Primer for Tamiya acrylics

Thanks MikeJ for the advice. I'll give it a go on my next project

I use Tamiya spray can primer, either fine white or regular grey. It is a lacquer paint and gives a nice smooth finish suitable for over painting with any acrylic or even BMF/metalliser paints.

Being lacquer it provides a great key for subsequent paint coats.

cheers

MikeJ

Thanks again guys. While I haven't had much luck with using MM Acryls for fine-line work, they do lay down a very durable, smooth paint film, even their flats. If I could get them to spray fine lines as good as MM enamels, they would be the only acrylic paint in my workshop, aside from Gunze ofcource. I'll have to solicit the help of other Acryl users to see if I can improve performance. Any recommendations on preparing Acryl for fine-line spraying? The manufactuer thinner doesn't seem to do the trick for my Iwata Hp-C. I've tried thinning it with everything from 70% Iso, to Distilled water/Iso mix and Windex.......still no joy.

MUST prime if you are masking, and cleaning the part is a MUST also. apart fromt hat, acryls are great !

Greg,

I don't know about Tamiya acrylics but I have found that wiping the parts first with Polyscale Plastic Prep makes MM Acryl adhere better.

Mike

Just as I suspected, Thanks again guys!

I've used alcohol to clean, sometimes acetone...

usually what I use is acrylic airbrush cleaner from hobby lobby... it's a pink soap used especially to cut through acrylics... it's not real hard on the hands but it seems to cut through a lot... I even use it to wash my hands after spraying. any bit of overspray comes right off with it... It's in a white bottle with a green label made by EZ-Air. says it's enviromentally safe too which is also a plus...

the next thing I am going to try is 409 with orange power.... it cuts through ANYTHING I have used it on in real life... tape residue, oils etc...

That is one of the problems with acrylics, their adhesion is just not that great and they can be pulled up easily. Priming is, as you indicated, an effective way to minimize that problem. It gives something for the paint to adhere to and will help a lot..

Also, make sure your parts are clean before painting. The molding process frequently leaves some mold release oil on the sirface and that can prevent the paint from adhering. Most people just use soapy water for cleaning their parts, then allow them to dry thoroughly. I use alcohol because I'm impatient.