Priming

Do you, guys, use primers on your models if they have
a lot of photoetch or other metallic parts? If yes, then
do you have to prime everything that will get the same color?
For example, if you plan to paint the hull and wheels separately
and assemble them later, do you have to prime the wheels too
(usually there’s not much PE on them)?

I’m using Gunze-Sangyo Mr. Surfacer 1000 as my primer.
It is light gray in color which is pretty close to the color
of the plastic of my model. I hope that I will not get too much
color mismatch in my final coat if I prime only the hull but not the
wheels. But will this be an issue if the colors of model’s plastic and
my primer do not match that well (I’ve seen models made out of
green or yellow plastic, not just grey)?

Thanks,

Serge

Priming is used mainly to even out colors and textures and to provide a compatible surface for the finish. Unless there is a big color difference between the raw plastic and the final color, it won’t matter. If I were going to prime, I probably wouldn’t prime PE, because the thick primer will obscure some detail. On the other hand, for grab rails, hand levers and such, the thickness will help to make the parts three-dimensional.