Watch a Fallout 4 Pip-Boy Repaint Turn Plastic into Realistic Wasteland Metal

In case fresh, shiny plastic wasn't doing it for you.
fallout 4 pip-boy repaint tutorial

Bill Doran from Prop: Shop thinks the Fallout 4 official Pip-Boy’s shiny plastic exterior doesn’t exactly match the grungy Wasteland vibe of the game. Nothing some paint, sandpaper, and imitation dirt couldn’t fix.

Recommended Videos

Disassembling and refinishing an entire Pip-Boy might not be the easiest solution, but if the sheen of manufactured polyethylene is too overwhelming, Prop: Shop has posted a full tutorial and materials list on YouTube.

First thing’s first – taking the Pip-Boy apart. This requires some heavy duty screw removal and dismemberment. To make sure you don’t forget how to put it all back together and end up with a collection of really well painted bits and pieces, Bill recommends filming yourself while taking the Pip-Boy apart.

Because this type of plastic doesn’t like holding paint, it’s best to sand down the outer layer and add a primer coating before applying base-paint. Bill masked off any parts that didn’t need repainting, such as the black knobs. For these, he just brushed on graphite powder to add a metallic sheen. Next, he used stencils to re-apply text that had been sanded away.

After painting and detailing, the Pip-Boy is reassembled and ready for a dirt treatment. Using a special metal-mixed paint and a patina solution, Bill added layers of crusty rust that “matures” into various colors. Oil-based paints were applied and rubbed away to add a dirty, greasy look. Last were some silver highlights, a plastic screen cover, and some real screws to replace the fake ones.

Viola. Bill’s Pip-Boy is the grimiest, most metal piece of plastic this side of the fallout. Planning on following his lead and sprucing up your own Pip-Boy? Let us know in the comments below!

Check out more Fallout 4


Twinfinite is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more
related content
Read Article Load From Last Inn Rest Causing Players to Lose Their Autosaves in Dragon’s Dogma 2
Dragon's Dogma 2 medusa gaze turning soldiers to stone
Read Article Players Are Speculating on What the GTA 6 Phone Apps Will Be
GTA 6 Fans Are Already Speculating on What Apps the Phone Will Have
Read Article The Impact Akira Toriyama Had on Gaming Can’t Be Understated
Photo of Akira Toriyama in His Office
Related Content
Read Article Load From Last Inn Rest Causing Players to Lose Their Autosaves in Dragon’s Dogma 2
Dragon's Dogma 2 medusa gaze turning soldiers to stone
Read Article Players Are Speculating on What the GTA 6 Phone Apps Will Be
GTA 6 Fans Are Already Speculating on What Apps the Phone Will Have
Read Article The Impact Akira Toriyama Had on Gaming Can’t Be Understated
Photo of Akira Toriyama in His Office
Author
Sharon Coone
Twinfinite's former Editor in Chief from 2014 to 2017. B.S. in Biology, B.A. in Philosophy, and always within 20 feet of a bagel. Kind of like a reverse restraining order, but with carbs. Sharon's love for video games knows no bounds, and could be found writing about anything and everything at all hours of the day.