Primer for Metalizer?

Testors has a good tutorial on their website concerning painting with Metalizer.

 

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Metalizer lays down a very fine and thin coat. Primer leaves rough surface. Metalizer will show that graininess, spoiling the effect of natural metal.

Model Master Metalizer is designed to be used on plastic without primer.  You should polish your plastic with rubbing compound or micro mesh, this will give you a smooth base.

I have use Future as a base/primer for Model Master Metalizer and have had good results, but it is still fragile.

Update: Thats how experiments go. Vinyl sealer will definately NOT stick to plastic. It didnt melt it. Looked pretty decent until I tried to do a little abrasion test on it, at which point it rolled right off with a fingernail.

I'm going to reply with a disclaimer. My use of metalizers has thus far been limited to small things and I haven't had any issues. That said, in theory . . .

Yes, a primer should help. Metalizer I noticed doesnt cut good with mineral spirits but does with lacquer thinner. I assume from that + odor that it's a lacquer base, which makes the most sense to me. Lacquers dont tend to like plastic much. While I'm sure that they've done what they can formula wise to overcome this, anything you can do to give it something better to bite on, like an enamel, should go far.

Now that you've posed this question I have an experiment I think I'll try tomorrow with some spare plastic. I use a vinyl based lacquer sealer in furniture when I'm dealing with woods that have natural oils (very few - rosewood, cocobolo) that will bond to almost anything. I ought to try shooting that on plastic and see if it bites or if its too hot and just melts it.