Just have a simple question. Is there such a thing as enamel primer that can be airbrushed and if so does anyone have any recommendations?
Model masters makes a white primer or used to Ive used it on car bodies.
Humbrol makes a gray enamel primer. That is one that I’ve used for years in my airbrushes.
Humbrol 1
Any particular reason you are wanting enamel primer?
I am basically a figure modeler and when I started there was no such thing as resin. Apart from toy soldiers and what came with tank kits, figure models were exclusively white metal, which had to have an undercoat. Then and now I always prime metal with Humbrol matt white enamel.
Hi, I’m a figure modeler as well, and I use Tamiya white, grey, and black primer. I really love the stuff. If I want to do zenithal highlighting, I just decant the paint.
I’ve tried working with acrylic primers, Vallejo just peels and i’m not too impressed with Stynylrez either and the only other type I can think of is lacquer but I’m really hesitant to use it, so I was just wondering if there was anything in enamel.
Lacquer-based primers like Tamiya Surface Primer and Mr. Surfacer do a great job and don’t peel away from the plastic. You can get Mr. Surfacer 1200 in bottles and thin that with Mr. Leveling Thinner. Personally, I prefer the Tamiya Surface Primer. I just decant that into a 4 ouce mason jar and thin a little at a time as needed for airbrushing. The thinner I use is kind of controversial since its so toxic, but I use MEK to thin that (you can use lacquer thinner as well). I just like using the MEK because it has a better bite on the plastic, and when its airbrushed it dries quickly enough to where it won’t actually damage the plastic…just etches it. If you use that as a thinner though, have plenty of good ventilation and don’t get the stuff on your skin. Latex gloves will protect your hands from it…it doesn’t attack latex.
Used to use MEK a lot in my younger days when I worked in a refinery and it was readily available out of sample lines from the various units. Lots of guys used to bring in their paint brushes after painting their houses. Worked great but if you didn’t clean the brushes well after the MEK the bristles started to slowly disappear. My dad taught me that one. I still have a couple of his old brushes.
Stopped using it when I transferred to the chemical division and found out how toxic it was to use.
Jim [cptn]
Stay Safe.
MEK. Wow, I have not heard that mentioned for years. I used to use it as a liquid glue back in the day.
I also use Tamiya surface primer and find it works very well, but still undercoat metal figures in Humbrol matt white.
For painting metal I use auto body primers.