Do I have to primer everything?

Moderators, please kill this thread if it has been asked before but I can't find it on the forums so please, if someone can at least answer this:

Do I have to primer everything? ie. All parts??

This is not answered in the FAQ.

you dont have to prime everything. but you shoud always primer your body's

Thanks, But, doesn't the color show through then?

Just prime the body

Thanks Guys. It's really good to know that I can rely on this community to help solve these kinds of questions.

:)

Thanks, But, doesn't the color show through then?

Well now we are going deeper, most comon "wrong" thinking regarding primer is that it is base colour, well it is not, primer's only job is to secure paint on the plastic and that it level small imperfections. Therefore you can not treat it like base colour, base coulors are used for that. One other thing, base colour is not some special colour it is plain paint that will go under the delicate one (like red, yellow etc.)
So for small parts don't use primer but use some enemal base colour (MM flat gull gray works perfect for me) and then apply delicat colour on top of it (preferebly acrylic) or do it vice versa (enemal on acrylic).
I hope this helped.

Prime the body AND the part that need to change color a lot.

Ex: a black plastic part that need to be bright red, you have no choice to prime it.

thanks guys. These are good answers. It really helps.

From the FAQ:
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?postid=578991#post578991

I tend to prime everything, since primer helps make paint stick like was said above. On the body I need it to make the paint smooth and not flow into panel lines. On the undercarriage I need it so it won't pull away from the sharp edges and so it will be consisitant color, and on small parts I need it so the paint won't pull away from the corners leaving paint only in puddles on the broader sides of the small peice.

Thanks FreakRay, but that only tells you what it is for and why we should use it. It doesn't advise us whether we should primer everything or only the body. Maybe that should be added in there to prevent any confusion.

Thanks again tho.

The question itself is too cut and dry, too black and white with no shades of gray.

That being said-no you don't have to prime everything. You don't have to prime anything actually. That doesn't say you'll get good results.

The necessity of priming is dependant on a lot of factors, the color the plastic is molded, the color and type of paint you are applying, and the quality of the finish you desire, the level of preparation you have done to the parts before painting.

If you're spraying a white plastic body with white hobby paint you don't need to use primer. If you want to spray a red plastic body with white paint you won't be happy with the results. If you want to spray automotive lacquer on your plastic you'd better use primer. If you want to spray a plastic body with acrylics, you may or may not need to prime. Depends on the color density.

I prime most bodies in an appropriate shade for the color I'm going to use. Any other parts to be body color get primed. I sometimes prime interiors, if I'm spraying a color lighter than the molded plastic, also to fill sanding marks from the inevitable sanding/filling/fixing of seatbacks. But if I'm airbrushing a pigment-dense acrylic or metalizer, I don't usually prime the parts and have no problems w/paint adhesion or surface finish or color or whatever. I have never primed every part in a kit, to me that would be a colossal waste of time and paint, especially on smaller parts. It depends on your style. You need to read all the input and try the techniques for yourself before you'll learn what really works best for you.

Hi
i have just de-chromed all my shiney bits with bleach... perfect job . now they are all glossy black.. but i want to paint them with alclad 11 but i can't paint them with this paint without priming them first then a black undercoat.. lot of work i know but i want a more realistic look .. the chrome is just too blingy looking and toy like

cheers

dave.c

I'm glad there are others here that don't think my question was out of place. From what I've read, Priming seems to be focused mainly on the body.

Anyway...

I think that this should be added under the FAQ so that others can also know these facts. The answer to the question "What is Primer and should I use it?" really should be more elaborated on.

Thanks guys. You have been a great help!!

I tend to prime just about the whole lot, as I sand nearly all my parts to remove mold lines, pin holes, flash etc...

Building a Revell C5-R and all the parts are white, but due to the heavy sanding, bad flash in places and putty work to fill pin holes nearly all the parts of the kit will be primed.

Grey auto plastic primer is good to use, and for body and body parts use grey first, inspect for problems, if all OK cover with white for light top coat colours or leave grey.

I sand many parts after priming with 1200 as well just to get an even level.

Really small parts in some kits, where I don't need to sand a lot as primer helps to fill in the sand marks, I just paint as they are. Tamiya are better for this, just use your own judgement.

Hi
i have just de-chromed all my shiney bits with bleach... perfect job . now they are all glossy black.. but i want to paint them with alclad 11 but i can't paint them with this paint without priming them first then a black undercoat.. lot of work i know but i want a more realistic look .. the chrome is just too blingy looking and toy like

cheers

dave.c


Tamiya chrome is bad it is too toy like.. I remove tamiya chrome as well sometimes. Make sure you use a good primer first and sand before application of an emamel black base. Alclad II needs a good enamel base for Chrome. And very light coats. Too heavy and you loose the effect.

Primer is a tool, and used to find flaws and problems. I use a lot of primer, as I'm very picky about my finish, and want perfect ( don't we all) base coats to apply my top coats.