To Prime or not to Prime?

Tools, Techniques, and Reference Materials Techniques
1

I am nearly finished assembling a Tamiya Stuart tank and am ready to paint. Should I paint this tank with Tamiya primer before I put on the base coat? What are the advantages to priming before the base coat? In the past I have always started with a base coat. What do you advanced modelers do?

Thanks!

Leddy

2

See here for some opinions: /forums/791060/ShowPost.aspx

3

Thanks, good article! It sounds like priming might not be needed if no photo etch or metal parts were involved and the surface was clean before the acrylic paint.

Leddy

4

Leddy,

I personally and strongly recommed primering especially when using acrylics. Using acrylics alone the paint is prone to chipping and rubbing off when model is handled. Spraying a primer uncoat will help prevent and reduce this and makes acrylic paint bite down harder to the surface. I spray a primer coat to all my models before painting and I recommend using the Tamiya L Fine White surface primer. If you go cheap the Wal Mart brand Flat White works good too just needs a little buffing to smooth it out before painting.

Air Master

5

Airmaster,

Thanks! Good advice, I’ll use Testor’s primer spray.

Leddy