Can i have a rundown of primer please?

[Guest]

Ive recently gotten myself a tiger 1 german tank. After quite a long time of looking at paints ive decided upon a colour scheme and know how to tackle it. But i cant really get that far because im unsure of what primer to use if i need to use a primer at all... Everything that i have modelled has reallly been small figures. Than i just gave them a coat of matt black paint and away i went. But im uncertain how to tackle my tank, which i want to be really good. So ill throw a few questions out there for ya

Whats the job of primer?

Is primer necessary, if so when?

What primer do you use?

Do you have to use things built to be primers or is matt black paint alright?

kind regards, larry

[Guest]

its my understanding that a primer is thicker than normal paint (not by much though) and dosnt have a smooth surface. it gives the paint a smooth over all finish and a good serface for the paint to key too.

its also good to show up any errors (seam lines/ridges...etc) so you i always spot prime areas where i think there might be a problem, sort out the problem then prime the whole thing.

I use tamiya light grey primer, its a synthetic laqure so it fully cures enough to spray a hot paint like alclad over after an hour or two, ok to spray enamels and acrylics over it after about 30mins!

someone like bunkerbarge, alan, geedub or one of the more experienced guys might be able to tell you the real reasons why/how and what to do. i just do it because i know its best to do it lol.

Richard

[jspitza]

Hi ldf33:

I use modelmaster enamel primer. Its expensive but is very specific to plastic. I apply only to medium to large parts-I thing small parts are not worth the airbrushing. Primer binds the paint to surface and prevents the top coat from chipping, especially on frames, ect. OR use very light coats of the matt black paint to cover the area but if priming through an airbrush in light mists-I can usually put on the top coat very quickly. I've used off the shelf auto primer as well with mixed results and needs to be tested before use on a spart piece of sprue from the kit with the glue used on the construction first. Hope this helps, Jeff

[Guest]

A primers main job is to provide a key for the top coat to adhere to. Some primers are "self levelling" and so also help with surface imperfections and they all give an even coat of one colour to enable any blemishes to stand out easily.

Another significant use is to better prepare the colour of the surface for the topcoat colour. i.e. a red plastic model may show through a blue gloss top coat so a grey primer would make the red effect considerably less.

I have not used primers very much for static models and if I was to it would probably be for such things as a gloss coat where I was looking for perfection. For tanks it depends on the surface and if the model is to be a static model or be used as in RC.

If it is static and the colour is low key such as grey I wouldn't bother. If you are going to RC the model or if the plastic base is very different you may want to. Don't forget that the primer is another coat so it will have a slight effect of hiding detail.

[wonwinglo]

Another important thing to remember about primers that are applied to plastic surfaces, is that they form an efficent mask between the volatile final coat of paint,we discussed here a few days ago about the change over to acrylic formulae paints by the auto industry,whilst the final paint finishes are fine on metal sometimes the solvents can still possibly attack raw plastic,with this in mind a barrier of primer is a wise thing to apply,besides as Richard has pointed out being a useful guide as to the blemishes that need to be removed,primers certainly show the humps and bumps !