Priming your model

doog is right. That stuff is fantastic!!! if you have to use primer. I only use it for places where I've done some body work, filler and such. I try to stay away from primer if I can. It can muddy up the details like emblems and lines. I will use primer on all colored plastic. Red is the worst of all. I bought up a bunch of Jo-Han Cudas before they started going up in price and some were white and one was green, I think a yellow one and and 2 orange ones

Thanks Urbanlamb, since I have two bodies primed and the can instuctions say either way, I think I will sand one and not the other and see how it turns out. Might be an interesting experiment to learn from.

Urbanlamb wrote:

I've been hearing a bit about wet sanding...why do wet instead of dry, and how do you do a wet sanding??

Wet sanding is simply sanding, using water as a lubricant. You can't do this with all sandpapers - some, typically the yellow/buff coloured type, will disintegrate when wet. You need to use the dark grey waterproof type.

When you wet sand, the water acts as a lubricant, preventing the abrasive surface from clogging with sanding dust. This gives a smoother finish, as the waste material doesn't accumulate into large lumps (potentially causing gouges).  

"It sounds like you will need to give them a wet sanding first from your description. "

 

I've been hearing a bit about wet sanding...why do wet instead of dry, and how do you do a wet sanding??

Thanks for the replies. I define powder coat as slightly coarser than a flat coat. It's not overspray, that I'm sure of. Can instructions is what brought me to this question. They say that you can sand or apply color directly to the coat. The primer coat looks even/smooth with no blobs or pimply pattern.

-Stephen

Try Tamiya's primer--that stuff is amazing.

 Read the can instructions and recommendations - a "porus" or rough texture will be a sandable primer, a smooth finish will be a "no prep" ready for top coat primer. It sounds like you will need to give them a wet sanding first from your description.

Define "powder coat."  Sounds like overspray to me.  If it is overspray, you will want to sand your primer coat.