Primer for airbrushing?

[PR19_Kit]

Since the dawn of time, well since they announced the stuff anyway, I've always used Halfords rattle can grey primer and it's played a blinder for me, only one duff can since I started using it.

But as I'm about to dive into the depths of airbrushing and can't use the Halfords primer what is the primer that most people use for airbrushing?

I've read the stuff mentioned in the airbrush books about 'decanting' spray paint into a jar and using that but it seems a) complicated and b) VERY potentially messy!

[scooter]

Buddy of mine decants Tamiya rattle cans for airbrushing, and isn't any more messier or complicated than mixing paints.  One thing to do keep in mind is exhausting the overspray and fumes, which you should be doing when airbrushing anyway.  As for primer, I usually use a flat gray or white as primer, usually Tamiya acrylics or MM enamels.

[The Wooksta!]

Nonsense!  Primer is primer.  I prime everything in Halfords and airbrush with Xtracrylix.  Works fine for me.

Who said you can't use Halfords primer?  Utter rot!

[PR19_Kit]

Nonsense!  Primer is primer.  I prime everything in Halfords and airbrush with Xtracrylix.  Works fine for me.

Who said you can't use Halfords primer?  Utter rot!

I didn't say I can't, I assumed that people didn't use Halfords rattle cans and then spray the colour with an airbrush. If that's a normal procedure I'll continue in that fashion.

[JayBee]

I agree with Lee (The Wooksta) that there is nothing wrong with Halfords Plastic Primers. More important, I think anyway, is what colour to use. At the moment I am working on a model that is getting portions of it painted with Humbrol Flourescent Orange which requires a white base coat. Yes, it is Halfords White Plastic Primer I am using. The primer is working perfectly, but the Dayglo Orange is not doing so well

Jim

[Hobbes]

In my experience, Humbrol/Revell enamels rarely need a primer when used on plastic. On a resin model, I've used Humbrol 1 primer with good results.

Acrylics I don't know.

[PR19_Kit]

I'd agree that most good quality enamels don't need a primer, but I always prime my models anyway, just to ensure I've done the PSR well enough. With most of my Whiffs they're so many different colours of plastic that I can't 'see' the discontinuities, thus the primer.

[Hobbes]

OK, I see now. For that purpose, I just pick whatever shade of gray Humbrol I have handy...

[kitnut617]

OK, I see now. For that purpose, I just pick whatever shade of gray Humbrol I have handy...

That's pretty much what I do Harro

[Mossie]

but I always prime my models anyway, just to ensure I've done the PSR well enough.

I remember seeing a guy who didn't used to prime his models & used a wide silver marker to check the PSR.  I've never been able to find anything other than fine markers in silver so I've never tried it, but it might help remove a step.

In my experience, Humbrol/Revell enamels rarely need a primer when used on plastic. On a resin model, I've used Humbrol 1 primer with good results.

Acrylics I don't know.

With Humbrol paints I just used to give a quick wipe over with white spirit & found the paint would bond well.  When I changed over to acrylics I found that I really needed the primer, sometimes the paint didn't bind well, sometimes you need extra coats.  I sometimes paint smaller parts using acrylic without primer but I prefer to put a layer on.

[lancer]

Halfords white plastic primer is the obly thing I used and you can airbrush over it fine. I've never had a single problem using it