Tamiya Paint/primer

Ok so I finally made the trip to a hobby shop around me with good quality stuff. I got my Tamiya TS paint and some styrene, but no primer. The owner said "Tamiya does not recommend primer for the TS paints, so he doesn't carry the primer. Now, I thought every paint needs primer? I feel like im hearing two oppisite things now, lol.

Ok so I finally made the trip to a hobby shop around me with good quality stuff. I got my Tamiya TS paint and some styrene, but no primer. The owner said "Tamiya does not recommend primer for the TS paints, so he doesn't carry the primer. Now, I thought every paint needs primer? I feel like im hearing two oppisite things now, lol.

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=578991&postcount=14

The FAQ answers all. A LHS that carries Tamiya paint, but no primer? Very strange.

A LHS that carries Tamiya paint, but no primer? Very strange.

the crappy one in my city was like that. The guy never understand why primer was needed.

Now that he know he can make a lot of money on it (he's charging a lot on this) he got some in stock.

I guess I will hafto order some primer via internet? Haha, via internet..sounds like the geico commercial.

I know how it goes... my LHS carries the paint but not the primer. I don't even think they know what primer is lol! But then again, they told me that I could use poly carbonate paint on a regular model :disappoin

Funny how some hobby store owners have these strange ideas, it's proof that most hobby store owners have no idea as to the acual hobby.

If Tamiya didn't recommend using primer, why would they make primer?

Thats a good question only tamiya could answer.. Unless i really need something fast, I always order my stuff from Hobby Link Japan. Their staff seems to know a lot about car modeling.

Funny how some hobby store owners have these strange ideas, it's proof that most hobby store owners have no idea as to the acual hobby.

If Tamiya didn't recommend using primer, why would they make primer?

I will go against the grain here. For Tamiya models I do not use primer on the bodies. Their plastic allows their spray paint to penetrate the outer surface of the body. The paint holds very well and glosses up faster than with primer. If I do any filling I polish the filler with a tri grit sanding stick until it shines like the surrounding plastic and there is no ghosting. You probably figured out I also do not sand the body first. Anything that is brush painted gets a quick layer of primer. For resin and metal kits I always prime first.
Test the paint for yourself. Paint a piece of spru a deep color like dark blue or red and then strip it back off a couple of days later. You will find the plastic has color down under the surface the same color as the paint but there is no harm to the plastic.
David
http://www.scaleracecars.com

It's a shame that such ignorant people run so many LHS'. I feel blessed to have an awesome LHS.

I partially agree David, in the past I have sucesfully painted bodies without primer, but most of the time its the prefered course. Especially if you are painting light colours and need an even coverage over areas that may have been filled and therfore darker. Primer also promotes adhesion which is necessary if you are going to mask - don't want the paint tearing off with the tape. In the end it boils down to whatever works best for you. I prime -> I'm happy.

Well thanks for the responses guys, Im going to try painting a old corvette body and see what the color looks like with out primer.

Be thankful your LHS carries Tamiya paint at all. Last year my LHS told me that they could not get Tamiya paint because it was all back-ordered. They still haven't got any. I finally had an arguement with the store owners over their poor customer service, pulled the models that I had on display there ,and quit doing business there entirely.

Well mine is a small place, most of the time Im there on the week days theres a couple customers max. I like the guy and all, just no primer..and he has a hole rack of Tamiya paint..lol.