Hello! So this may be a stupid question but I can’t seem to find a proper answer to this either that or I just don’t know the proper keywords but I’m going to be building my first model and I’m honestly clueless, this is specifically about Mr. Surfacer. I was going to initally buy the Tamiya spray primer but its just too expensive for me and I don’t plan on building too many models atleast for now (short on money) so I don’t think a big expensive can of primer is a worthy investment, so is it possible to hand brush the Mr. Surfacer primer and which one should I get? 500/1000/1200 for handbrushing? and how? Thank you!
I’m not sure of brushing the Mr Surfacer, but I use Vallejo’s surface primers for brushing. There are a number of colors, but I find it works really well with a brush. I even use it for base coloring, like the NATO and OD green, I just sealed it with a gloss coat for decaling, and then a matte before weathering.
They are a little pricey, buy they come in 200 ml bottles, so each one lasts a while. Heck, the 60 ml flat black I bought several years ago is still going and I use it as my primary black paint.
Gotcha! thanks alot 
also is it necessary to prime enamel paints? I’ve heard it isn’t as necessary as compared to Acrylics
Depending on the model colors, if you wash the parts thoroughly in warm soapy water and let them dry you can get away without primer. Particularly if your tank is molded in green plastic and you are going to paint it Russian green. I’d say I primer about 1/2 my models. Others may have different opinions.
Yep my tank is already in green, so no primer then I suppose! thanks!
I figure I will be sanding primer anyway, so I prefer a rattle can. I do not use an expensive can for most models (exception explained below). I use Rustoleom sandable primer, and can get it for less than four bucks at my local building supply/hardware store.
The exception are small scale models with fine surface detail. These really call out for a thin primer, so I use the cans of Tamiya Fine primer for those.
Hi,
I’ve recently hand brushed Mr Finishing 1500 Black Surfacer on one of my models as a base/primer coat with no apparent problems. And for regular painting I mostly use craft store acrylics.
Pat
How about a follow up question? ive been looking for 1500 black surface primer. I did find some in rattle can. Where did you find it to hand brush/airbrush?
No primer?
I main point is whether there was any putty work. Primer is important there as a step to see what it will look like later under paint.
Tank model; I can see where primer wouldn’t always be needed if using enamel and you’ve washed the model well.
It’s always possible to use hardware store pimer if you learn how to do light coats AND know how it reacts with your hobby paint.
Bill
Really wish we had hobby stores here or atleast some that sell primers (people here seem to not really use primers for some reason) and I’m a bit afraid of messing up with the hardware store primers I’ve never really spray painted in any way before (besides in my digital drawings but thats a different thing and less of a risk) especially since I don’t have the money to replace it and I wanna make the most of it