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Paint Finisher / Model Painter

Paints and finishes prop/model makes for UK camera: colour, texture, ageing, distressing and matching existing surfaces; often leads a small paint bay on larger shows.

Duties

• Finish makes to art direction: basecoat, colour, texture, age and distress
• Match existing props, set pieces and reference finishes
• Spray and brush safely; manage booth, extraction and VOC rules
• Liaise scenic paint / costume / HMU when shared finishes are needed
• Work on set for touch-ups and standby paint when called
• Hit shoot deadlines; protect wet work; supply touch-up kits for standby
• Select paint systems suited to substrate (resin, foam, metal, silicone)
• Help select junior paint help on large units

Reports to

HOD Model Maker / Supervising Model Maker (paint lead on large shows)

Works with

Model Makers, Sculptor, Mould Maker, Props/Standby Props, Scenic Painters, Graphics for printed skins

Career path

Junior Model Maker / scenic paint path → Paint Finisher / Model Painter → paint lead under HOD

Day to day

Receive fettled casts/makes; prep surfaces; spray/brush to brief; age and detail; QC under set lighting when possible; pack touch-up kits; attend set for hero work.

Call times

Workshop-led: model unit often starts earlier than general unit call for build days. Standby Model Makers match unit call when covering shoot. Overnight cures, paint and last-minute hero makes before shoot days are common — always read the workshop schedule against the call sheet.

What to wear

Workshop PPE: steel toe-caps or production-approved boots; eye/ear protection; gloves suited to task (nitrile for resins, heat-resistant where needed); dust mask / respirator for sanding, spray and chemicals; apron or workshop blacks; hard hat / hi-vis if yard or stage rules require. Clean blacks when delivering to set. Spray suit/respirator in booth; clean blacks for set touch-ups.

Tools & kit

Personal brush kit; airbrush if owned; masking kit; wet palette; PPE and respirators; production supplies paints, compressors and booth.

Tips

Confirm title, agreement, budget band, prep/wrap, kit/machine fee and workshop location on the deal memo. We never invent Bectu figures — check bectu.org.uk / Props Branch Prop Modelling and Prop Painters cards. On smaller shows Model Making may sit under Props as Prop Modelling; larger features often list Model Making as its own department.

Software

• Photoshop for paint-over refs and maps
• PureRef swatch and texture boards
• Shared art packs / call sheets
• ChatGPT for ageing-process notes (test on scrap; HOD approve)

Related roles

HOD Model Maker, Senior Model Maker, Sculptor (Model Unit), Standby Model Maker

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