What kind of primer do members use?
- Thread starter Weezer
- Start date
I usually use automotive primers as they tend to provide a smooth finish and are fairly durable.
Self-etching stuff is also good as it adheres to surfaces a little better.
Sean
Self-etching stuff is also good as it adheres to surfaces a little better.
Sean
Lord Boron
Sr Member
I build a lot of plastic and resin models and i always reach for Plasti-kote sand able primer. Adheres to pretty much anything, can be painted with acrylics, and lacquers, and goes on pretty smooth without filling in detail. For metal and fiberglass, I go with the self-etching primer.
Basicaly any "flat" color can be used as a pimer. You can go to your local home center or hardware store and pick up any number of "primers". I generaly use brands such as Krylon or Rustoleum. The only type of paint that would cause damage to bare plastic would be a hot lacquer type automotive paint. These are O.K. on plastic if layed down in light coats. Lacquers however take longer to dry. It may feel dry to the touch but the gasses suspended in the paint take longer to evaporate or "gas out". This is why some people have complaints about painting over lacquer. They don't wait long enough and the gasses eat thru the color coats, especially if using an enamel color coat.
Bottom line, any of the large cans of paint in flat from home centers will do well as a primer.
:cool
Bottom line, any of the large cans of paint in flat from home centers will do well as a primer.
:cool
I've been using a Krylon white primer made specifically for plastic on a project utilizing acrylic and styrene kit parts. I'm almost certain it is part of the Fusion line of paints. It produces a white that imo is better than any of the light greys most people use as a base for their studio builds. I'm nearly done a training remote and was planning to hit it with some Floquil reefer white before weathering... except that it is almost already that color. Planning on using it over some flat black on my Salzo V3.
Using an automotive etching primer will undoubtledly produce the most durable finish on a variety of materials. With anything out of the can I say work with what you like. I like the Fusion primer for its resulting 'white' color... but it comes out very thin. I like to make several passes in thin coats, but not so thin that you'll start to see a texture in the paint. It is a very difficult balance that must be achieved to avoid runs. Also, I am already worried about it providing enough opacity to cover some of the dark green kit parts.
I say anyone else chiming in should mention what color their primer is as well... its rumored the base color for most of the ANH ships was an out of the can white automotive primer. Do we still have to paint these things black first?:lol
Using an automotive etching primer will undoubtledly produce the most durable finish on a variety of materials. With anything out of the can I say work with what you like. I like the Fusion primer for its resulting 'white' color... but it comes out very thin. I like to make several passes in thin coats, but not so thin that you'll start to see a texture in the paint. It is a very difficult balance that must be achieved to avoid runs. Also, I am already worried about it providing enough opacity to cover some of the dark green kit parts.
I say anyone else chiming in should mention what color their primer is as well... its rumored the base color for most of the ANH ships was an out of the can white automotive primer. Do we still have to paint these things black first?:lol
MonsieurTox
Master Member
Tamiya Surface Primer, the gray one (the white is not good at all). That's the best one IMHO, you can put several coats and the details dont become soft.
Some says that the Black Citadel (originaly for WarHammer) is very good !
Robiwon, I dont agree that a primer can be any flat color, someone posted in the general section I think a while back about the primer, its chemistry and how it acts and works. That was a very informative post !
Some says that the Black Citadel (originaly for WarHammer) is very good !
Robiwon, I dont agree that a primer can be any flat color, someone posted in the general section I think a while back about the primer, its chemistry and how it acts and works. That was a very informative post !
Any flat paint wont do as a primer at all no, primer is formulated for a purpose, to adhere to a surface chemically, to give maximum traction to your top coat!
Depending on where you are situated Weezer (UK ?) Halfords acrylic formula grey primer, goes on like glass, dries perfectly and as Julien stated on the Tamiya, does not lose any detail, even with heavier coats.
Look out for other similar acrylic based aero's if you in the US, they work very well.
lee
Depending on where you are situated Weezer (UK ?) Halfords acrylic formula grey primer, goes on like glass, dries perfectly and as Julien stated on the Tamiya, does not lose any detail, even with heavier coats.
Look out for other similar acrylic based aero's if you in the US, they work very well.
lee
MonsieurTox, I will go look for that thread. I will clarify my statement a bit.
I should have said-
Primers don't all have to be gray. They can be white, black and even brown.
I did a repaint of of a Playmates WOK phaser using Tamiya Titanium. I used a flat brown for the primer or base coat to tint the color coat a bit.
I'm sure there is a chemical difference in a true "primer" and a "flat paint". In 30+ years of modeling I have used a lot of different paints as primers
I should have said-
Primers don't all have to be gray. They can be white, black and even brown.
I did a repaint of of a Playmates WOK phaser using Tamiya Titanium. I used a flat brown for the primer or base coat to tint the color coat a bit.
I'm sure there is a chemical difference in a true "primer" and a "flat paint". In 30+ years of modeling I have used a lot of different paints as primers
MonsieurTox
Master Member
Sorry Robiwon, I didnt want to sound bad, I didnt understand you were talking about the color itself, but I agree with you primers can be found in a several range of colors !
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Carson Dyle
Sr Member
I'll second those who swear by the Tamiya stuff. I've tried to find something I like as much at a cheaper price, but for detail modeling work nothing else compares IMO.
For air-gun application I like DuPont 131S automotive acrylic lacquer primer. This extremely versatile auto primer can be laid down as thick as mud or cut to a point that it will not hide the most subtle and delicate of surface detail. Applied 131S is typically ready to wet sand after only fifteen minutes of drying time -- and it will not attack styrene.
For air-gun application I like DuPont 131S automotive acrylic lacquer primer. This extremely versatile auto primer can be laid down as thick as mud or cut to a point that it will not hide the most subtle and delicate of surface detail. Applied 131S is typically ready to wet sand after only fifteen minutes of drying time -- and it will not attack styrene.
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vaderdarth
Master Member
duplicolor black primer .......rattle cans for larger props with no tiny details. Tamiya Gray for the SS models and tiny details I don't want to lose......applied thru airbrush.
Colin Droidmilk
Sr Member
Hi, Monsieur Tox and Robiwon! Is that Tamiya Surface Primer good for resin?
Carson Dyle
Sr Member
Re: Tamiya primer, please note it is available in both regular and fine consistencies (the rattle-can stuff, that is). This is true of both the grey and white shades. And, yeah, Tamiya primer is great on resin, provided the surface has been properly washed and prepped.
Weezer
Well-Known Member
Wow, thank you for all the advice everyone.:thumbsup You've all given me some food for thought.
I'll look into where I can find some of these brands. I'm based in Ontario, Canada, so I'll have to try a few hobby shops or automotive stores. I've seen the Krylon and Rustoleum brands at the hardware store, but are they as durable as a sandable primer?
I'll look into where I can find some of these brands. I'm based in Ontario, Canada, so I'll have to try a few hobby shops or automotive stores. I've seen the Krylon and Rustoleum brands at the hardware store, but are they as durable as a sandable primer?
Colin Droidmilk
Sr Member
Slowly! Been messing about with looking at extending the wingspan a bit, but really I've had no time (day-job is fine artist and my fevered brain has lately been bursting with visions - all of which must be got down on canvas. i won't deny the X is a daily temptation, though!)
JBReplicas
Sr Member
Tamiya Fine Surface over here :thumbsup
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