my first experience with enamel paints was not enjoyable ie: cleaning up and drying times.I then found Acrylics and enjoy using them. My question is can I use a enamel primer on a kit and then airbrush on the Acrylic body color or should I use an acrylic primer? If this is the case what is the best and where can I find Acrylic Primer?..Does it need to be from a hobby store or is there a product out there availible at good hardware stores.
I usually use an enamel primer ahead of my acrylics for the extra “bite” they seem to have. You do need to allow a few days for the primer to fully cure (not just dry to the touch) to make sure there is no chemical issues between the enamels & acrylics.
I’d reccomend Gunze Mr. Surfacer. Its a lacquer primer and it goes on real smooth in both the airbrush and rattle can. And it dries in a few hours and is ready to sand or paint over with any acrylic or other type of paint.
I have also had good luck with Tamiya Fine Surfacer primer, and it’s easier to find than Gunze, which I believe is being phased out of the US market. Tamiya is a “synthetic lacquer”, whatever that is, but acrylics work well over it. As always, let it cure for several days before applying the acylic.
I like the Tamiya primer myself
Tamiya and mr surfacer are indeed excellent. Halfords plastic primer is a good one too and works well in an airbrush if decanted. ok for photoetch as well.
I’ve recently found that Vallejo makes an ‘acrylic polymer’ primer. They make a variety of different colors. I’ve found it has to be applied really lightly, almost just a dusting over whatever material. It works on wood, metal, resin and styrene, I’ve found. Cleans up with water, you shoot it neat (no thinning required), and comes in a 17 or 200 ml bottle so you can airbrush without decanting. Really nice stuff, I’m told it’s well reviewed, very cheap and works very well with acrylics. I’ve found Vallejo paints coat it best, but other acrylics work well too. I’m not sure how much ‘bite’ it has - referring to Vance’s post - and it is nice to have that bite into the styrene, but it dries very quickly (a couple of hours, overnight to be safe). If you can find it, I’d highly recommend it, as I would Vallejo’s model color or model air (color being intended for brush painting, though thinned it can be airbrushed, air being intended for airbrushing).
That’s my two pennies, hope it helps.