Why not always use a primer coat?

[plasmahal]

Hi,

This a general query and not a criticism about how people build their models.

I see a lot of builds where (for example) the cockpit and inner of the fuselage halves are not primed but just painted with the top coat.

Then sometimes a lot of emphasis is put on the priming of the whole model then being primed before top coat.

So would you not prime everything that gets painted?

[JasonC]

Just one off the top of my head.

One of the reasons to use primer is to improve adhesion. The outer parts of the model get a lot more handling during the build, whereas the inner parts generally don't. If you were worried about scratching or rubbing paint off, then priming the outside would be a much more productive target for your efforts.

cheers,

Jason

[Black Knight]

I rarely prime. I mainly brush paint so I dont want too many coats on. I would prime or undercoat a model if the plastic is a colour which benefits from it. Such as a car I'm building; bright red plastic, but I want to do it a light tan. So grey primer over all.

[Pin]

There are certain rules that I follow:

- I always prime for acrylics

- I always prime if putty is used - that makes it possible to see possible putty shrinkage

- I always prime when I sand - it reveals (and sometime heals) minor scratches

- I may not prime if I use enamels

- I never prime transparent parts

[spitfire]

I rarely use a primer, normally I only prime to look for surface faults or if the build consists of resin detail parts mixed in with the plastic, this gives me an even finish to lay on the top coat, however I exclusively use enamels which lay down very nicely on bare plastic.

Cheers

Dennis

[PlaStix]

I use acrylic paint applied by hairy stick and don't prime anything!

[plasmahal]

I use acrylic paint applied by hairy stick and don't prime anything!

LOL, cast him out, cast him out.....

[Foghorn Leghorn]

I don't prime if I'm using enamels as they tend to grip quite well. Also primer can clog up the detail, eg panel lines. I always prime when using Vallejo though, I love their paint but it's very delicate and needs a primer.

As Jason said, internal parts get handled less and sometimes you can get away without a primer, dependent on paint brand.

Neil

[robvulcan]

I don't use primer as such but I do use a Humbrol Rattle can of any matt paint as theirs sticks to the plastic and gives an amazing fine finish thats highly scratch resistant and allows your next paint applications to stick very well, (Acrylics)

In the old days when enamels were real enamels complete with lead chromate I never primed as they actually become nigh on impossible to scratch off becoming part of the plastic but now they are not anywhere near as good and I would prime for enamel.

[Catbird]

I use Xtracrylix and have never primed them. I use a "hairy stick". As said Vallejo are good but very delicate. How about primer before an airbrush coat? yes or no?

[Foghorn Leghorn]

In the old days when enamels were real enamels complete with lead chromate I never primed as they actually become nigh on impossible to scratch off becoming part of the plastic but now they are not anywhere near as good and I would prime for enamel.

D'ya know, that's a good point I've not bought any enamels over the last 2-3 years so I've not tried the newer formulas.

[robvulcan]

D'ya know, that's a good point I've not bought any enamels over the last 2-3 years so I've not tried the newer formulas.

Well I am talking more of 20 years ago when Humbrol enamels were awsome. Still good now but not like they were.

I hear White Ensign are very nice.

[Nigel Heath]

I prime pretty much everything (except the clear bits, doh). Its not just for paint adhesion but a way of showing up flaws. It just seems like good practice to me. I mainly use enamels and an airbrush.

I agree about Vallejo, nice paints but they have a tendency to rub off high spots with any significant handling - even with a primer.

[Foghorn Leghorn]

Well I am talking more of 20 years ago when Humbrol enamels were awsome. Still good now but not like they were.

A lot of my enamels are from that era, a coveted tin of French Artillery Green comes to mind for starters ...

However, I'm in danger if hijacking the thread so I'll shut up now

[Filler]

I've always used rattle can primer, usually either Halfords or Tamiya. However, I find that this costs me a small fortune as most of a can misses the model and it also (in my hands) has a tendency to go on a bit think and rough in Halfords case. So I need to rub down the whole model and can risk filling the panel lines.

I have seen in videos on Flory Models site that Phil primes using slightly thinned Tamiya Sky Grey or something similar. It seems like a cracking idea to me as it's much more precise than a rattle can and probably cheaper. The only thing that struck me as odd was that the Tamiya paint isn't a primer so how come it doesn't suffer the same adhesion problems that you'd get if you didn't prime first - if you know what I mean?

[dhdove]

As a returner, fings ain't what the used to be!

I used to exclusively hand brush with old school Humbrol (and Airfix!) enamels and never had any kind of problem. I never dreamed of using primer....who did! I don't think anyone did? Or even thought to do so!

Now I have an airbrush, which is a wonderful piece of kit and I have used mainly Tamiya acrylics to airbrush, but still paint cockpit interiors and detail parts, undercarriage, missiles etc. by hand with a brush using enamels. Thankfully I still have many old Humbrol enamels left in my paintbox.

I read the horror stories about rubbish Chinese Humbrol enamels and yes, they were no exageration........ But I also read that production back in the UK had solved these problems.

WRONG! It's just not the same paint anymore, it takes a lot of mixing, it separates fast after mixing, and upon use it just doesn't cover like it used to. It's a shadow of what it used to be both literally and figuratively.

I have used Vallejo, nice range of colours but boy is it soft! Even on primer it will rub off if you look at it. Get the lacquer on before you dare even touch it.

BUT.... this week I bought my first Revell Aqua Color acrylic (Lufthansa Blue semi gloss for my 1/48 F9F-5 Grumman Panther......BTW no I'm not painting it Tamiya XF17 Sea Blue=dirty mucky grey)

What lovely paint this Aqua Color is!

Very thick and gloopy, great colour density, brushes on beautifully neat, covers well, sprays on beautifully (tho thinned minimum 60:40 Tamiya XF-20 thinners:paint, otherwise I think it would block the nozzle rapidly!) Lovely coverage.

I think that this is the way I'm going to go if the rest of the range matches these results. Also comes in a brilliant square pot of innovative design.

I think it may be the way forward if the other colours match up and from the research I have done even the metallics get rave reviews.....

It's such a shame that Humbrol enamels are a shadow of their former selves, maybe acrylic technology is starting to overtake environmentally friendly (and totally flawed) modern enamels?

Here's Hoping.

Just my two penneth worth :-)

TonyS