Base coat on plastic for acrylics

[Dusky]

What options are out there for a brushable base coat/primer I can use on plastic and paint acrylics over it? I won't use enamels and unfortunately I can't exactly spray paint in a dorm room.

 

[fubar]

I started by using Citadel Chaos black or Skull white but now i have some Vallejo primers that can be brushed or airbrushed.

 

[Elm City Hobbies]

Yeah, ditto on the Vallejo Primers.....they can be brushed or airbrushed, and come in 8 wonderful colors.

I have actually replaced matt black with the primer....does the same job.

 

[Dusky]

Would these be it?
http://store.spruebrothers.com/categories.aspx?Keyword=vallejo%20primer

 

[fubar]

Yup thats the ones.

I only have black and white so far but they seem very nice to use.

 

[Dusky]

How well do they perform against scratching and tape?

 

[fubar]

I've only just started to use them so i wouldn't like to say for sure, but so far it seems very durable....but i haven't tried it with tape yet.

 

[spud]

there tough, just once ya have it on let it sit over night to toughen up propper you can go over it after a few hours but would be better not to i think if you are going to use masking tape on it

 

[the Baron]

I used to use Tamiya's Flat Grey--forget the X-number, sorry--thinned with isopropyl, as a primer, till I moved to using automotive primers. It gave a good tooth for acrylics, and enamels, as top coats.

The real key is to make sure the plastic is cleaned well before priming. I've been using the warm-water-and-dishwashing-liquid method, but I think going forward, I'm going to replace the couple of drops of dishwasing liquid with Super Clean, since it's a de-greaser. When I've used it to strip chrome and paint, I notice that the plastic ended up grease-free.

 

[Dusky]

Any kind of degreaser that isn't petroleum based will work. If you don't want to use something as harsh as Castrol Super Clean you can use Simple Green.

 

[Elm City Hobbies]

That link you posted to Sprue Bros only shows the 17ml bottles, they are available in 60ml bottles as well.

Clean you plastic properly, couple light coats of the primer, let it cure overnight, and then Bob's your uncle!

 

[Dusky]

That link you posted to Sprue Bros only shows the 17ml bottles, they are available in 60ml bottles as well.

Clean you plastic properly, couple light coats of the primer, let it cure overnight, and then Bob's your uncle!

I'd rather buy a cheaper 17ml to try it out first.

 

[Elm City Hobbies]

Its just that you don't need to thin the primer, so you use it straight from the bottle, tend to go through alot. Depending on what you are priming, one 17ml bottle might not do it. The larger 60ml bottles yes are about twice the price but give you 3.5X the amount. Better bang for your buck.

 

[panzerace007]

SS ,

Yes indeed ! I'm a recent Convert to th Vallejo Primers. They are Damn near Bullet proof , as long as you let them dry overnight ! I've taped them off using 3M Blue Painter's Tape, you can find it in Lowes' or Home Depot in th Paint section. It's Polyurethane !! Tough stuff ! but I'll add just a couple of drops of Their Thinner ( 17ml Black Cap) to th mix & keep an #0 or #1 brush handy & some water , if th tip gets a film on it, just whip it with th brush to clean it away & you're good to go !!

 

[Dusky]

I picked up a bottle of Gray and a bottle of Black, but I haven't tested them yet.

I'll have to get a can of Tamiya's Metal Primer for some P.E. parts and metal barrels and spray it in the parking lot when no one is around.

 

[Elm City Hobbies]

I picked up a bottle of Gray and a bottle of Black, but I haven't tested them yet.

I'll have to get a can of Tamiya's Metal Primer for some P.E. parts and metal barrels and spray it in the parking lot when no one is around.

Why when you have the Vallejo primers already. Perfectly fine for PE and Aluminum barrels.

 

[Dusky]

Acrylic primers will not etch onto metal.

 

[spud]

The vellajo primers are perfect for going onto etch and barrels let it cure over night tough to make sure you don't scratch it

 

[Elm City Hobbies]

Acrylic primers will not etch onto metal.

Vallejo isn't your normal acrylic primer. I have used it over PE and aluminum many times with no problems.

If you are worried about aluminum barrels, run over them with some 360 or 420 grit sandpaper to scuff them a bit...even a scotchbrite pad.

Even using the Tamiya Metal primer I would give any aluminum barrels a slight scuff for the paint to bite into, but if you already have the Vallejo primer....no need to spend more on the Tamiya stuff when the Vallejo will do the job just as well if not better.

 

[sunsanvil]

Metal barrel. Various PE parts. No primer of any kind. Nothing but pure Vallejo ModelAir. No problem of any kind.

Just sayin'...