primer color for ships

I'm sorry I don't have a suggestion. I would love to see this model, any time.

I prime the hulls of all my ships in black.  Not only to help the final coat sit better, but to check the hull is smooth and there are no rough spots or seams after putty and sanding.

 I find that a Black primer tend's to bring out the true color of the final coat. I dont know the "Scientific" term but it add's more depth. 

I "usually" use a Black primer, UNLESS  I m going to use a Yellow as a final coat. Or a "Candy color. This being a ship you won't have to worry about these.

Final color plus scale for me.

Under 1/350-1/400 scale, preshading is rather pointless--at a 12" viewing distance, you area scale 350-40' away.  I might preshade at 1/60-1/72, but would really not bother until 1/48.

Final color, and which part of the hull, do seem to matter, though.  For instance, on black hulls, I really like priming in silver or a very pale gray.
For gray hulls, I kind of like using a blue primer.
For superstructures, I will use white or radome tan for primer.  For the most modern USN ships, Iv'e taken to using Sky Type S, as that sets a really good base for the pre-catylized paint in current USN use (and the "easter egg" look repainting gives).

For white hulls, pearlescent primer is the bomb.  But, for Great White Fleet ships, red for the hull, and ocher/tan for the superstructure really seems to be the key.

For decks, I near universally use a blue primer.

CapnMac82

Final color plus scale for me.

Under 1/350-1/400 scale, preshading is rather pointless--at a 12" viewing distance, you area scale 350-40' away.  I might preshade at 1/60-1/72, but would really not bother until 1/48.

Final color, and which part of the hull, do seem to matter, though.  For instance, on black hulls, I really like priming in silver or a very pale gray.
For gray hulls, I kind of like using a blue primer.
For superstructures, I will use white or radome tan for primer.  For the most modern USN ships, Iv'e taken to using Sky Type S, as that sets a really good base for the pre-catylized paint in current USN use (and the "easter egg" look repainting gives).

For white hulls, pearlescent primer is the bomb.  But, for Great White Fleet ships, red for the hull, and ocher/tan for the superstructure really seems to be the key.

For decks, I near universally use a blue primer.

 

When you talk about using the various color primers, are you using an actual primer, or an undercoat in that color?  I ask because the only primers available around here come in dark red, black, gray, and white.  (Tamiya rattlecan grey primer and white primer are my two go-to primers in most cases.) 

Hello !

 I don't think it really matters . In real life most all ships are primed in Red . Where Navies are concerned it does make a little difference .Haze grey doesn't good look over Black or white and or Grey to me .

    Why ? well, these colors remember , Are like base coats  . Now if you are going to use Any Navy light grey above the boot stripe , remember this is affected in color value by the primer coat . Yes , even in miniature