white paint problems

Use a primer first. Will solve that problem and will allow you to use less white for good color density.

Sounds like you got Mold release residue still on the parts, happens at times.
Wash the parts in a warm soapy solution (dishwashing liquid) and let them dry, before priming /painting the Kit. You should do that after sanding too.

The stuff is designed to help pop the parts out of the metal molds and even primer might do the same thing.

Quick wash and you should be ok, common problem on Resin kits.

thx guys!

i forgot to mention that i did wash the parts in soapy water first...so i'm not sure that's the issue. i just filled the sink with dishwashing soap, then gave all the parts (while still on the tree) a good swishing.

but i didn't use a primer....i think i'll give that a try.

do i just prime everything? is there a specific type of primer i should use? why would i only encounter this problem with the white paint? something about the pigment?

:)

White paint is always a problem, so is yellow. I generally prime the entire model as this will also let you see where there may be surface problems so you can address them before a final paint is on. I use Model Master primer gray for most of my stuff but for lacquers I use Krylon gloss black as a primer. See the picture below... this is just after being primed. The model is made of a white polystyrene and is primed with the Model Master primer gray.

A particular white paint that works very well is Floquil Reefer White.

i don't know about plastic, but i have built resin kits before.
i used the tamiya gray primer out of a can. this stuff sticks really well to the resin peices. even if you try to scratch it, it won't come easily. not even if sanded down.
but i don't like spray cans. it always comes out bumpy and distorted for me. it always looks like dried up craters or something. and i don't like wasting time sanding everything down. even though this stuff adheres amazingly.
is there a primer that comes in a bottle that i can airbrush?

and what exactly is a primer? is it the same thing is a first painted coat?

does it have to say "primer" on the product for it to be a primer?

even if i primed my kits, the paint came off pretty easily. so i'm not even sure if this stuff is worth it. maybe a good topcoat will protect the paint better. if you spray it on more than one coat that is.

lonerboy

Gunze Sangyo has a range of primers available in bottles:
Mr Surfacer 1000 Bottle
Mr Surfacer 500 Bottle
Mr Resin primer surfacer Bottle
Mr Base White
I use them for priming via my airbrush, the 500 & 1000 is the grid rating of the surfacer.

They also do a "Mr Dissolved putty" which I really like.

Hope this helps.

QUOTE: Originally posted by lonerbboy i don't know about plastic, but i have built resin kits before. i used the tamiya gray primer out of a can. this stuff sticks really well to the resin peices. even if you try to scratch it, it won't come easily. not even if sanded down. but i don't like spray cans. it always comes out bumpy and distorted for me. it always looks like dried up craters or something. and i don't like wasting time sanding everything down. even though this stuff adheres amazingly. is there a primer that comes in a bottle that i can airbrush? and what exactly is a primer? is it the same thing is a first painted coat? does it have to say "primer" on the product for it to be a primer? even if i primed my kits, the paint came off pretty easily. so i'm not even sure if this stuff is worth it. maybe a good topcoat will protect the paint better. if you spray it on more than one coat that is.

Why not just decant the spray can out of the can into a bottle? Swanny put me onto the Krylon black to use as a primer for Alclad. That Krylon came in a big spray can, but I just sprayed it through a straw into a bottle, and transferred that into my airbrush. It worked like a charm.

I'd also like to thank Swanny for all the help he's given everyone, and for having a great website. I'm still not sure how he can do so much so fast and so well however. Thanks Swanny!

Primers are for base coating and therefore have a "tooth" to help paint adhere. Which works great on a full-size car but may necessitate some sanding on models. It is also porous, so rust, weather, etc. can still get through.

Aw shucks, Maddafinga, twernt nuthin.