Can you spray on a primer?? Like with an aerosole can?
Yes.
Finlay, it depends on two things: What is the substance you want to prime, and what is the solvent base in the primer. Brass needs to be completely degreased as with a vinegar solution before priming, then a solvent base primer will work (warning do in a well ventilated area or outside) . If you are talking about plastic, be very careful as some paint solvents will eat it or turn it into a blob! After cleaning completely with a very mild detergent solution you could prime it with a water based primer that could be aerosol. jc5729
I am using Testors primer on a plastic building kit by Walthers. But I was wondering if I don’t even need a primer…Although I am painting with acrylic paints. Will this work?
You can also use lacquer-based paints to prime plastic. The key is to apply several light coats, as opposed to one heavy one. In fact, when spray painting almost any material, several light coats will give better results than one heavy coat. As johncolley noted, the most important step for any paint job is to ensure that the model you’re painting is cleaned of all grease and oil, including fingerprints. The reason for using vinegar (weak acetic acid) for washing brass models is to etch the brass, to provide more “tooth” to help the paint to adhere better.
Wayne
Only problem is I spent my 22 dollars CAN on acrylic paints today so I am using those.
The only problem I have with using spray cans is the inconsistancy of the nozzles spray pattern and the amount of paint. Airbrushes give you so much control, especially a dual action. You can control the paint delivery and adjust the viscosity by thinning. None of this is controlable with a spray can. There are many projects that I use spray cans for, when I find a good nozzle w/ good pattern, I will keep it clean and reuse. Testor’s dull coat is about the only thing I will occationally use on a model. I would just hate to have primed, paint and clear- 3 coats so thick the details start to disappear.
Bob K.
I use automotive primer on my models. Duplicolor’s grey primer is thin enough that details usually don’t “disappear” after a coat. Plus, it’s usually much cheaper and covers better than the Testors stuff.
I spray primer from a can all the time. I do warm up the can in some warm water first so that the primer goes on smoother, but yeah, I shoot from a can all the time.
To paint buildings, I wa***he walls in soapy water and rinse them, to get off fingerprint oils and whatnot. Once they’re dry I just shoot them with the cheapest 99 cents a can automotove primer I can find…model paints are a finer grind of paint and better for not obscuring super-fine details, and I’d probably prefer to use something like Tamiya model primer on brass locos, but for a building kit the cheapo primer is perfect. The primer provides excellent “tooth” for other paints to stick to a plastic model (that’s what primer’s for, after all) and I have painted plenty of models with various colors of spraybomb paint with good results. An airbrush is finer with more control, but if you just want a surface to be color X, spray cans do the job sufficiently well.
[#ditto]
When it comes to primer, yep the can is easiest, I’ve used several kinds, I like the Testors because you can get white and grey , depending on the paint color going over it.
For buildings, I use Krylon Gray Primer. And for rolling stock, I use Testor’s Gray Primer. Both in spray cans.
Nick
I’m a big fan of Tamiya’s primer, which only comes in spray bombs. In fact, it’s about the only spray bomb I use anymore. I especially like it when painting resin or brass models, although I pretty much use it any time I need primer.
Duplicolor is a great quality rattle can paint. Your better off to spend $4 for a can of better paint than $1 on a can of cheap stuff.(the nozzel won’t clog and the paint won’t hide your details if sprayed properly.)
You can also go to an autoparts store and look at their color swatch book and come close to the train colors your looking for.
Spray primer is easy to use. However acrylics cover just fine on plastic buildings and I wouldn’t bother with the primer. I know I don’t. It just seems overkill to me. Just my 2 cents worth. [:)]
I’ve been using Tamiya light gray from a spraycan to primer pretty much everything I paint recently. No problem covering it with airbrushed acrylic paint.
So should I even bother with the primer now??[?]
I find primers (particularly grey or white) are important to get a uniform finish when the final coat is light (such as white, yellows, light grey, etc.). Also they help present a uniform base for the final coat when you have used putty/filler and/or different materials (i.e. brass details attached to a plastic body) on the model.
I have for a long time…with very good success. The Tamiya is excellent.
underworld
aka The Violet
[:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]
I too use the inexpensive spray paint from True Vaslue, and finish up with a weathering coat of ink/alcohol and/or chalks. This paint has been fine, and I give it a foot or so between the can and the model.