Blanik

[king of men]

I've had trouble with adhesion with every acrylic I've ever tried. It's why I don't use them when there are other enamel/lacquer alternatives available. Well, I have used acrylics for cockpit detail painting and tires, but not for anything that has to be masked.

[zenrat]

I always prime and I mask Vallejo acrylics with out issue.  I wouldn't however mask over them without primer underneath.
Even with the primer they are fragile.  But they will stand up to masking.

[JayBee]

OK gentlemen, and fellow Whiffers,    what should be used as a suitable primer?

Jim

[zenrat]

Well, that's a whole new can of arenicola marina.

I like to use big rattle cans from the DIY warehouse.  I've tried quite a few and it seems that when I settle on one that I like then they will change the formula or the nozzle and it won't do it for me anymore.
I like a matt finish light grey that sands easilly and has a small nozzle giving a corresponding spray pattern.
My current favourite is White Knight Rust Guard All Purpose Primer.  Light Grey in 300g spray cans.
However that is, I think, a Bunnings product and I suspect it is only available in Australia.
I've tried Plasticote and Dulux and couldn't get on with them for various reasons.
Hopefully one of the UK whiffers will be able to suggest something.
I have some limited experience with Tamiya primers (mainly the pink) but they seem to do a good job.  Trouble is they are expensive and only come in small cans.

I've found that unless you are covering heavy putty work then you don't need more than a light coat on the plastic.  just enough to give even coverage will grip the surface and then give something for the acrylic colour coat to adhere to.
With lighter colours you might want to use white primer (I prefer a flat white undercoat over grey primer) and also red oxide under reds.

[NARSES2]

I've found that if I don't use a primer with Vallejo then it's a disaster  Don't have that problem with the other acrylic brands I use - Xtracrylic, Lifecolor, GW etc.

As for primer ? Then I use good old Halfords grey or white out of the can

[zenrat]

Even with primer I have found Vallejo rubs off of high spots and corners very easilly.  It stands up to taping though.

[JayBee]

Well after a six week hiatus of modelling activity, caused by a visiting sister-outlaw from the States ( she's Canadian by the way), I am now back on track.
I used a paint stripper on the Blanik which did not work so well, I think because it had to contend with a mix of Enamel and Acrylic.
Then when I was carefully scrubbing the wrinkled paint of, one wing broke of followed by a tailplane half. They were on different halves so Tophe would no doubt have loved it.
That was it. I had had enough.
Thankfully the box contains two kits so here we go!

Just so that you do realise the size of the models we are dealing with her, I have taken some photos to show you.

[PR19_Kit]

Best of luck this time Jim. 

[NARSES2]

Best of luck this time Jim. 

I'll second that Jim.

[Old Wombat]

Best of luck this time Jim. 

I'll second that Jim.

I'll third it!