priming

[Hap]

I am trying to decide whether I should prime my sculpt before it is done to help smooth things out and look for minor flaws. I have done this in assembly and painting and still added putty to corect things. I have a scratch piece and want to make sure I have not missed something. I am doing this for later casting and am wondering if I am likely to run into problems, if I prime and then have to add on.

Thanks for your thoughts.

 

[Joe Hudson]

Hey Hap,

How is it going? Going to Atlanta? I always prime my sculpts but not until I am done, you can always add more to it if needed. I have not had any problems as of yet. I use light gray tamiya paint for the primer, airbrushed.

Joe

 

[Sambaman]

Personally I would always prime Hap. I use thinned white acrylic through the airbrush. This lets me control the coverage as I need. You might just apply a light coat and see if that helps. I can never get a piece perfect the first try, the primer inevitably reveals flaws for me. Good luck! I've seen your name all over, hope to meet you in Atlanta!

Jay H.
OKC

 

[Bluesking]

I find priming a great help too.

 

[John Long]

Definitely prime. You'll find lots of tool marks and flaws you couldn't see in the raw putty. Sand and fill then prime again.

When I finish up a scratchbuild, epecially for production, I clean up all the flaws I can see. Then, I polish the whole thing with Scotch-brite, and 0000 steel wool. After that I use toothpaste (a mild abrasive) and an old toothbrush. Then I prime and if I see anything worth cleaning up, I do it then.

 

[garyjd]

I would think a light coat would be all you need providing you cleaned up your sculpt with steel wool or Scotch Brite. I've never primed a finish sculpture, though I may the next time around just to see if it has an effect on the finish of the final sculpt.~Gary

 

[Hap]

Thanks for the input. I guess I have used primer on figures and sanded after to get a smooth surface and thought that that would help for a scratch figure as part of the process.

Joe, I'm now not sure of Atlanta as I have a three day trial beginning Feb. 26. I am still thinking about it but....

Thanks

 

[vergilius]

I don't think it's a problem to prime again. I usually see a few mistakes more after priming.