Lacquer primer in spray?

Hi everybody,

I have been reading about different types of paint because I want to paint a plastic car model in some nice metalflake or iridiscent colour like those available from the Tamiya PS range.

What I would be trying to acheive is a similar paint as the beautiful C3 Corvette from works-y3f (http://www.works-y3f.com/m_cars/2_usa/vette/C3_69/c3_69.html) without using an airbrush but just sprays.

I have also read this post (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=&threadid=98231) from daggerlee and if I didn't understand it wrong I need lacquer primer, but which one should I use and is it available in spray? I still don't have an airbrush. :uhoh:

Thank you for any advice.

Tamiya primer works great. Automotive primer from the auto parts store is also a viable alternative.

Plastikote #T-235 primer is an excellent choice if you can find it. I've used it almost exclusively for the last seven years on my builds. I'm sure others will chime in with their preferences. :)
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I want to paint a plastic car model in some nice metalflake or iridiscent colour like those available from the Tamiya PS range.

Tamiya's PS paints are intended for polycarbonates used in RC car modeling. Every site I've seen says "Never use these paints on plastic models." That tells me that styrene can be damaged by PS-series paints. The Tamiya TS line (intended for styrene plastic) includes metallics, but I don't think it includes any spray-can metalflakes or iridescents.

You might want to look into other brands. I do know that Testors makes spray can metalflakes, etc., but I've never used them. The incredible 'Vette on the Works Y3F site is painted with Gunze Sangyo Mr. Color. The paint on that car is beyond belief; if I wanted that effect, I'd check out Mr. Color first and foremost!

I still don't have an airbrush.

In my experience, Tamiya spray-can primers work well over and under just about anything. You might be able to spray PS paints on styrene if it's primered, but you'll be going "outside the box." Maybe somebody on AF has tried it and can tell you how it went. If not, do some major testing -- styrene + Tamiya primer + PS series paint -- before putting a kit at risk. Be sure to give your test pieces at least a week to cure before you paint your model.

Tamiya PS paints won't hurt the plastic of model kits but they won't stick very well either. They just end up flaking (know for experience). Polycarbonate is painted on the inside with no real prep except a wash so the paint is designed like that. TS paints do the same on polycarbonate (flake).

For lacquer primer Tamiya and Mr Hobby cans are both pretty good and are available in both white and grey. See what your local hobby shop has and that may sway your decision or give you more choices.

Thank you all for your replies. Very instructive indeed.

@JimboCO: You mention that Tamiya primer works great but have you actually tested it? I don't have any white Tamiya primer left but will get me some more soon. Thanks for your opinion.

@tonioseven: I'm a follower of your builds, quite impressive. I will have to look if I find Plastikote T-235 primer, but I think it wll be called something different in Spain :confused: Does the T-235 stand for anything specific like a mixture ?

@Didymus: In regards of the TS and PS sprays I agree and is actually why I'm asking on this forum.
Thanks for suggesting the Testors paints, and are Mr.Color paints available in spray cans? I have been always using Tamiya spray cans and they are OK.

Thank you for the BEST ADVICE yet: " If not, do some major testing -- styrene + Tamiya primer + PS series paint -- before putting a kit at risk. Be sure to give your test pieces at least a week to cure before you paint your model."
I will follow your instructions and test on some scrappable kit, left over pieces or even just plain sheets of evergreen, with and without primer to see what happens.

@Renjie: It's an honour for me to receive your help in your first post on this board. btw. Greetings to Guangzhou. Nice place, I visited in 2006 ;)

Thanks for the advice and experience. My local hobby shop has so good as nothing and I usually buy EVERYTHING by internet because there is more choices and better prices than my local hobby shop including shipping costs so go figure :banghead:

Again thank you all for your replies. I'll be buying some Testors or Mr.Color cans and test away. Will post some updates when I get the chance to paint a bit. Very cold, humid weather now. ;)

@JimboCO: You mention that Tamiya primer works great but have you actually tested it? I don't have any white Tamiya primer left but will get me some more soon. Thanks for your opinion.

Many, many, many cans...

I've used standard grey, fine grey and fine white. All work fantastic and I might suggest these first if you have access. I've also used Gunze Mr. Surfacer 1000, 1200, Mr. White surfacer 1000 and Mr. Base white. These are excellent too.

... are Mr.Color paints available in spray cans?

I've been scouring the Internets looking for Mr. Color (Gunze Sangyo) spray lacquers, without success. Even the bottled stuff is hard to come by; I could only find it at www.spruebrothers.com. Sounds like it's Testors, airbrush or nada.

As to experimenting with Tamiya PS colors, I wish you well but I'm not very optimistic. They're not even supposed to be applied right-side-up!

By the way, MegaHobbies' website is drawing a blank. Does anybody know if they are still in business?

I've been scouring the Internets looking for Mr. Color (Gunze Sangyo) spray lacquers, without success. Even the bottled stuff is hard to come by


Spruebrother is an excellent source. Michigan toy soldier is another as is Hobbywave. I guess I'm spoiled as my local hobby shop carries the whole range. Having said that, I would imagine you would be able to find Mr. Color in SoCal.

I've been scouring the Internets looking for Mr. Color (Gunze Sangyo) spray lacquers, without success. Even the bottled stuff is hard to come by; I could only find it at www.spruebrothers.com. Sounds like it's Testors, airbrush or nada.


Thanks again. I loved that sentence: "Sounds like it's Testors, airbrush or nada". :D
So, since nada and airbrush are not an option I will try to find some Testors, online with international shipping and that is the difficult part :frown: or Tamiya PS colors


As to experimenting with Tamiya PS colors, I wish you well but I'm not very optimistic. They're not even supposed to be applied right-side-up!

Sorry what do you mean with: "to be applied right-side-up" ? (english is not my native language)

...what do you mean with: "to be applied right-side-up" ?

Sorry for the confusion; I was trying to make a joke.

The PS paints are intended to used on the inside of RC car bodies made of clear polycarbonate. When you're done, you're looking through the polycarbonate at the underside of the paint. So, in a sense, you're looking at the bottom of the coat of paint - you're viewing it upside down! :jump3:

I hope I'm making myself clear. :naughty:

...I would imagine you would be able to find Mr. Color in SoCal.

Have you tried House of Hobbies in Burbank? They carry Mr. Color; they might be able to order the colors for you.

I've used Testors/Pactra polucarbonate sprays on styrene models before with decent results but I strongly agree with waiting at least a week for the paint to cure/shrink properly and I seem to remember using Tamiya gray primer on at least one of the builds. Polycarbonate paints should be clearcoated once they cure due to the fact that they have a matte finish. I've used Tamiya primer under lacquer nail polish thinned with lacquer before but as stated before, please test on scrap materials first! Hopefully you'll share the results with us! :)
sam-r350 UP.Browser/6.2.3.8 (GUI) MMP/2.0

Sorry for the confusion; I was trying to make a joke.

The PS paints are intended to used on the inside of RC car bodies made of clear polycarbonate. When you're done, you're looking through the polycarbonate at the underside of the paint. So, in a sense, you're looking at the bottom of the coat of paint - you're viewing it upside down! :jump3:

I hope I'm making myself clear. :naughty:

Ok. now i got it. Perfectly understood.

I will go to the local hobby shop and get me some PS sprays and Tamiya primer, do some tests and update here with results. Please give me some time as I need to find some spare time which is not much lately. :frown:

At the same time I will visit a car paint company and ask them for plastic primer and special effect paints (metallic, flake, etc...) and see what they say. As I said, updates in a week or two (hopefully sooner) ;)

Thank you all for your help.

Have you tried House of Hobbies in Burbank? They carry Mr. Color; they might be able to order the colors for you.

By the way, they fill email requests too.

Ok. now i got it. Perfectly understood.

I will go to the local hobby shop and get me some PS sprays and Tamiya primer, do some tests and update here with results. Please give me some time as I need to find some spare time which is not much lately. :frown:

At the same time I will visit a car paint company and ask them for plastic primer and special effect paints (metallic, flake, etc...) and see what they say. As I said, updates in a week or two (hopefully sooner) ;)

Thank you all for your help.

I have used PS-47 color change over Tamiya TS-06 flat black with no problems. I finish it ts-13 clear for a shine. I don't know if it would stick to bare plastic or not however.

Mark