Priming Cockpit Parts?

Tools, Techniques, and Reference Materials Painting and airbrushing
1

In 1/72 and 1/48 scale do y’all prime seats, decks, instrument panels, etc. or just go directly to paint?

2

I have, maybe just out of habit,cant hurt.Thats for 1/48, I don’t do 1/72.

The only consideration maybe is too much buildup on tiny 1/72 cockpit parts ?

3

I build 72nd and prime cockpits, usually black.

4

I prime pretty much everything, in all scales, using decanted Tamiya Surface Primer from my airbrush. I have a 1/72 scale F-16B that I’ve been working on here and there that is coming out just fine with priming all of the cockpit components with airbrushed Tamiya primer. Definitely don’t want to use rattle-can primer in that scale, it goes on too thick and can cover up some of the detail.

5

LOL… cracking up, Eaglecash, over your fireworks and fingers.

It appears so far from comments that priming everything is the standard. I have not been with the 1/72 stuff I have thus far built. I have previously primed only the exterior surfaces. But I’m starting my first 1/48 kit (a Lead Sled) and it occurred to me that this is a question I should have pursued before now.

Thanks to all.

6

I usually prime larger parts- floor, seat, panel, sides. I do not prime small parts I will brush paint, such as stick/wheel, rudder, throttle.

7

Thank you, Don.

8

I’ve never primed a cockpit in my life, as such; I usually start by making sure the surface is clean, then just brushing on a layer of whatever color is my basecoat, and go on from there with washes, drybrushing and detail painting.

Of course, I rarely do primer externally either, unless there are light colors involved, special finishes (like automotive finishes or metallics), or I’ve done a lot of puttying or re-engineeing. I use mainly Tamiya acrylics…which don’t seem to have many adhesion issues or problems…so the primer (to me) mostly seems like wasted time and paint.

Just my [2cnts]

9

gregbale,

Thanks for your input. As I noted I have not either up to this point building 1/72 scale birds. It seemed like an unnecessary step for surfaces that are mostly hidden and covered by decals or detail. Interesting that among these several responses the more common practice is to prime cockpit parts and surfaces.