Primer Problem

[montythefirst]

Hi

So for a while now I have been using Vallejo Black surface primer to prime my figures, however the problem is that it's durability is not the best and it peels if you touch it or need to sand post application I have persisted with it as it was a large bottle and didn't want to buy extra primer and waste money.

It is really proving to be a pain and I seem to spend ages touching up bits of primed surface where it has peeled away or that I needed to sand and end up trying to hide peeled lines not the easiest.

I always clean my kits so know this is not the problem just think this is not the best product for me.

Does anyone have a suggestion of a good quality Black Primer I could use instead preferably sand-able

cheers

Simon

 

[housecarl]

Hycote car primer Simon.
Dirt cheap and good stuff.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/1906...ff3=1&ff11=ICEP3.0.0&ff12=67&ff13=80&ff14=108

 

[Gra30]

Vallejo is horrible with regard to when it peels
Halfords either through a can but even better decanted and through an airbrush.
I also prime my masters this way, but it is grey.
For painting I have always used humbrol white through an airbrush (black would be just the same) direct on resin and metal.
If it does wear off it doesn't peel leaving uneven areas and also gives a great Matt base for future paint

 

[Uruk-Hai]

It needs time.

For polystyrene. 1 day of drying. For resin, 3 days and for white metal at least 5 days if not 7. Especially if its a tad bit cold and damp.
Warm the paint in tapwarm water before spraying and use almost twice as much pressure as usual.

If youre in no hurry, no problem. If you wanna have a go at the figure within a few hours, use Citadel Primer.

Cheers
Janne Nilsson

 

[bogusman53]

Krylon for me, always dries matt and gives a great 'tooth' for your paint. I usually use black but also use Camo Sand and in some cases white. About 6.99 a can and does primes a good many busts.

 

[Silverb]

Hi,

From my understanding Vallejo primer is a Polyurethane base paint, thus the adhesion isn't as good and durable as lacquer based primer. I use autoprimer (they have different colours) decanted through an airbrush. I also have Gunze's Mr.Surfacer Black 1500, you need to thin these down and shoot through the airbrush or use their canned variant (Though I heard that Mr.Surfacer is harder to get in America).

Be mindful though that the 1500 grit will be much finer than your usual autoprimer, and might cause your paint to bead up if it is thinned down.

 

[Silverb]

Another thing though to be careful with when decanting your paint or using the potted primer as pictured above is the type of lacquer based thinner to use. Not all of them are suitable for plastic models and will melt the plastic. Some may even mess with the adhesion of the primer itself, just test it on some plastic cards or sprue before you try. Hope it helped.

But to reiterate, I'd probably recommend autoprimer. If you live in the US, probably Krylon (but I've never used it because they don't have it where I live). If you want greater control of the smoothness, decant the paint.

P.S. All of which I have mentioned can be sanded down afterwards. These paints and the airbrush used to be the staple of my gundam building arsenal back before I discovered miniature painting with a real brush.

 

[montythefirst]

has anyone tried the army painter spray primers

 

[montythefirst]

Found an can of Halfords grey primer I thought I'd thrown out so will give that a whirl any tips for use as not used it for ages

 

[swralph]

I don't use named primer's.I simply give everything a good scrub in washing up liquid,let dry then clean again with alcohol,then base coat everything with Tamiya XF19 sky grey. so long as it is dry I have no problems even with multiple masking.

 

[Johan Kees]

I now prefer the Humbrol enamel's primer (n° 1) which is a midtone grey and can be applied with a brush or with an airbrush. In both cases it produces an even and very matt ground with acrylics grabbing very well on it. And no peeling off either!

Jhan

 

[montythefirst]

the thing that has got me really fuming is you put the vallejo primer on and it is really fragile peels easy etc. Try and strip it off and it goes like concrete

 

[housecarl]

the thing that has got me really fuming is you put the vallejo primer on and it is really fragile peels easy etc. Try and strip it off and it goes like concrete

Got to love irony.

 

[Gra30]

Monty, Halfords is a great primer and easy to get in uk, negates mail order also.
Shake well, sit in a bowl of warm water for 10 minutes, shake again and you will get a great finish
Dries fast and very durable, can be sanded or scraped with a new blade
All my masters are sprayed as said in this and it doesn't cover any detail if applied in light coats, keep the spray can moving
You will get at least 4-5 120mm figures with parts from a can

 

[Gra30]

The only thing I have found that will strip Vallejo is isopropyl alcohol and then still a bugger.
Halfords comes off with mr muscle

 

[montythefirst]

cheers guys

 

[Karlosfandango]

Simon, same shit just happened to me recently. I used the black Vallejo primer, beautiful coverage but it does peel, badly! I've just recovered a white metal figure. Painted most of his clothes and armour but wanted to base coat the cloak he is wearing with the airbrush . Masked, airbrushed, remove mask , peeled, Noooooooooooo! I think on my armour I'd still use it but for any figure from now on, especially white metal, I will use an auto primer decanted or just thin some off my old enamels. I do think drying times are important too as mentioned earlier. Here's to experience.
Karl.

 

[Gerry]

Halfords all the way Karl, tried them all and more!!
Halfords black dosen't lift! as well as there grey and white! no brainer mate! save your money why pay out for something that dosen't do the job?
at the end of the day all you need is decent base coat, and the some said formulated colours are a bit of a myth, and can prove pricey, just a test, buy a can of Games workshop black and one can of Halfords black, can you tell the differance when they go on your figure? enough said!

 

[Alex]

good old tamiya primer in a can.... expensive but works perfectly

 

[Blind Pew]

I think then I may go the Halfords route. For years I've used (successfully) Games Workshop Skull White but that stuff is getting very very pricey now. I think they want a tenner a can now. Black primer I've tried and didn't like.