Help with priming

[TheVoidDragon]

I'm having some difficulty with figuring out what to do regarding Priming stuff. It's more convenient and easier for me to brush-paint, but pretty much everywhere i've read says brush-based primers are a bad idea and to just go for spray. Spray is obviously easier to actually prime and I will just use that when i have a completely assembled model, but when it's something that isn't complete yet it's a bit more difficult. With the weather and other factors like that, being able to just go to my desk and paint it as needed with a brush is more convenient for me, especially when it comes to things like cockpits and interiors that aren't going to be reachable too well after the rest is complete. Spraying individual parts doesn't seem really suitable but as i've read not to bother with brush primers i don't know what to do about parts like that.

 

I've had some Citadel Imperial Primer and that just doesn't work in the slightest no matter what, and that's a common complaint with it (it ends up being extremely thin and bubbly no matter what, meaning it doesn't apply properly) but i don't know what somehing like Vallejo's brush primers are like.

 

Can anyone help? Are brush really best avoided or are is that more a case of people just preferring using spray primers?

 

[Mike]

Can't speak for brush-painting primers, but I can recommend a couple of aerosol ones if you can manage to find a gap in the showers to use them

 

Try Tamiya Surface Primer, or Gunze Mr Surfacer.  They're both excellent, and spray well from the can (good quality nozzle), although the Tamiya product is probably more easy to find in the UK.  You didn't mention whether you're using acrylics or Enamels, but if it's enamels, you're probably wasting effort by priming... I don't know.  It's a looooong time since I used enamels (the 80s), and I never used to prime

[Beard]

I brush-paint enamels so don't bother priming, except when painting colours such as yellow and then I use white Halfords acrylic primer.

 

[RJP]

I often prime but don’t generally use a purpose-formulated primer.  A careful coat of gloss enamel works quite well for a primer and I usually find no specialised primer has been necessary.  Paint it on, let it cure properly and buff it out.  I have been using the same tin of Humbrol green for years.  It works.

 

Primer only does three things.  If you don’t need to accomplish them, you don’t need to prime at all.

 

First, it gives a good basis for the subsequent colour coat to adhere.  That usually isn’t much of a problem if you are brushing enamels, their adhesive qualities are generally excellent on their own.

 

Second, they give a uniform base colour, important if you are using colour coats that aren’t opaque.  Most enamels are pretty good in that respect, especially the darker ones.

 

Lastly, they give a uniform surface for the colour coats.  For example, if you have worked the surface with sandpaper or used one of the tube fillers you will find the surface has a subtly different texture than the surrounding plastic.  It will announce its presence with some authority but only after you have painted it.  The effects can be lessened with artful sanding, fine papers used wet and so on, but a coat of primer will fill the tiny imperfections you have introduced. 

 

I stress this is what works for me.  Your mileage may vary:  the only right answer is the method that works for you.

 

One note, however.  It's been said often that Tamiya fine white primer is an admirable white paint all on its own.  I haven't tried it but have an old Airfix Sunderland that will need large areas of white and am looking forward to trying it out.

Edited November 27, 2017 by RJP

[Vinnie]

I tend to use Halfords grey plastic primer in a rattle can and spray the small parts while they are still on the sprue. They are then ready for brush painting as and when I need them. Works for me.

Edited November 27, 2017 by Vinnie
Typo

[Giorgio N]

I've recently started experimenting with Vallejo primers and they seem to brush ok. They may be a bit too thin, maybe adding a couple coats is better but on small parts I do well with a single coat. Never tried them on large parts though as I would airbrush the same primer on these. I second Mike's suggestion for an aerosol primer if it's something you can use, Tamiya primer is IMHO still one of the very best around

[Steve Noble]

I only use Tamiya aerosol primer when I want the best finish, say a model car or bike body parts. For other parts such as engines and stuff I'll use Halfords grey primer as it's a lot cheaper than Tamiya. Sometimes depending on the parts I use no primer at all. This also depends what paint I'm using because some you need a primer and some you can get away without.

[Timbo343]

I've started using wilko (in the uk) grey primer. It's possibly the beat primer i've used and i've tested halfords, hycote, simoniz.

[fewr9fkr9595]

I have brushed the stynylrez range of pimers and the results are encouraging 👍🏿