need some help with airbrush and primer/paint

dublove

Member since
May 2005

need some help with airbrush and primer/paint

Posted by dublove on Wednesday, June 1, 2005 2:19 PM

Hi all,

Some really cool projects and posts i've seen on these forums :)

Anyway i'm a little stuck on the paths I can take. I've got a compressor and an aztek 4709 set and a large selection of humbrol enamels. However there seems to be an enamel primer shortage in the uk as I cannot find any enamel primer apart from 14ml tinlets. I've been to three diy stores and nada which I find hard to believe, none on and web site either!

Been reading up on primers of several forums and sites but am lost. If I can get some humbrol primer I will but for now it looks like I might have to syphon of some spray cans. But what type of stuff? Loads of info tells me that lacquer based primers will eat my styrene plastic while equal info tells me its fine. (see www.swannysmodels.com he uses krylon) I'm assuming lacquer based is the same as cellulose based?

Can I used an acrylic primer under enamels? Can I use a cellulose primer on plastic kits? I've used Simonize grey cellulose primer on plastic before but maybe it was not styrene.

If anyone knows a place I can buy a large bottle of enamel primer in the UK help me out or reccomendations for a primer that will happily have enamels sprayed on it..?

Hoping for help :)

James

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Macio4ever

Member since
February 2005
From: Warsaw, Poland

Posted by Macio4ever on Wednesday, June 1, 2005 5:22 PM

Hi,

You can use Tamiya primer (celuloze) which is in grey or white color (sold in cans). I have tried with acrylics and lacqeurs and it performs extremly well. I am sure that it would be the same with enamels (less hot paint)

Macio

Macio4ever http://www.macio4ever.net

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MusicCity

Member since
January 2004
From: USA

Posted by MusicCity on Wednesday, June 1, 2005 7:26 PM

QUOTE: Been reading up on primers of several forums and sites but am lost. If I can get some humbrol primer I will but for now it looks like I might have to syphon of some spray cans. But what type of stuff? Loads of info tells me that lacquer based primers will eat my styrene plastic while equal info tells me its fine. (see www.swannysmodels.com he uses krylon) I'm assuming lacquer based is the same as cellulose based?

Laquer-based paints won't normally melt the plastic because the thinner evaporates too quickly. Some of them will etch the surface but not always. You do not want to soak parts in laquer thinner for any amount of time though, nor do I Recommend it for removing paint from styrene. I've used Krylon, Alclad, Tamiya and other laquers without any problems.

Scott Craig -- Nashville, TN -- My Website -- My Models Page

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dublove

Member since
May 2005

Posted by dublove on Thursday, June 2, 2005 4:54 AM

So thats cool I can decant some auto primer to use in my airbrush, but are lacquer and celulose thinners the same? As i'll need to clean the airbrush after. Can i soak the aztek nozzle in the thinner or will it damage that plastic?

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KJ200

Member since
July 2003
From: Bicester, England

Posted by KJ200 on Thursday, June 2, 2005 6:45 AM

James, cellulose and lacquer based paints are the same.

Rather than risk damaging your AB, why not just apply the primer direct from the can? I know of quite a few modellers who do, mainly using the Halfords stuff, which is cheap and readily available in the UK.

Where in the UK are you?

Karl

Currently on the bench: AZ Models 1/72 Mig 17PF