ben

Hi,
I am new to modeling and I am a bit confused as to whether you need to use a primer when painting plastic car kits with acrylic paint. Can anyone help?

Ben

wonwinglo

Hello Ben,interesting question,it is a well known fact that acrylic paints do not have the same adhesion to plastic as do ordinary enamel paints, but technology is getting better all the time, and things are improving in this direction,surface grease and mould release agents need much more care when you intend to use acrylic as your final finish,my advice is to always consider the use of a good white primer such as the excellent Halfords range of surface car primers sold in aerosol cans,these give a really good surface grab for the acrylic paint and are easily applied to plastic surfaces.
Another good case for the use of a good primer is to ensure that the surface really is blemish free,only when the primer has been applied can you see all of the little bumps and uneven bits that will need a bit of extra care with filler and a good sand.
The benefit of primers when the use of lighter colours are used will be appreciated especially with translucent shades such as yellow,these tend to have less body colour in the paint and as such need a white primer to bring the colours forward.

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'And there I was oil on my goggles from a broken pipe,then I looked at the altimeter,all I could see was the makers name !'
www.wonwinglo.scale-models.net/

ben

Cheers Wonwinglo,
I have just had a look at Halfords website. Should I go for the Halfords primer white spray or the Halfords plastic primer spray?

wonwinglo

I use the standard Halfords primer which is time tested,sorry know nothing about the one for use with plastics so you could be pioneering new ground if you decide to try that one,it must be a fairly new line ?

__________________
'And there I was oil on my goggles from a broken pipe,then I looked at the altimeter,all I could see was the makers name !'
www.wonwinglo.scale-models.net/

Bunkerbarge

Just have a read through this as well ben, you might find it interesting.

I have a selection of the Halfords White, Grey and Red acrylic primers and they seem to work perfectly.

I can't comment on a plastic primer, never having used it, so it you fancy a go I would recomment experimenting with a scrap piece and then let us all know what you discover!!

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ben

Hi all,
Okay, this is what I have decided to do. I have two cheapish Heller car kits that I will be painting soon and I do not mind using them as guinea pigs!. I will use Halfords white primer on one and use Halfords plastic primer spray on the other. I must ask you however to bear with me as I am currently modifying the body of one and it is taking me much longer than expected (i.e weekends only!) . I will post the results of the comparison of the two, from my point of view, as soon as I can.

wufer

Its a pity Ben, that you do'nt have Three cars.
Then you could spray one without primer.
Just a thought

Derek.

wonwinglo

Thats it Ben,Experiment on older models before committing to your pride and joy,best of luck !

__________________
'And there I was oil on my goggles from a broken pipe,then I looked at the altimeter,all I could see was the makers name !'
www.wonwinglo.scale-models.net/