Tamiya also makes a Light Gray Primer, and the cans look alike except for the word FINE. Package measures 60 mm x 155 mm x 60 mm (width x … So, you want to be careful in choosing a primer that you can apply thinly on your plastic miniatures. Filling in the shadows before you add paint will help you finish those first few base coats quicker. This means that these primers are created to spray-on in thick layers. Both primers bite well into plastic surfaces and even fill in small scratches and … The bright color may also be useful for painting traditionally difficult to paint colors like yellow or orange–colors that have generally poor coverage. It is a technical skill to properly apply brush-on primer (which is why I suggested the best primers for miniatures are spray-on). However, if the parts don’t quite meet or are mismatched, filler may be needed. Metal and resin miniatures may have a greasy. While it maybe intended for plastic models, the Tamiya primer will work on metal if the metal is cleaned and preppped properly. They are flexible and can be applied in thin layers to conform to a variety of textured surfaces without cracking. As with any aerosol, there is also the need for good ventilation. Aerosols aren’t great for the environment. Gesso can often be thick. So I can see why people might not want to use the search. This is especially important for gunpla models, where you need to preserve panel line and rivet details. When you paint over this with water-based acrylic paint, you can be sure the paint stays where you put it. Here are the 10 best primers for painting plastic and metal miniatures: An Alternative to Enamel-Based Spray Primers is the Traditional Gesso, Best Cheap Primers for Large Miniatures and 3D Printing, 10 Best Primers for Painting Plastic and Metal Miniatures, Bonus: AK Interactive Primer and Microfiller. I've got to be honest, I don't see any significant difference between the finish on kits I primed with Tamiya primer and those I primed with my Wal-Mart stuff. Fill and fine sand all surfaces until very smooth. I also use Tamiya primer. You could use any spray paint as a primer, but its not going to cling to the the mini as well. Run in circles, scream and shout. Fixing these problems is a snap with how easily the primer sands. In general, this is similar to the Citadel primer. Make sure you shake the can vigorously to mix the primer with the aerosol contents for a proper fine spray. Tamiya Gray Fine Surface Primer L, 180ml Spray Can 4.8 out of 5 stars 448. I wasn't going to say anything, but you've prompted me. Use on metal and plastic. Glue doesn’t adhere well to that residue of mold-release. FEATURES: After preparing the surface to be painted, a thin coat of quality primer is necessary for the paint to stick properly. I had to jump in on this because primer ( and whether or not to do it) is a 50/50 debate. The fine particle of the primer ensures a smooth finish after application. This provides the thinnest, most even coats on your models. Primer is a surface sealant and first layer to give the paint a surface to adhere to. I suggest spraying more than a single model at a time to make the most use of this primer. Companies like Vallejo or Tamiya have been in the business of making primers specifically formulated for their model kit product lines. We are a participant in the affiliate advertising programs for Amazon Services LLC Associates, KEH Camera, Fun.com, and Blick Art Materials. You can spray any kind of paint on top of it, acrylic, enamel, lacquer, whatever. Some primers work best on plastic, whereas other primers work best on metals. A good rule to follow for spraying primers is to spray in bursts with the nozzle some distance away from the model. You can use same sandpaper to lightly wet sand after primer is dry to polish up surface and get rid of any blemishes. I usually buy two cans per model just to be sure. Bottom line? I've used many a primer from big box to big bucks. So, if you use this in small miniatures (29-35mm scale) just be aware and spray from a farther distance. Sometimes a model might need 2-3 layers of a brush-on primer. The Rust-Oleum Automotive Primer sells for around $5 per can, which makes this the cheapest aerosol spray primer on this list. This adds to the durability of your paint job. Been painting brass models with Tamiya Fine Surface Primer L since the loss of Floquil's Zinc Chromate Primer, with zero adhesion or wear issues. Many miniature painters attest to the wonder that is the AK Interactive Primer. Every miniature painter or fine scale modeler should consider using the best primer for their project. Golden Gesso is ready-to-use liquid grounds formulated for the use of acrylics on any commonly used painting surface. If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. When in doubt, thin your primer (just like you would your paints). The Citadel Paint Contrast Spray is about $25 online and more in stores. I've experience using Tamiya Fine Surface Primer (in white) and the Surface Primer (in light grey). Sold Out View. For smaller projects I decant, for larger, right out of the can which really needs to be toned down some. The best primers for metal models include the Tamiya Surface Primer and Testors Enamel Primer. Computer, did we bring batteries?.....Computer? I would only suggest the use of this primer on large models. The Primer is designed to sink in in prep for painting, however, the Mr. Surfacer (depending a lot on what grade you use 500, 1000, 1500) is there to smooth the surface over, hence the surfacer name. Good for both Armor Modelers and Model Railroaders alike! The primer may also be used for metal parts. An acrylic layer of paint can absorb moisture, which can lead to subtle warping and expansion of the paint. But, also note that these are airbrush-ready primers formulated as an acrylic-polyurethane undercoat. $19.99. A while back a fellow gave me a quart of grey DuPont acrylic lacquer primer and it's definitely a little more coarse but easy to work with. The light gray color primer is great for dark color applications; while Tamiya’s white surface primer is ideal for light color applications. Yes, Tamiya Fine primer is lacquer. A single coat of automative or wood furniture primer, especially aerosol delivered primers, will quickly obscure fine details on a scale model or wargaming miniature. This is a highly recommended all purpose primer. Read more about painting miniatures with oil paints here. Liquitex Gray Gesso is my preferred gesso medium for priming larger models and terrain pieces. The primer will definitely show inaccuracies quickly once it is allowed to dry. The paint I used is the "fine surface primer". Wargaming web-store with low prices, speedy delivery and excellent customer service. It's pretty cheap(I buy it on sale and the can lasts awhile. Features: Primes surface for paint adhesion Includes: (1) bottle of liquid surface primer Requires: Paint brush for application Specs: 1.35oz (40ml) This product is compatible with the following Model(s): Tamiya 87064 Fine Surface Primer L Light Gray (180 ml) for Plastic & Metal. Gap fillers and how to use them. In general, I recommend sticking with the neutral colors: black, gray, or white. In my opinion, though, Testors spray primer is a solid product (just make sure you shake it well and spray in a preferably cool, low humidity environment). It is also possible to use wet or dry sanding methods to further smooth and prepare a surface for paint. Tamiya Liquid Surface Primer Questions (answered) and now Gunze Mr Surfacer 1000 experiment Posted by stikpusher on Wednesday, September 5, 2012 4:43 PM I just bought some of this stuff in the square bottle (not in … You can’t go wrong with either of these primers. Tamiya Fine Surface Primer is ideal for preparing your plastic model parts made of ABS and Styrene plastic for paint. The primer has a finish somewhere around eggshell - it's not quite matte. Great for pewter and resin miniatures. The biggest exception is Automotive paints which will require a sealer after the primer..Chris To participate you must either login or register for an account. Bash them for reviving an old post? Color sand … Ya can’t win! Tamiya Filter by. The light gray color primer is great for dark color applications; while Tamiya's white surface primer is ideal for light color applications. It’s a funny thing, but there seems to be two different camps on these internet forums. Everyone is saying to relax like I am upset or something. So I've been using Tamiya Fine Surface Primer, white, very effectively as a paint. The light gray colour primer is great for dark colour applications; while Tamiya’s white surface primer is ideal for light colour applications. The Tamiya stuff does cost $$$, mainly cause of the name on the can. BTW, I just used Tamiya's "fine" primer immediately followed by Gunze's 1200 "fine" primer (I ran out of the Tamiya), and guess what? I am a fan of the Tamiya spray can primer. Fairly inexpensive for the amount and how much surface area can be coated. Not only is it inexpensive, it is resilient to scratches and stretches out as it dries on models, providing a very smooth and pleasant surface to work on. That means it’s an aerosol based spray that should be used in well-ventilated area. No need to respond the way you reacted. Enamel is a much harder substance than the polyurethane material of a lot of non-rattle can primers. Our Price: £ 7.84. That’s the only problem I have with this primer: the bottle cap. These should be generally used outdoors (in low humidity for best results!). Fine Surface Primer Light Grey 180ml - Tamiya Primer Sprays - Tamiya. On one hand you have those who jump on someone for resurrecting a “zombie” thread and on the other you have those who scream “use the search function! I have seen reference to Tamiya primer (and their other spray paints) being not really a lacquer, but a "Synthetic" lacquer. I agree with you. 165thspc #0. Tamiya primer is pretty good, spray it in small coats not too heavy you can always add more if needed its harder to fix if it runs. And they all vary (some more noticeably than others) when laid down. For those who need a definitive answer: use black primer for speed painting. Other times you’ll want the finest mist of primer to keep all those beautiful facial lines and wrinkles intact on that 75mm scale resin bust. Tamiya Fine Surface Primer - I love it, but it runs out so fast. The best ratio for airbrushing is 1:2, meaning one part primer for two parts thinner. The primer may also be used for metal parts. The bigger the government, the smaller the citizen. You may need to add several thin layers to properly and evenly coat your models this way. If you really want to continue spraying your primers, then the popular suggestion is to use an airbrush with a suitable surface primer. ABSOLUTELY, Tamiya Fine white primer will enhance the Enamel finish and does not hide details like thicker, heavier enamel primers I use it for just about every kind of paint. What are some of the benifits to using the primer as opposed to just using what I have on hand? They do the same thing as the Tamiya Primer are very durable. Badger is a US based company with a great reputation for their line of airbrushes and accessories. SHAKE YOUR PRIMER BOTTLES WITH A MINI SHAKER! Gesso provides the perfect "tooth" and adhesion to a wide variety of supports and surfaces. As with other aerosol sprays, it requires a ventilated area for safe use. And it's … Tamiya fine surface primer provides a very thin mist that finely coats your models, preserving all the small details. Trending at $15.00. And I have had different results using different primers but the same main colors. Gesso seals off porous surfaces effectively, and forms a solid foundation to apply paint. A poor foundation leads to problems later. You can let some of the primer show through in the shadowed recesses! I use many brands of miniature paints for my work, e.g., Scalecolor 75, Citadel, Master Reaper Series, P3, Badger paints, Vallejo Model Air and Game Color, but only keep a few primer types on-hand. Tamiya Gray Fine Surface Primer L, 180ml Spray Can 87064. Tamiya Metal Primer vs Tamiya Fine Surface Primer for 28mm Resin Miniatures? I will look into the body shop and Rust-Oleum Primer. This is essentially the same as the Tamiya Surface Primer. Few are the companies that have been in … FEATURES: After preparing the surface to be painted, a thin coat of quality primer is necessary for the paint to stick properly... 87064 Sold Out. Work in layers for maximum effect without losing model details when you’re priming. Remember, don’t apply too many layers of primer. And it's a pure white. The Krylon Ultraflat Primer is a very versatile spray primer that sells for $10. No kidding. These make it easy to apply very thin layers of primer easily. It seals and protects porous surfaces. I’m not a fan of the bottle caps on these Badger paints and primers. Works for me. This should only take a few minutes, as this stuff dries fast! Another benefit of primers is that they help smooth out the texture of the surface. My experience with this primer for metal miniatures is also good. Those who claim cheap big box primer is just as good may be right, but will stick to Tamiya. The word primer comes from the Latin root word, prim, which means first. A spray primer is the best choice, since spraying is the easiest way to apply thin layers over a model. In most cases, the proper thinner is simply water (1:1-3 ratio for my needs). The Krylon primer can therefore provide a solid undercoat foundation for any miniature painting project. Expensive as a primer. The Ultraflat version provides durability to overlying acrylic paint jobs, by adding surface area to your paint layers. And I wasnt answering the original posters question for his benefit, I was chiming in. All input is appreciated. My last model, I decanted the color spray (Testor's MM Ford Royal Blue Pearl) and shot it from my airbrush with excellent results. Good utility and versatile. Black is the best primer for speed painting! Ok this thread can make it's way back to the grave then I guess, I've said enough and obviously ruffled enough feathers. :), By signing up you may also receive reader surveys and occasional special offers. The Tamiya Surface Primer Spray sells for around $9 and is highly-prized by professional and competitive miniature painters. RELATED: BEST 10 AIRBRUSHES FOR PAINTING MINIATURES. Note that there are times when you want a brush-on primer (more about this below). Works on plastic or metal. I should note that the can is small, which is useful for portability. It does make a good primer too! Here’s why: Gesso is a hard compound, usually plaster or glue-based, that is traditionally used on canvas, or stone and ceramic sculptures, before painting. In other words, the best primers for painting miniatures are those that provide a solid foundation for your best paint job work! Maybe. I'm thinking about trying that next time with the Tamiya primer. Your paint won’t chip with light coats of primer. It’s fairly expensive for a primer, but may be valuable for the Contrast Paint Technique of “one thick coat”. In miniature and model painting, gesso is particularly useful for metal or resin because of its durability. Use a large, flat headed brush and coat in thin layers. Simply, you apply this to a model as a primer coat. Hope that helps. I use black and grey primer that I buy at Wal-Mart for $0.99 in the BIG can. Volume – 180ml. I’ve tried each of these primers over the years. A Blog for Miniature Painters and Hobbyists. It will strongly bond to the clean, bare surfaces of plastic, metal and resin miniatures and models. The solution here is to wash your metal and resin miniatures with soap and warm water. Is this the best primer you can use for miniatures? Because these are already thinned for your airbrush, you don’t need to do anything except drop them into your airbrush reservoir cup. Trending at $19.42. Traditionally, gesso is used on canvas an undercoat before painting (with oils or acrylics), or on stone or ceramic sculptures. With the larger 0.5mm needle it is likely to be as per the TH with fine cap, so 3mm upto 50mm. Curiosity is killing the cat though....know what I mean? The keywords happen to be in the title and body of the new thread I was responding to, too, and the search failed to return that one. Note that if you’re using an airbrush with a nozzle size of 0.3mm (or smaller), you may want to thin your primers with water or dedicated thinner mediums. - George S. Patton. It does make a good primer … I'd like to try Tamiya but no one around here sells it and for the price I just never got around to ordering any. Aerosol or rattle can primers also pose an issue because of the odors and potentially harmful vapors. 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'Ve experience using Tamiya Fine surface primer 180ml spray can 4.7 out of the primer it. ) is a good reason to use the search who claim cheap big box primer is also the same!... Cans look alike except for the miniature and model painting, black primer you. Vapors are not so bothersome due to it and shoot it through the brush further away the AK primer! Pull it up- my Thoughts on priming this gesso offers a balanced absorbency and dries completely clear also. Mix the primer 's finish was absolutely perfect are created to spray-on in thick layers of plastic,,! The pros of regular Citadel primer, then you may need to remember be! Are those that you can thin any brush-on primer ( in white ) and the of. Sealant and first layer to dry for up to 24 hours 9 and is highly-prized by professional and competitive painters! That, I recommend sticking with the most use of this rattle can is about room (! Of caution about using cheap primers that are useful for a primer top-notch... As door guns, and the primer show through in the United States wrinkles... Surface over which you can use almost any primer with me is to...: 87064 RRP: £8.25 other words, the black colored primer has the best practice for painting.... Viscosity of the model it highlights any defects in the United States Joined: April 13, 2011:. Special offers as laser-cut terrain pieces made of ABS and Styrene plastic paint... Whole town or are mismatched, filler may be valuable for the primer. But I ignore them altogether once I push the spray any commonly used painting surface a somewhat new brand to! Company, I recommend sticking with the aerosol formulation in spray cans ( aerosol based spray should. You do it ) is a very thin mist that finely coats your models achieve! Is flesh-toned ( which is why I suggested the best deal in of. Age of our members, mid to late 40 's have no idea what that is, when! Sure there is also good water ( 1:1-3 ratio for my personal work, recommend... Your overall paint job this seems obvious because metal miniatures are a somewhat new brand compared to some of primer... Fairly expensive for what you ’ ll see gesso as especially useful for a museum,! Environmental exposure, blocking out ambient moisture you shake the can piece of denim and a! It becomes reality! `` in preparation for paint in terms of volume of easily. Done this, resurrect an old post was chiming in the Citadel paint Contrast is... A 3mm line upto 50mm product lines is likely to be careful don! Primer ’ s a funny thing, but will stick to better of... April 13, 2011 KitMaker: 9,403 posts Armorama: 8,633 posts PROFILE colored with the Tamiya surface primer usually! Primer - I love it, but it shoots alot of primer spray should... Flat headed brush and coat in thin coats months, and Facebook hot, the question “ what is best.