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 Posted - December 17 2010 : 01:26:04 AM
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I'm making a legit attempt at repainting some Rivarossi streamliners. I stripped the shell to the point where the original paint is very pale and kind of blotchy in some places...thin enough that it doesn't affect the car's details. I'm using water-based acrylic paint with an airbrush to repaint it. Would a coat of primer be a good idea? If so, what do you guys use? I have some rattle cans of Krylon primer kicking around.
cheez
Edited by - DaCheez on December 17 2010 01:27:12 AM
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 Posted - December 17 2010 : 03:21:51 AM
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Hey Cheez, From an auto restorer here, the primer may only be good to get the train car one uniform color before painting. If you have sanded using a scotchbrite pad or whatever, most hobby paints are manufactured with a good amount of adhesion properties. The reason for this is "everyone" uses these paints and some have no knowledge of preparation. So the hobby paints are made ready for "Painting For Dummies "
I always felt on models & train cars, that the primer is really just "another" coat and is not needed. Spray can primer won't stick any better than the paint you are using. I would say skip the prime coat.
Walt
Luck, usually comes dressed in work clothes...
Edited by - walt on December 17 2010 03:24:39 AM
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Posted - December 17 2010 : 6:14:25 PM
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i've never used primer myself, but a lot of people do. i've wondered the same thing myself, but i've always had good luck without it.
jerry
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Posted - December 17 2010 : 8:43:25 PM
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Depends.
If you are using a paint that isn't friendly to plastic... then YES.
Many automotive paints tend to eat into the plastic if they are applied to styrene and/or model train plastics. You'll need a primer for those paints. Also- automotive glazing putty works well to fill/restore small defects.
Primer when using Testors and many hobby paints? No- you won't need a primer.
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Posted - December 17 2010 : 10:21:57 PM
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The only time I've ever used primer is to get a base coat of color when:
- I'm repainting a factory-painted car that won't strip well. Primer really lays down a uniform color over whatever was there, regardless of the original color(s).
- My finish coat is a light color but the parts are molded in black (or red or whatever). Most new stuff is molded in gray for a reason, but old stuff? Not so much. There's nothing worse than trying to turn a black or red car into a yellow or white one. A quick coat of primer lightens the car tremendously, enabling you to using much less finish paint... resulting in a thinner sum coat overall.
If neither condition applies, I don't waste my time with primer. I've had great success applying finish coat directly to plastic shell. However, DO REMEMBER to clean and prep the shells first! Of course this is obvious when you're stripping/using old stuff... but so easy to forget when using fresh new MIB undecs. Whenever I get antsy and forget to wash an undec car, it's immediately apparent as soon as the paint goes on. Curses!
Edited by - spiderj76 on December 17 2010 10:25:36 PM
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