Has anyone ever used Tamiya Liquid Surface Primer? It comes in a 40 ml. container and from the description on Tamiya’s we page, it looks like it might be a good seam filler for smaller gaps. I have a rattle can of Tamiya Fine Surface Primer that I spray on most of my models as a primer that does an awesome job. Is the stuff in the 40 ml. jar the same stuff?
Thanks, Rich [8D]
Hi Rich,
Tamiya Liquid Surface Primer is very similar to the finer grade Mr Surfacer products. IT’s a lacquer based product somewhere between the thickness of paint and thin putty.
When LSP is brushed on thinly as a primer, it lays down flat and brush marks level out very nicely. It can also be thinned with lacquer thinner for airbrushing. (Tamiya or Gunze lacquer thinner preferred, as these are styrene friendly, but ordinary hardware store variety lacquer thinner will work too).
When used as a filler, you can brush it on or apply with a toothpick. For larger gaps you may require several applications because it shrinks as it dries (well, it’s mostly liquid). It’s not very hard when dry and sands very easily. It works reasonably well for light seams, sink marks and ejector pin marls.
One characteristic of LSP I really like is that it’s fully soluble in ethyl alcohol (which is available easily and in abundance here in Australia). This means i don’t have to use lacquer thinner to clean my brushes. It also means that once its laid on a seam and dry, I can use a paper towel (or similar) moisntened with ethyl alcohol and literally wipe the excess from the filled seam - no sanding, no mess.
Try it - once you figure out its characteristics, I think you’ll like it.
Thanks a lot for the detailed reply Phil. I appreciate the input very much - sounds like the LSP is just what I’m after. One more question - what is “ethyl alcohol”? Is that what we here in Canada call isopropyl alcohol?
Thanks,
Rich [8D]
Hi Rich,
Ethyl alcohol is not Isopropyl alcohol. Here in Australia it’s sold as Methylated Spirits, and, I believe, in the US as denatured alcohol.
Everclear. 
Ethyl is Grain Alcohol
Methylated spirits is a mixture of ethyl alcohol (95%) and methyl alcohol (%5).
Ethyl alcohol is what you drink as in scotch, gin, vodka, etc.
Denatured alcohol is ethyl alcohol that has poison put in it. It is fine for your modeling use, but do not drink it.
Scotch might be better, as you can drink while you fill seams!!! Bill
I tried that, missed the seams on the model, but hit my mouth…sort of, I found this primer good for “light” work, but not major reconstruction. I have a “tweener” job, so what’s best to thin squadron putty? I do appreciate this info, thanks…Have a great week…Spuds 1
Thanks for all the replies to my original post. I couldn’t find any anyway, so I’m sticking with Mr Surfacer 500.
Spud: Squadron white thins quite nicely with nail polish remover (with acetone). I use a plastic cap off of bottled water as a ‘pallet’ and mix a little more than the amount I need in it. Then after I’m done I just toss the whole works.
Rich [8D]
Hey Rich,
Many thanks for the heads-up, I sure appreciate it & will give this a shot right now. I’ll give ya a heads up on how this works. My only concern is with the “evaporation rate,” that being said, will this slurry dry before I can layer it on?! Well we will see, cause I know Aceton evaporates rapidly.
Cheers & many thanks,
Bill
Spuds: I find that due to LOTS of shrinkage, it can’t usually be done in one session. That’s why I use the tiny bottle top method. Oh, and don’t brush it on, dob it on to get better filling. The first few times I did this, I thought it was the worst possible way to do this, but after doing it a few times, you get good at it and it actually works quite well. There was something else in my life that was like that, but I can’t remember what it was…[angel]
Rich [8D]
Hello Richard I,
I had a few larger gaps & thought I’d try the Mr Surfacer 500 as you described earlier in leu of the Tamiya LSP. I did find it as easy to apply as the LSP, but I tried to remove it after it dried with ethyl alcohol & wasn’t successful. So, can you give me a heads up as to where I’m going wrong? Many thanks…hope you are having a great weekend…we’re supposed to get snow & sleet tonight…time to make a fire & toast marshmellows & hot toddies…Cheers…Bill
Spuds, use Gunze thinner 110 to clean up the Mr. S500. Lacquer thinner will do it but will also melt your kit. I use this method on nearly every kit. Works well.