Resin Kits -- Recommend a Good Primer?

[redapplesonly]

Hello Jedi Masters,

I have a question about resin kits and primers. I recently bought my first resin model kit, only to realize I know beans about painting resin. I’ve been reading up on this online, and there’s a lot of conflicting information out there. So I figured it couldn’t hurt to solicit some opinions from you folks.

Question The First: What primer would you recommend? Everyone agrees you need to start resin with a primer. Ideally, I’d like a good spray primer… mostly because I’m lazy.

Question The Second: Do I have to buy new paints? My current paints come in three categories:
*** For spray paints, I like Tamiya Color Spray Paint (Acrylic)
*** For bottled paints, I prefer Testor’ Enamel, the standard ¼ oz bottle sizes
*** I also use 17 ml Vallejo Acrylic paints if I have to fix and blend colors on the model.

I’m assuming once I get a good primer layer on my resin kit, I’m good to go with the paints I already have. Is that a bad assumption? Do I need to buy a whole new set of paints for resin painting?

Many, many thanks!
-RAO

[Johnnycrash]

Answer The First: Just about ANY primer will work fine. It's more about preparing the resin surface for paint. Wash the resin parts in warm water and a mild soap (dish), as this will remove the silicone oils, along with any mold release used.. Then spray with your favourite primer. *I* personally prefer a sandable scratch filling automotive etching primer. It's cheap, available just about everywhere, and does a nice job of leveling out.

Answer The Second: No.

[TazMan2000]

That automotive etching primer...do you have a brand name that works for you?

TazMan2000

[Johnnycrash]

That automotive etching primer...do you have a brand name that works for you?

It's just called "Primer" from Canadian Tire. It's oxide red. I think it might also come in grey (used to). But I find that the grey doesn't cover very well.

[thetraveler7819]

DupliColor Black is pretty good too, fills those tiny gaps nicely!

[DaveVan]

I keep ALL DupliColor primer, fillers and sealers on hand. Been using them for 20 years. I really like the gray sealer best if a fill is not needed. Very thin but excellent coverage. I get them locally at Magic Mart but when they are out.....Amazon.

[southwestforests]

Will make note of this, recently got a resin & metal mini and the last time I painted resin was in the 1990s.

[thetraveler7819]

Yep, ditto on Amazon

[TazMan2000]

That automotive etching primer...do you have a brand name that works for you?

It's just called "Primer" from Canadian Tire. It's oxide red. I think it might also come in grey (used to). But I find that the grey doesn't cover very well.

Thank you.

[dizzyfugu]

Cleaning the parts thoroughly is half the job. And beyond that, any acrylic primer (automotive stuff is good, DupliColor great and the white Tamiya primer excellent, but expensive) will do. I do not recommend spray filler, though, it tends (from my experience) to react with resin and the remaining softeners. Rather apply two thin coats of primer and wet sand them.

[redapplesonly]

[quote="DaveVan"]I keep ALL DupliColor primer, fillers and sealers on hand. Been using them for 20 years. I really like the gray sealer best if a fill is not needed. Very thin but excellent coverage. I get them locally at Magic Mart but when they are out.....Amazon.[/quote]

Thanks for the advice; is this the primer you recommended?

http://www.amazon.com/Dupli-Color-DAP16 ... lor+primer

I'm looking at a lot of primers and note most of them say they are designed for "wood, metal, fiberglass" - does this mean they are okay for resin kits too?

Thanks!
-RAO

[Lt. Z0mBe]

Answer The First: Just about ANY primer will work fine. It's more about preparing the resin surface for paint. Wash the resin parts in warm water and a mild soap (dish), as this will remove the silicone oils, along with any mold release used.. Then spray with your favourite primer. *I* personally prefer a sandable scratch filling automotive etching primer. It's cheap, available just about everywhere, and does a nice job of leveling out.

Answer The Second: No.

Good answer!...clap...clap...clap...Good answer!

Kenny

[redapplesonly]

Answer The First: Just about ANY primer will work fine. It's more about preparing the resin surface for paint. Wash the resin parts in warm water and a mild soap (dish), as this will remove the silicone oils, along with any mold release used.. Then spray with your favourite primer. *I* personally prefer a sandable scratch filling automotive etching primer. It's cheap, available just about everywhere, and does a nice job of leveling out.

Answer The Second: No.

Good answer!...clap...clap...clap...Good answer!

Kenny

Totally agree! Amen!

[Blappy]

I use this almost exclusively on resin. I thin it about 65% thinner to paint and blow it through my airbrush. 95% of all the kits I build are resin.

http://hobbywave.com/modeling_supplies/ ... rimer.html

[Lonewolf]

I pretty much use gray sandable acrylic auto primer on my builds. Sometimes, depending on whether I want "pre-shading" underneath, I use black.

[Blappy]

I pretty much use gray sandable acrylic auto primer on my builds. Sometimes, depending on whether I want "pre-shading" underneath, I use black.

I have found that most rattle can primers except Mr.Color and Tamiya fill too much detail for most builds.

You really cannot beat the airbrush primers for an accurate scale finish.

[Glorfindel]

I pretty much use gray sandable acrylic auto primer on my builds. Sometimes, depending on whether I want "pre-shading" underneath, I use black.

I have found that most rattle can primers except Mr.Color and Tamiya fill too much detail for most builds.

You really cannot beat the airbrush primers for an accurate scale finish.

I'm liking the Vallejo Surface Primer myself. Doesn't gunk up the airbrush and leaves the details super crisp.

[iSteve]

Would Alclad primers be too hot for resin?

[jafo]

valspar micromist grey primer goes one very fine and doesnt cover up detail. So far for me its been as good as Tamiya.

[DaveVan]

I keep ALL DupliColor primer, fillers and sealers on hand. Been using them for 20 years. I really like the gray sealer best if a fill is not needed. Very thin but excellent coverage. I get them locally at Magic Mart but when they are out.....Amazon.

Thanks for the advice; is this the primer you recommended?

http://www.amazon.com/Dupli-Color-DAP16 ... lor+primer

I'm looking at a lot of primers and note most of them say they are designed for "wood, metal, fiberglass" - does this mean they are okay for resin kits too?

Thanks!
-RAO

Sorry I did not see your Q.....
My favorite is #1699 Sealer.....but I use all of them. depends if I need filler or not.

[nurturer]

Tamiya light gray

[NCC1966]

People uses primer for two reasons...

1) even the surface to find imperfections
2) anchor the paint

OK, I started modeling very long ago when you just painted (or not!) your models so I never used primers. Personally I think it's just an unnecessary product just to make people spend a bit more money.

But anyway, to even the surface to see and correct problems (seams, holes, etc) I just paint my models in a light grey with the regular paint I use. Now for the anchoring of the paint, you really won't need it if you use enamels or strong acrylics such as Tamiya. Cannot tell about lacquer because I never worked with it.

[NCC1966]

I forgot to mention that I don't build only plastic kits. I build and paint also resin figures from e2046 and I proceed exactly the same way. I didn't have any problem to the date.

[Blappy]

I forgot to mention that I don't build only plastic kits. I build and paint also resin figures from e2046 and I proceed exactly the same way. I didn't have any problem to the date.

The proofs in the puddin! Lets see some pictures of your builds.

[NCC1966]

I forgot to mention that I don't build only plastic kits. I build and paint also resin figures from e2046 and I proceed exactly the same way. I didn't have any problem to the date.

The proofs in the puddin! Lets see some pictures of your builds.

Here it is two of them. Will find pics of others and upload later...

http://i.imgur.com/BkFQ5cB.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/mG1DzF6.jpg







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Moderator edited to remove image(s)

At this time, images in sig lines and inline images in posts are still not allowed. Instead, please just use a link to wherever the image resides on the web, so folks can go look if they want to.

.

[NCC1966]

Found a few more... actually I thought that I had lost those pictures in one of my latest HD cleanup. And no, I don't have these figures anymore (sold or given away), except for the last one "Tutu" (the ballerina) that I made for my wife. She needs some restoration though. The figure, not my wife...



http://i.imgur.com/xhNoTvs.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/GkubKPW.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/437EPoW.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/weYRAV1.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/ylUo7m2.jpg




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Moderator edited to remove image(s)

At this time, images in sig lines and inline images in posts are still not allowed. Instead, please just use a link to wherever the image resides on the web, so folks can go look if they want to.

.