To prime or not to prime, that is the question?

I rarely prime. When I do I mist on just enough to give the paint something to bite onto. If I have to cover a lot of putty of a different color than the plastic and need a consistant base color I will apply just enough to get color consistancy. My three color of choices for priming...light gray, flat white or aluminum.

Models with delicate recessed details will be lost if one applies too many layers or too thick of an application of paint. If you do lose detail you can scribe it to retrieve it before you spray your last color/application of paint.

Hawkeye, Can you tell me what you use to prime. Do you prime out of a can type primers ?

Do you use your airbrush to prime ?

If so, what kind of paint and what mix ratio ?

Bob

Primarily what ever flat whether it be acrylic or enamel I have the most of at the time. Tamiya or Model Master. For aluminum I use either my SnJ Spray Metal (enamel) or Talon Series (acrylic) paints.

The only parts I ever brush paint are small detail pieces. Otherwise I airbrush everything. I thin to the consistancy of 2% milk.

I almost never prime, with the exception if I am mixing media, using PE, plastic, and resin.

I tried priming with cheap all-around Wallmart primers, but they were too thick. The absolute best I've found is the Tamiya fine surface primer. You have to apply it in several light coats, but it is a fantastic product.