belugawhaleman Posted October 13, 2021 Posted October 13, 2021 What do you use for surface primer? I see Tamiya sells their primer now in bottles. What do you thin this with? I prefer to use an airbrush. I have a couple of spray cans of the Tamiya stuff. I could decant this for my airbrushes. What other brands or options are out there? 3
DocRob Posted October 13, 2021 Posted October 13, 2021 Since I can't source Tamiya's rattle can primer anymore, which was my go-to primer for some years, directly from the can, I switched to Mr. Surfacer 1200, thinned with Levelling thinner, with the ratio 2,5 parts thinner and 1 part primer, setting the AB to 1 bar. Works perfect with supersmooth results. I used it for some builds now, using acrylics, lacquers and oils on to it without any issues. I masked over it and had no lifts at all. I clean all my kits with alcohol, before I prime. I have a jar of Tamiya primer as well, but haven't tried it, as I like to have good working constants in my sometimes adventurous experiments with colors and the way to applicate them. Cheers Rob 3 1
BlrwestSiR Posted October 13, 2021 Posted October 13, 2021 The Tamiya primer in jars can be thinned with either of their lacquer thinners regular or with retarder) or either Mr Color lacquer thinners (regular or Leveling). Hope that helps. Carl 5
belugawhaleman Posted October 13, 2021 Author Posted October 13, 2021 Thanks for your replies. Very helpful! 3
GusMac Posted October 13, 2021 Posted October 13, 2021 9 hours ago, DocRob said: Since I can't source Tamiya's rattle can primer anymore, which was my go-to primer for some years, directly from the can, I switched to Mr. Surfacer 1200, thinned with Levelling thinner, with the ratio 2,5 parts thinner and 1 part primer, setting the AB to 1 bar. Works perfect with supersmooth results. I used it for some builds now, using acrylics, lacquers and oils on to it without any issues. I masked over it and had no lifts at all. I clean all my kits with alcohol, before I prime. I have a jar of Tamiya primer as well, but haven't tried it, as I like to have good working constants in my sometimes adventurous experiments with colors and the way to applicate them. Cheers Rob Similar to Rob, but I use the Mr Surfacer 1500 also thinned with Levelling thinner. As it's a bit finer you don't have to thin quite as much but the results are still bomb-proof. Used both the black and the grey and both produce great results - the black is especially good if you want to try the black-basing technique. Does stink a bit though, need a spray booth and respirator to hand. 3
belugawhaleman Posted October 15, 2021 Author Posted October 15, 2021 Thanks again all, for your replies. I have some surfacer and leveling thinner on order. 3
Peterpools Posted October 17, 2021 Posted October 17, 2021 I've been using almost exclusively now for over a good year: MRP Light Gray and Black Lacquer primes and the results are fantastic - smooth as silk and no thinning is required. When I want/need an acrylic primer, my primer of choice then is Ammo b y Mig Gray or Black primer. Easily 95% of my priming is with MRP. Keep 'em comin Peter 2
belugawhaleman Posted October 17, 2021 Author Posted October 17, 2021 4 hours ago, Peterpools said: I've been using almost exclusively now for over a good year: MRP Light Gray and Black Lacquer primes and the results are fantastic - smooth as silk and no thinning is required. When I want/need an acrylic primer, my primer of choice then is Ammo b y Mig Gray or Black primer. Easily 95% of my priming is with MRP. Keep 'em comin Peter Thanks. I'll give MRP a try. Had a look at their products on Sprue Brothers. 2
Peterpools Posted October 17, 2021 Posted October 17, 2021 Give them a shot, you will be very impressed. I also bu much of my modeling supplies from Sprue Brothers Keep 'em comin Peter 2
BlrwestSiR Posted October 18, 2021 Posted October 18, 2021 Stopped by for the first time at a hobby shop near me. This is what they had on the shelves: Yeah, I think they have primers and thinners in stock. 3 1 2
DocRob Posted October 18, 2021 Posted October 18, 2021 31 minutes ago, BlrwestSiR said: This is what they had on the shelves: What a nicely sorted bar, I I would do a lot of things to have access to something like this, but my island is behind the green door, or better, on the wrong side of it. Cheers Rob 4
GazzaS Posted October 19, 2021 Posted October 19, 2021 Personally... I think the best 'primer' is Tamiya paint over a lightly sanded surface. I haven't had a case of paint lift since I gave up real primer. 4
GusMac Posted October 19, 2021 Posted October 19, 2021 6 hours ago, GazzaS said: Personally... I think the best 'primer' is Tamiya paint over a lightly sanded surface. I haven't had a case of paint lift since I gave up real primer. Wouldn't disagree that Tamiya is the most robust finish I've worked with, although on the short experience to date the AK Real Colours seem similar. I just wish Tamiya would improve their range of colours as I suck as consistently mixing paints. 1
ScottsGT Posted October 19, 2021 Posted October 19, 2021 13 minutes ago, GusMac said: Wouldn't disagree that Tamiya is the most robust finish I've worked with, although on the short experience to date the AK Real Colours seem similar. I just wish Tamiya would improve their range of colours as I suck as consistently mixing paints. Agreed. I gave up painting cars back in the day because my ability to mix and match paint sucked. I stuck with the body work end of the business a few more years before I got out entirely. 2
biggtim Posted October 19, 2021 Posted October 19, 2021 20 hours ago, BlrwestSiR said: Stopped by for the first time at a hobby shop near me. This is what they had on the shelves: Yeah, I think they have primers and thinners in stock. Ho-lee-chit. I wish that was closer to me! 2
Landlubber Mike Posted October 19, 2021 Posted October 19, 2021 I usually use Mr. Surfacer 1200 or 1500. I used to spray straight from the rattle can, but recently started buying the glass jars and thinning it through my airbrush. Grey or black, shoots very clean and provides a very strong bond that doesn't lift off when taped, etc. I've also used Tamiya primers from the rattle can - they go on similarly nicely, but the Tamiya rattle can nozzles I find can spit and otherwise cause problems. For smaller stuff that doesn't need to be taped like cockpit interiors, I've used Vallejo. I don't like Vallejo as a general primer because it can lift no matter how long it has cured. But for small detail stuff, I like it. 3
Landlubber Mike Posted October 19, 2021 Posted October 19, 2021 2 hours ago, biggtim said: Ho-lee-chit. I wish that was closer to me! No kidding! Wow! 2
Peterpools Posted October 20, 2021 Posted October 20, 2021 OMG - what a LHS - sure wish I had one stock that that here on Long island. Keep 'em comin Peter 1
GazzaS Posted October 20, 2021 Posted October 20, 2021 On 10/19/2021 at 11:15 PM, GusMac said: Wouldn't disagree that Tamiya is the most robust finish I've worked with, although on the short experience to date the AK Real Colours seem similar. I just wish Tamiya would improve their range of colours as I suck as consistently mixing paints. I was only talking about using it as a primer here in case of needing to mask. In this case, you also have the ability to choose your color of primer instead of being stuck with the usual red/grey/black/white.... Only white working particularly well under yellow. 1
GusMac Posted October 20, 2021 Posted October 20, 2021 Ah, sorry Gaz, picked you up wrong there. Stick by my point about the colour range though. 1
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