Cosplay tip - Flexbond, the reliable primer for every household

It doesn't matter if you're an experienced cosplayer or a beginner. You've probably heard the term primer countless times. At imago, we offer several types of primers, especially those in the form of sprays. But what if you need a flexible and strong primer for thermoplastics that won't let you down? Well, there's Flexbond!

Properly treating thermoplastic (e.g., EVA foam, Cosplayflex, etc.) is absolutely essential. A primer ensures the surface remains firm, flexible, and easier to paint. I personally used Flexbond when I urgently needed to create a back plate piece for my Mandalorian armor.

I had less than 8 hours for the entire build, so I turned on the heater and got to work!

Flexbond is a high-quality coating. It's very thick, I'd almost say unnecessarily so. If you apply it undiluted, it takes quite a long time to dry. That's actually both good and bad news.

The good part is that even though the bottle is only 250ml, you can make it last much longer by diluting it! Personally, I would recommend a dilution of 1 part water to 3 (maybe even 4) parts primer. The primer then becomes much easier to apply with a brush. Always use a soft brush of an appropriate size to avoid issues with visible brush strokes.

The primer dries a bit hesitantly for my taste, which is why I mentioned the heater earlier. If you need to work quickly, it's almost a necessity. If you're smart (unlike me :D) and plan your work well in advance, no shortcuts are needed. 😊

In the picture, you can see high-density EVA foam. Flexbond held onto it very well. I applied 4 layers gradually. As you can see, there are visible brush strokes, but that's because I used a small brush and didn't leave enough drying time between the primer layers.

If you want to use the full potential of Flexbond, don't be like me and set aside plenty of time for your work.

The subsequent painting went completely smoothly. The paint is a glossy black acrylic spray, and I finished the metallic parts using Wax paste. For such purposes, you can also use the Rub 'n Buff Metallic Wax Finish, which is loved by world-class cosplayers.

Voilá! A few hours, a bit of heater time, and the lower back plate is done. In the picture, you can compare the result with a piece of armor made from softened PVC (an equivalent to the material known as Sintra). An untrained eye won't know the difference. I definitely give Flexbond a thumbs up for its reliability, durability, and quality base for applying paint.

author Eva Lassler