A Tamiya Primer question

[Gavkiwi]

Im about to start work on painting a model race car, my LHS did not have any tamiya primer available, he recommended that i buy some 'pure white' tamiya paint as a substitute for white tamiya primer, I was going to use this paint as a primer on a model kit that is already molded in white. BUT here's my problem, the kit that im working on this week is black plastic, should I use my 'tamiya pure white' paint as primer on this black body, the final color on this car will be tamiya chrome yellow out of a spray can. Or do I need to try and find a regualr light grey primer for this black car

any help would be greatly appreciated

Gav.

[KarmaMechanic]

You definately need a white primer, (not white paint, no no)! White plastic primer, not grey! Listen up, white primer ok? White primer!

[Ferrari TR]

White primer is 'the' choice for yellow or other light colors.
But, grey is better than black...
I would prime a test panel with the grey then paint it with the yellow and see if you like the result. It that is too dark for your taste than I would try a flat white base coat.

[proosen]

The primer is better but you could use the flat white as a primer as it is more opaque then the pure white one, which is a gloss paint.
The primer will fill small errors better then the paint but if you have an almost blemish free surface without any body modifications the paint will do.
Sand the body with a fine wet/dry paper to give the paint some bite and you should be fine.
I've used Tamiya spray cans without any primer when the plastic had a sufficent colour from the beginning without any problems. So I'd say go for it if you can't wait for the primer to show up.

Niclas

[ZoomZoomMX-5]

I hate store clerks that are clueless and just want to sell you anything. You really need to find a suitable white primer, Tamiya pure white just isn't pigment-dense enough to cover black plastic w/o using far too much of it. White primer will cover much faster, and you really need a white base for making the yellow paint appear as bright as necessary. You may want to look for Floquil figure primer, it's white, perhaps an automotive white primer, or at a minimum use some light gray primer to quickly cover the black plastic and then a coat or two of pure white or flat white (doesn't cover as well as primer) under the yellow...yellow over gray is difficult enough, yellow pigment is even thinner than white. Over gray it will look kind of greenish.

[mickbench]

Why do hobby shops say you can use Tamiya flat white as a base coat? Might be OK ihs for if you using Acrylics or something.. I'd not trust it with Lacquer or even Tamiya TS spray TBH.

A can of dupli colour Plastic white primer should be OK, or you can get some Tamiya white primer from elsewhere. As already well said, primer is not just to get the top coat right, it also acts as a barrier, and to fill in small problems, and show problems as well.. Primer is a more of a tool to get the top coat looking good.

[speedphreak]

Yep, when I was just starting out building...I purchased a Tamiya Supra GT...The store clerk told me to clear the whole model when complete. I looked at him with a VERY confused look. Store clerks will tell you anything to sell you a product.

As for the Tamiya primer. Please, save your money and go out and get a Duplicolor can of primer. They have white, grey and white.

-Chris

[wouter1981]

use automotive primers. There rather cheap and they do a really good job. Never use plain with paint for a primer substitute.. because paint is paint.. no primer.. (yes it's that simpel)

[gionc]

The best way? Gray primer to have a great base and cover the black, when cured white primer to let a bright yellow. I love Tamy stuff: I do just at least 3-4 models x years so is'nt the case to be cheap with the primer. Also if you decant it and spray trought airbrush you could save a lot of primer and have also an unprimed table

[winstona]

Always remember primer is much more than just a top coat. It hides minor problems and it also helps the paint to stick better to the surface. May be it's just me, but I think the paint chips more easily when the surface is not primed.

For a black body, you might wanna cover it with grey primer first and then spray white primer as a second coat. That's what I would do. Because it may take more coats for the white primer to completely cover the black under color.

Winston

[Gavkiwi]

OK, well I need to run a couple of errands on my way home, where should I go to pick up some white & grey primer that wont eat the plastic on my model kit.

Hobby Lobby
Wal*Mart
Lowes Home Improvement Warehouse
The Home Depot


I'm not familiar with who sells what, pls if you live in the US give me some brands that i could look for and who sells em. The fewer stops I have to make the better

Gav.

[klutz_100]

Do NOT be cheap on primer!! Start as good as you mean to go on.

You can definately start with an auto plastic grey primner to cover the black plastic and make sure everything is smooth and hunkey dorey then put some excellent white Tamiya on top that.

I don't know if you have revell primer sprays over there - if you see it, I suggest you walk the other way

[ZoomZoomMX-5]

Originally Posted by Gavkiwi

OK, well I need to run a couple of errands on my way home, where should I go to pick up some white & grey primer that wont eat the plastic on my model kit.

Hobby Lobby
Wal*Mart
Lowes Home Improvement Warehouse
The Home Depot


I'm not familiar with who sells what, pls if you live in the US give me some brands that i could look for and who sells em. The fewer stops I have to make the better

Gav.

Actually Testors now sells a white lacquer primer in their new range of car colors, Hobby Lobby carries these new lacquers, it should be sufficient and it's compatible w/plastic and w/Tamiya applied over it. Wal Mart is most likely to have an automotive sandable primer in white by either Duplicolor or Plastikote. Many people swear by Plastikote; but it's harder to find. Michael's sells it too.

[Gavkiwi]

and in the U.S, whats a good place to find/buy 'fine wet/dry sand paper', my LHS is kinda out of the way, Michaels, Hobby Lobby, Lowes, the home depot is closer.

[ZoomZoomMX-5]

Originally Posted by Gavkiwi

and in the U.S, whats a good place to find/buy 'fine wet/dry sand paper', my LHS is kinda out of the way, Michaels, Hobby Lobby, Lowes, the home depot is closer.

Try any place that sells autobody/paint supplies. Wal Mart, KMart, Pep Boys, AutoZone, NAPA...most of them will sell wet or dry sandpaper, though if you can find a shop that caters only to autobody stuff or a parts store that sells a lot of auto body supplies they'll have the best selection. 400/600 for sanding primer, 600/800/1500/2000 for finish sanding. Break the paper across the sharp edge of a table a few times in two directions before sanding to soften it up.