Another primer question...

[Gazzas]

HI everyone,

   I was trying out a new primer yesterday when the question formed in my head about requiring opacity to do it's job of giving the color coat something to hold on to.

 

Does it really need to be that thick to do it's job?

 

Thanks for your thoughts,

 

Gaz

[Guest Peterpools]

gaz

Not quite sure what you mean. if it's a question of the primer needing to be thick for the color coats to have something to bite into - nope, not at all. Just a nice few, thin layers that completely cover without any raw plastic showing though is more then enough.

Peter

[Gigant]

No, not at all.

 

In fact, the thinner, the better so it both dries faster and obscures fewer fine details.

[Guest Airfixer]

Only as thick as necessary to obtain an evenly applied priming coat but always as thin as possible.

 

I've been using Gunze Mr.Surfacer 1000/1200 for many years now, and I've always been perfectly happy with the results.

(thinned with Mr.Color Thinner/Mr. Color Leveling Thinner, 50/50 ratio, still achieving a thin yet sturdy base coat with excellent coverage)

Edited February 3, 2018 by Airfixer

[Gazzas]

Guys,

   Thanks for the answers!

 

Gaz

[CANicoll]

Gaz - I usually spray my primer just barely covering the color of the plastic but I also use it as a base for (mostly) white-basing to fade the top coat.

 

 

Here is an example of using the white Vallejo primer as a base under the darker top coat, used for fading.  (1/72 Hellcat).

 

 

The Vallejo primers are pretty thin so don't obscure detail but even when I lay down a 'cover coat' I don't see it filling up panel lines or rivet detail - such as on the Tamiya 1/48 Do 335 I'm building.  But I also do what Peter suggested and that is doing a few thin layers instead of one 'thick' one.

 

Give it a try!  

Chris

[Gazzas]

Chris,

    Thanks for the advice!  That's a fine looking Hellcat!  I really like the fade you've given it.

 

Gaz