Newbie Painting Question

[adz13091982]

Couple of newbie painting questions:

1. Should I primer all parts prior to painting them or just the larger parts i.e. shell
2. Should I paint the smaller parts when they are still attached to the moulds?

Thanks in advance

[stevenoble]

I only primer the larger parts myself.But it's personal preference.Some primer all parts.It won't hurt to primer all parts.It also depends on the types of paint you use on the parts.Some paints need a primer under them, some don't.
Unless the parts are extremely small and I will have difficulty holding them I always remove them from the parts tree to paint them.Again though it's personal preference.

[adz13091982]

I'm using Tamiya X & XF paints - do these need primer?
Also once i've painted a part do I need to remove the paint where parts need to be cemented?

[KevHw]

I personally primer all parts, unless they are already in the colour/texture I'm happy with for the final result (eg. chrome, bronze wheels as I don't have bronze colour paint etc.). Also gives any painting I need to do a good plain base to work off (white paint won't end up pink, off red plastic).

I also take all parts off the sprues first. I have more peace of mind knowing the part is finished correctly before painting, such as trimming off the excess plastic etc.

Unless it's kit chrome, I don't remove the paint before cementing. The chrome from kits like Revell are don't really melt with cement.

[Didymus]

Originally Posted by adz13091982

Should I primer all parts prior to painting them or just the larger parts i.e. shell

Just the larger ones, IMO - anything bigger than the tip of your little finger. When painting unprimed plastic, don't use anything thinned with lacquer thinner. That includes lacquer, doh!

Should I paint the smaller parts when they are still attached to the moulds?

Well, you'll only have to paint them again to cover the sprue spot. So... I don't think so.

Ddms

[Didymus]

Originally Posted by adz13091982

I'm using Tamiya X & XF paints - do these need primer?

It's optional.

But I think you'll find that primer will help you cover the plastic color better. Most paint is transparent, and that applies especially to whites, reds and pastels. They require many coats to get good coverage. On the other hand, primer is opaque - NOT transparent, or at least less transparent than regular paint. So, by using primer, you'll need fewer total coats. (Remember, overly thick paint swamps detail and softens crisp edges.)

If you want strong, bright whites, yellows, oranges and reds, try using white Tamiya surface primer. It really "punches up" those vivid colors, even on small parts.

For car bodies, most modelers use grey primer first. The medium value helps you see any defects or problems and sand them away. It's much easier to fix problems at the primer stage than later.

Ddms