primers

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
1

Anyone ever tried to prime with something metallic?

I was thinking of using MM chrome. I thought it would be useful for weathering to have metallic paint show through.

thanks

Matthew
W-S, NC

2

Never tried, but from what I read from all the experts, they recommend putting a primer underneath the chrome, then appying your paint over the metallic finish …especially if you want to achieve the chipped paint effect.

BTW, what model are you building?

3

I’m painting the hassy spitfire mark IXc. Since posting I realized that priming with this metallic paint is an abject failure. It looked abysmal. I stripped it off and put good old fashioned light grey primer on. Now I’m going to let it cure and put the chrome on by hand tomorrow. Hopefully it will turn out better.

Thanks

Matthew
W-S, NC

4

I am not sure what happened when I applied the chrome with the airbrush. I thinned it out according to the instructions using the correct enamel thinner. What are people’s opinions on this? Do you think it would be more wise to airbrush it on or to try to hand paint it on?

Thanks a bunch

Matthew
W-S, NC

5

I airbrushed silver as a base on the Me262 in an attempt to do the chipping effect as you mentioned. I then used acrylics becouse it very britle paint and with the edge of the knife if flicked of some paint. Some of it looked good, but I didnt know how I flt about it so i went over other areas with a paint brush. The bottom line is I think there both very effective methods. I think the real secret is, to not over do it. Click on the link for a closer look of my me262

6

In my experience,metallic finishes tend to be some,what fragile,which makes a primer almost mandatory.I use Tamiya neutral gray for most of my primer needs and have had great results with it For NMF finishes I use bare-metal foil,which has yielded great results for me…

7

Use a light grey primer, my favorite is Floquil Grey Primer. If you want a NMF base coat for subsequent weathering, use Alclad2 Aluminum over the primer. It’s a very durable NMF.

Regards, Rick

8

Thanks for the input…I’ll let you know how it turns out tomorrow after trying to re-apply the metallic.

Matthew

9

I’ve used Testors silver in the square bottles a couple of times. It sticks pretty well to the plastic and highlights all the flaws, but I’ve found that later coats of paint don’t stick to it as well as I’d like as some comes up when the masking is removed.

I’ve tried reducing the tack of the tape by sticking it to my shirt a couple of times before applying it to the model… very little changed.

10

I have used tamiya as-12 from a spray can as a primer, it worked very well, especially for the chipping effect.

11

So I put down MM silver chrome with a brush (heresy I know but now I’m petrified to try metallics with the airbrush.) It turned out very well. The primer I ended up using was a testors light gray. I decided to paint the entire model with the chrome b/c i didn’t want to restrict myself ex post facto in terms of panel weathering with the salt technique. Hopefully it will turn out well. I promise I’ll work on my camera problems this weekend so you all can see some pix.

Thanks

Matthew
W-S, NC