### Metadata ![[IMG_4323.png]] - **Figure:** Kaine (Nier Replicant) by Bulkamancer - **Completed:** November 2024 - **Focus:** Test out Mr. Lascivus skin tones - **Hours Spent:** - printing: ? - building: ? - painting: ? ## Intro Kaine is a great character. I first played Nier Automata as my first game in the series, and then Nier Replicant came out (a remake of the first older Nier) and it was also great. Admittedly, at first it was different than I expected and not the same as Nier Automata. I wasn't sure I would like it and the characters. As usual, as I kept playing it grew on me and Kaine grew on me. Bulkamancer released a Kaine model a while back, and after printing [[Eve - Stellar Blade]] and seeing how easy the prints were I wanted to print another Bulkamancer kit. I halfway thought I would try and build both Eve and Kaine during a Bulkamancer 2024 competition. Of course I finished neither kit during the time window, but that's fine. The competition got me started and enjoying the hobby more, so I can't complain. ## Photos ### Final Photos (Gallery View) - [ ] Get obsidian gallery working with published site #hobbies/models ```img-gallery path: Model Site/Figures/37 - Kaine/attachments/gallery type: horizontal ``` ### Final Photos ![[IMG_4351_masked.jpg]] ![[IMG_4321.png]] ![[IMG_4323.png]] ![[IMG_4324.png]] ![[IMG_4326.png]] ![[IMG_4327.png]] ![[IMG_4328.png]] ![[IMG_4330.png]] ![[IMG_4331.png]] ![[IMG_4332.png]] ![[IMG_4333.png]] ![[IMG_4334.png]] ![[IMG_4335.png]] ![[IMG_4336.png]] ![[IMG_4336_masked.jpg]] ![[IMG_4337.png]] ![[IMG_4338.png]] ![[IMG_4340.png]] ![[IMG_4341.png]] ![[IMG_4342.png]] ![[IMG_4343.png]] ![[IMG_4344.png]] ![[IMG_4345.png]] ![[IMG_4347.png]] ![[IMG_4348.png]] ![[IMG_4349_1.png]] ![[IMG_4351.png]] ## WIP ### Inspiration There are a few Kaine models around. Originally, I found an older Bulkamancer one and purchased it (I think it's why I discovered bulkamancer in the first place), likely on cgtrader or similar. Bulkamancer released Kaine in October 2023, and here we are in October 2024 and Kuru Figure is doing the same. I think I do prefer the Kuru Figure one a bit more - a little more realistic appeal to it in the face, and somewhat more serious looking. #### Bulkamancer Renders ![[kaine-bulkamancer-20241029.png]] ![[kaine-bulkamancer-20241029-1.png]] #### Kuru Figure Renders While in the process of working on this bulkamancer figure, Kuru Figure also released a Kaine - odd coincidence. They are very similar and I likely won't print and do the Kuru Figure, but the renders provide a little different variation and style to consider and look pretty good. ![[kaine-20241029.png]] ![[kaine-20241029-1.png]] ![[kaine-20241029-2.png]] ![[kaine-20241029-3.png]] #### Print and Build The print quality was spot on. I have no complaints with Bulkamancer. Their supports are great and everything comes out great. Parts fit together perfect without any adjustments, putty, etc. needed. The base size was also good because it's large enough for the kit, looks good, but not so large it's an issue to print on build plate (or requiring multiple pieces/print jobs). #### Color Choices For this round I'm trying out [Mr. Lascivus](https://www.mr-hobby.com/en/product1/category_7/2880.html) for skin tones for the first time after seeing mention in [[Skin Tones - Lasvicus White Peach]]. The base is white peach and the shadows are clear pale orange as these happened to be what was in stock. I think they turned out pretty good - better than what I've been doing lately with some of my undercolored Gaia Notes skin (which may just be my fault and using wrong gaia notes) seen in [[Eve - Stellar Blade]]. The blue was done in a MIG AMMO F-520 cobalt blue. Her hair was an off-white (_check brand_). Her leg / arm wraps bonewhite (Vallejo). Vallejo game color black for hair/detailing. See [[Vallejo Game Color vs Model Color]] - and according to reddit people really hate game color black but I didn't really notice issues. #### Base Starting with brown for the base. However, I may change to green matching the Bulkamancer renders to give better contrast to the skin / figure. ![[kaine-20241031-6.png]] ![[kaine-20241031-7.png]] #### Face ![[kaine-20241031-2.png]] #### Torso ![[kaine-20241031.png]] ![[kaine-20241031-1.png]] ![[kaine-20241031-5.png]] Hard to get white coverage here over gloss clear coat. Paint just slid around with a brush. It took several layers before it began to stick and could finish it up. ![[kaine-20241031-3.png]] ![[kaine-20241031-4.png]] ### ## Lessons Learned - **Trust and use your clear coats throughout!** I've known previously to clear coat between layers on faces, even though I don't do it often enough. It aids with erasing mistakes. On faces in particular, it's often discussed to do the clear coats (in acrylic or lacquer) and then face details in enamel. Turns out I did this on Kaine's torso and it saved me. I painted her skin in Mr. Lascivus first, then applied a clear coat, and eventually painted her blue clothing (water-acrylic). I masked for the blue but missed a couple small spots which hit skin. I was able to remove it pretty well with acrylic thinner. **Keep in mind it only works in small quantities though** unless you go really heavy on thinner and clear coats and trust the process (ie reverse wash technique). In the same days, I got _a lot_ of black overspray in [[Vin Diesel]] arms that had similarly been painted and clear coated, but I couldn't get it off well enough to be happy and ended up respraying. That is, use it when necessary but try to avoid it. It will still help. - **Be deliberate in gloss vs matte clear coat**. On her hips, I first painted skin and applied a gloss clear coat. When I went to paint her clothing, I was trying to brush paint it over the gloss clear coat and the paint had trouble sticking. The brush just pushed it around and it took me several layers to get it sticking enough. For another section I applied matte coat first and brush paint applied much better. _If you expect to brush paint over it, use a matte coat. If you do not expect to brush paint (but want to help prevent accidents), apply a gloss coat._ If you are airbrushing other colors, it makes less difference because it airbrushing over gloss coats still works pretty well. Brushing over gloss does not. Can always apply a later matte or gloss coat for final finish. - **Double and triple check colors before painting:** I have the inspiration photos above, but I don't leave them out when actually painting. I glance on the computer, and then go paint later once I think I know colors. Of course there are parts I got wrong. I had to repaint the hands 3 times because first I did them skin, then blue, and now they need to be black. I had to repaint one part of the leg that I thought would be white, but it turns out it is blue and pink. I had to repaint parts of her torso because I missed two separate skin areas on the front so I went back to mask and add them in. - **Silly putty is a good alternative to blue tack:** Recently I've gotten frustrated with blue tack. I feel like it used to be ok, but lately it seems extra sticky and is hard to remove from the model after masking. I don't know if it got stickier or has always been that way, but I read silly putty is another method. I used it on this kit and it definitely sticks less. It is easy to remove from the model. It's actually on the other end of the spectrum - a little hard to get to stick in place. However, I think I prefer this route over the other. It does stick enough to the surface to work with a little more effort, but it comes off easily which saves a lot of time and frustration.