Painting white over grey primer

I don't build space too much but I build airliners- same thing.

I like starting with gray primer, it makes it easier to see where the white paint coverage is too thin.

If I understand your question, one coat of gray, two coats of white.

I use the Mr Surfacer 1200 for primer ,when I spray white,it's light coats building up slowly till it's covered

Tamiya makes a very good primer in white, as well as gray.  White primer might be the best way to go.  I think you will find it is as good as Mr. Surfacer.

I'll second the Tamiya white primer option!

Hello!

I'm also opting for Tamiya white primer (in a spray can), when painting larger surfaces. Although it goes on a lot better on top of a coat of Tamiya grey primer. Recently I used that method for those builds:

and also for this one, currently in progress:

Sometimes, like when painting wheel wells, it's good to put white on top of a silver layer - works very nice too.

Hope it helps, have a nice day

Paweł

I like Mr. Surfacer but it has a very strong chemical odor. It sprays beautifully and produces a great primer coat. For some reason, I used it the last time and damaged the needle bearing in my brand new Badger. I have been hesitant to spray it again so I tried Tamiya's grey primer thru my AB and I think they are about the same in delivering a super smooth finish. No problems with my AB after using the Tamiya primer.

I often find that flat white covers much better than gloss white from the same manufacturer (this is at least true for Tamiya acrylics). You can build up coverage with flat white, using fewer coats than you would using gloss, then apply a gloss white top coat.

I also decant Krylon white and black primers and do agree that the flat colors cover better.

I get great results when I prime with Tamiya Fine Grey primer and then prime again with Tamiya White primer.  It seems like when I just use the white primer only it tends to collect in the corners but it covers evenly with a coat of grey primer underneath.

On this build, I used both grey and white Krylon primers.  I started with the grey after everything was put together as a base to see any "ghost" panel lines and imperfections, after they were fixed I then coated it with white Krylon.  Then I applied several thin white coats of Model Master pure white that I decanted and sprayed through my AB.

Hi ;

I find that using White Primer ( Tamiya or Rust-O-Leum ) is best for the larger models .Then a sparkling coat of Gloss and /or Semi Gloss renders your model a work of art ! This is primarilly how I do Motoryacht hulls .

Everyone has a different method.  I use Model Master enamels almost exclusively.  When spraying white or yellow, I always use their light grey, FS 36495.  I then spray very light coats of either gloss or flat white, depending on what the project is.

Phil_H

I often find that flat white covers much better than gloss white from the same manufacturer (this is at least true for Tamiya acrylics). You can build up coverage with flat white, using fewer coats than you would using gloss, then apply a gloss white top coat.

I'm using Tamiya Pearl White rattlecan paint for a ship, but it doesn't seem to be covering very well. I sprayed it first with Tamiya white primer, which also failed to cover some small blemishes. The Pearl White paint seems to be glossy, but not extremely glossy. I thought that a second coat might complete the job, but there was hardly any change to its apparent translucence. Suggestions?

Bob

When I built my Saturn V, I too started off with Tamiya grey primer, followed by two coats of the white primer (satin/flat), followed by two coats of semi-gloss white.

I used to work close to home, so I would spray paint the parts in the backyard during my lunch breaks.

The car guys tell me that's how they do red and yellow paint jobs - start with a flat version of the final color, then finish off with the gloss color.

Bobstamp

The Pearl White paint seems to be glossy, but not extremely glossy.

I hope you're using TS-45 Pearl White and not PS-57 Pearl White. 

Real G

When I built my Saturn V, I too started off with Tamiya grey primer, followed by two coats of the white primer (satin/flat), followed by two coats of semi-gloss white.

Thank you, Real G. Spraying grey primer first makes sense. It should do a better job of covering than white primer, which in turn shouldn't have to "work" as hard to cover, and then a final coat or two of the Pearl White. I'll try that. I've already sprayed so many coats that it won't make much difference!

Bob 

Phil_H

I hope you're using TS-45 Pearl White and not PS-57 Pearl White. 

Thanks for the caution, Phil. I am using Tamiya TS-45 Pearl White spray paint.

Bob

Your primer needed to be rubbed down and revolted at least once.

Pearl White is a little Gray- is that an effect you want? never too late to rub things down a little and re coat.

Sounds like a hospital ship.

Bill

GMorrison

Your primer needed to be rubbed down and revolted at least once.

Pearl White is a little Gray- is that an effect you want? never too late to rub things down a little and re coat.

Sounds like a hospital ship.

Bill

It is a hospital ship, the same Repose I've been working on forever. An employee in a model store told me that model from the 1950s are more frustrating than rewarding to build. I didn't listen, but at least I've learned a lot! Now...

Rubbing down the primer? Please explain. I thought the idea of primer was to provide "tooth" for the final paint. Rubbing it down, which I assume means polishing, would seem to defeat the purpose.

I assume that you meant "re-coated" rather than "revolted"! Darned spell checkers!  

I chose the pearl white paint because I didn't want the model to look factory-new. Of course, I'm making so many errors that it's going to look very war weary regardless of the paint I use!

Bob