Tamiya Acrylic Primer

On straight styrene, Tamiya paints really do not need primer. They have excellent adhesion, and are pretty durable once cured. If you’re planning to use them over other mediums such as resin or metal, primer is a good idea.

I have used their Liquid Surface Primer from the bottle, both gray and white, and that is a super product. But I don’t think it is an acrylic primer. I thin it with lacquer thinner for airbrushing. The stuff adheres to anything, and sticks like there is no tomorrow.  

Always prime, no matter the paint.

A bit over two years ago I tried Stynylrez primer and have never looked back, pretty much all I use now. And I do prime every model, it only takes a few minutes and you don't have to wonder about tape pulling or uneven color shading etc... I usually do one or two light coats, enough to cover everything and done with it. Stynylrez self levels and snuggles into every detail, nothing lost everything to gain.

oldermodelguy

nothing lost everything to gain.

That's my take on priming, too. And I second the vote for Stylnylrez. It is so easy to apply and dries so insanely fast that I can't find a reason not to prime.

Though I agree with Stik inasmuch as Tamiya acrylics bond quite well to styrene, my position is once you have had one major incident with acrylics pulling up with masking tape that might be enough to persuade you to prime everything.

Put another way, you are probably ok with Tamiya, but is probably good enough? It might well be, or not.

As i have said in previous posts....if you talk to any good auto body person, they will tell you that to NOT prime is crazy.  Primer is not only to give the paint something to bite into but it will also prep your surface for a much smoother finish and show you any mistakes in your body work.  

Aircraft Manufactuers dont even paint an aircraft without priming....why should we as modelers not do the exact same thing? We are trying to replicate the subject as accuratly as possible. So, why not do what they do??

The questions i have for the OP is...why would you NOT want to prime??

Just my 2 cents

I've primed and not primed with Tamiya paints and as long as you let the paint cure properly both ways work. I prime most all of the time though and when I do I use stynylrez. I prime  because like others have said it allows you to see areas that need attention before painting. That is really the only reason I have found to prime at all with Tamiya paints.

For me, always a good soap and full rinse of the sprues when first out of the box. Then, of all the primers I have used, Stynylrez is my go to every time. Very user friendly and never any drama. An alcohol cleaning of the plastic prior to painting. Always prime, that way I catch so many little divits I didn't see while prepping surface.

Very little extra time or effort, I consider it a reliable way of finishing, really can't remember how long since I had any lifting or contamination in a painted surface.

Patrick

Gentlemen, most excellent feedback! I will prime.

Thank you all.

Steve

Most styrene is translucent, not highly reflecting. Hence, sometimes minor flaws like slight die sinks can be hard to see.  Priming really helps show up these minor imperfections so you can fill them.