioramas as well.