When do you Primer?

Only when the plastic and the color scheme are very different do I use primer. Like white paint over black plastic...

Or when kitbashing (because of the different colors of plastic).

I use Wal-Mart Automotive as well, but I don't prime anything but metal and items that will be brush-painted, like cockpits, armor and vehicle interiors, and figures... Especially if using Tamiya acrylics... That stuff always needs priming if I'm brush-painting with it..

I concur with Mark! 

I use the cheap ($1.27) rattle can primer from Walmart for all my parts and sub assemblies.

When it comes to small parts I use 2 inch wide masking tape and mount them all to an old box lid or piece of heavy cardboard.  I spray one side, let it dry thoroughly then flip 'em over and prime the other side.

I do the same thing when painting.

I'm gonna try to paint my Academy Merkava III and Revell Marder 1 A3 this weekend if the weather cooperates!

Richard

It depends on the model for me.  I usually like to put together any sub-assemblies that I can before painting, especially ones that will end up with the same final color.

I usually don't paint parts on the sprues because I like to clean up any mold parting lines or sink marks before priming.

I'll use a spray can to prime large parts like car bodies or ship hulls, but use my airbrush for most parts to better control paint build-up.

I use gray primer most of the time, but use flat white when I want to apply a light-colored finish color, say white or yellow.

Mark