Why Primer?

Why Primer? That is a good question, let me see if I can't help out some...

Primer will not only help find un-even sections on a body, it also gives the paint something to adhere to. While you could lightly sand the body and give the plastic some tooth, scratches might show even after a couple of coats. You could have a perfectly sanded body and one area has a scratch deeper than the rest....it will show especially on high gloss auto finishes. So you would then have to go back and prime it anyways...

Primer is a must with some paints....like certain auto laquer colors. It helps protect the frail plastic from withering away or turning into a pile of un-recognizable plastic.

Also priming the model with a color of your choice could affect the overall outcome...for example pearl paints or candy paints with a silver base coat. Another good reason for priming is the model companies don't always mold the plastic in the most ideal colors! Though they have gotten better about it over the years...Do you know how hard it is to paint something white, when the plastic was molded in RED? Virtually impossible without erasing all the detail from paint coat buildup...So shooting a primer coat of another color (I often use flat white/grey) makes the task a lot easier...

I'm sure there are other reasons as well, but these are some of the reasons I prime parts. Don't get me wrong I don't prime every single part...but a vast majority get hit with a rattle can of primer.

I hope this is of some help.

I find light sanding to be more of a hassle so I just spray on primer. As History said, primer helps me spot the defects in my work, specially in areas that I've puttied. It will also be more beneficial if you plan to use acrylic paints, as this type of paint generally has weak adhesion with plastic, unlike with enamels and lacquers. Primer provides acrylics more teeth to bite into, so to speak. Hope this helps.

Cheers,
onyan

hey
im only new to the hobby but, like the other guys say, spraying a coat of primer helps me find defects and scratches and such in a car body alot easier thanif it werent painted.... just spray a light coat on and any scrathes will stand out like dogs balls :)

to me, unless its detail painting, a light coat of primer goes a long way. it shows up irregularities, it allows you to lay down less color coats, and it also helps acrylics adhere better, especuially if maskign is involved. it may seem like trouble, but in the long run it renders superior results.

i might just want to add that if you're working with multi-media kits, i.e. kits made out of plastic, resin and/or different types of metals, to which you may add superglue or other fillers, you end up with a very varied surface to which a particular paint may react or not... Priming 'even out' all that and you can therefore start with an even surface.

Is the Valkyrie an example of what happens if you don't prime a surface?

I have found from experience that some paints just won't stick without first priming the plastic, and there is nothing worse than painting the top coat, only to discover imperfections that were invisible before.

Karl

I was always a bit ho hum when it came to priming my models, sometimes I would do it and sometimes not depending on the type of paint I was using, lacquers, etc.

The other week I gave myself an example of how much difference it makes. I was painting a Spitfire Mk.VIII that has a heavy white band on the leading edge of the wing that continues on to cover the cannons. The wing was primed, but the cannons were not and the difference in how well the white paint covered the parts was amazing. The end result was that the cannons needed several more coats than the wing or a decent coverage.

I'm converted, I will prime everything as a rule from now on.

Darren

Using different colors of primer will altter what the color of the finish (top) coat will look like. The top wing on pre-war us navy bi-planes was a bright yellow, if you primer with grey (rattle can like I usually do) or black the yellow will be way too dark. so I primer with flat white. You can pre-shade areas of your model by using light or dark primer then light coats of color. If it's metal, primer!!!! Then again I was in the navy so that's a given.... G.L.

Quote: Is the Valkyrie an example of what happens if you don't prime a surface?

Good one, Karl! Never thought of that while chosing that pic for my tag... Interesting picture, no? Would be a great scheme to do with the salt technique.. Pity no-one releases a Valkyrie at a 'decent' scale.. 1/144 would just be perfect for my display cabinet... Maybe I need to write to Trumpeter, but then, knowng them, they'd release it in 1/24..!

Primer for most of my builds is a must, for all the reasons above and a few more.

I often use different grades of primer 500/1000/1200 grits to get a very smooth surface, in some cases I will prime white and the white primer will NOT be covered by a white paint coat.
For some materials primer is a MUST(Metal, Vinyl, Resin, etc), whereas on others it is optional.

Once you have seen the difference that a good coat of primer does and how many other problems like paint lifting, etc can disappear most people will be converts.

FYI, the primers I use are airbrushed on and not from a rattle-can.

DJ the photo just seemed rather apt!

Must admit I know little or nothing about the Valkyrie, but it would sure make an unusual model, especially in 1/24!

Karl

Karl,

the Valkyrie is, to me anyway, the most beautiful aircraft ever built. I wish someone would release a decent kit of this beauty at a decent scale... 1/72 is WAY too big and let's face it the AMT kit is far from being perfect also... I'm eagerly awaiting a new kit of the Valkyrie in 1/144... Cutting Edge have released a 1/200 kit, but it's way above my purchasing power...

I shudder at the thought of a 1/24 Valkyrie. The real thing is just sooo big!

never!!

If you get the chance to visit Wright- Patterson AFB museum, the Valkyrie is AMAZING! Pictures don't do it justice. Plus, according to their website, they are getting the Memphis Belle.

hey ppls

is gunze mr surfacer a good primer to use? im saw the 1000 grit (ithink) at the lhs. i paint mainly cars... im worried that it will cover up surface details..
ive been expermenting with enamel spray cans as primers and wondering if this is a good primer

thanks

I discovered mr. surface 1000 a couple months ago. Brushed, it's great for filling small gaps . For big gaps I use squadron putty and then mr. surface on top to get really smooth surfaces.
I only tried once using it as primer. It dries too fast and is awfully messy. It clogged my airbrush in few minutes. So, I'm staying with modelmaster primer. I have also used regular spray can acrylic primer (bought in a regular hardware store) and it worked fine.
Don´t try to paint acrlics over plastic, without primer, and then mask it. Believe me :(