Putting on the I AM STUPID hat tonite!

Jim,

I have used several brands of primer paint and the best I have used are Tamiya L flat white primer and Gamesworkshop Skull white primer. Both are excellent spray on primer paints. They spray on very fine and smooth and you do not have to sand between coats. They both come in a spray paint can. The Tamiya brand is also sold in a jar and can be airbrushed. The difference between the two brands are Tamiya is an acrylic primer and Gamesworkshop brand is an enamel yet both can be used with both acrylic and enamel model paints. I have also used Krylon spray primer with good results but you will need to do a little bit of light sanding between coats if you use the Krylon brand. You can find both the Tamiya and Gamesworkshop brands at local hobby shop and they can also be ordered online. I personally prefer the Gamesworkshop brand it costs a few dollars more than the Tamiya brand but you get more for your money.

I have used MM enamels for years and never used a primer-what would you suggest?

That's good but are you laying down a primer coat after masking?  This will really help your primary paint colors adhere hard to the model surface and allow you to peel off the masking without damaging the surrounding paint.

I always mask, paint, and remove the tape all in one session. Tape never stays on more than an hour or two. I learned that lesson long ago, not only on models, but a car I attempted some body work on.

Jim, I would say using "magic" tape was a mistake over any painted surface. Even when you reduce the tackiness it will peel paint with it if left on to long. I found this out the hard way. I switched over to a low tack painters grade masking tape. I reduce the tack further by rubbing the strips against the back of my hands and let the skin oils create a barrier that lets me peel the tape off without peeling off the paint with it. The results have been very good for me.

Also do you paint a primer coat over the model after masking and before you paint it? I have found that painting a primer coat first makes your finishing paint bite down harder to the model surface and makes it very hard for the tape to peel off paint when you remove your masking.

Hope this helps.