Thiining Tamiya Grey Primer (from bottle)

Jun AustriaGBCPAQ · Post by **Jun AustriaGBCPAQ** » Sun Jan 27, 2008 9:06 pm

I just started getting back to my model hobby after 15 years. And I'm more of a Star wars modeler.

Yesterday, for the first time. I used the Tamiya Grey Primer and thinned with 50% Tamiya Lacquer Thinner. In the firts few minutes of spraying thru my aibrush it comes out smoothly. But later then that it started to spary rough.

My first suspect was my paint was gravity feed (Using Aztek Airbrush A470) coz I saw some residue at the bottom of the cup after sparying.

Then I switch the cup to bottom feed. And every minute I have to stir the primer. Again same result, after few minutes of spraying it becomes rough. Any idea where I'm going wrong?

My setup is... Aztek Airbrush A470 with 0.4 head and Bottom feed with
50% Tamiya Grey primer thinned with 50% Tamiya Lacquer
using 15 psi pressure at a distance of 6"-8".

Joseph Osborn · Post by **Joseph Osborn** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 2:29 pm

Okay, nobody's chimed in on this one so I'll give it a shot even though I don't use Tamiya primer. I use Mr Surfacer 1000 thinned with Mr Thinner at about a 1:1 ratio like you, but I really haven't found any problems spraying it through the gray tip on my Aztek. It does dry very quickly, and wants to start setting up in the cup if I tarry too long. Maybe you could bump up the air pressure a little to keep the primer moving through the brush.

Jun AustriaGBCPAQ · Post by **Jun AustriaGBCPAQ** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 8:45 pm

Thanks Joseph for you're reply. Yeah, the airbrush is not the problem. ( I love my Aztek for its simplicity in maitenance when use for my hobby ).

Again, have been off from modelling for years. So I suspect my method.
I did more search about the primer ( this is the first time I use a primer ). And at the TAMIYAUSA site, there is an article about painting ( http://www.tamiyausa.com/articles/featu ... icle-id=35 ). And I noted how the author use the primer. "I spray a thin coat of Tamiya's gray Fine Surface Primer."

Reading that, I realized my mistake. I was spraying my primer too long. Meaning, I was spraying coat after coat of primer. The lacquer might have heat up on the surface already.
I was spraying the STAP model from Star Wars. Its big so assume its dry after going thru one side. And I repeatedly did this as if I was applying a final coat of paint.

I havent done the droid, so I will be carefull next time I use a primer. Hope this testament will be a lesson for other beginners ( in priming ) like me.

Kylwell · Post by **Kylwell** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 10:06 pm

Ah, I hadn't thought of that. I'd been busy trying to research Tamiya primer & thinner.

Yes, as with Mr. Surfacer, apply thin coats.

Joseph Osborn · Post by **Joseph Osborn** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 12:10 am

Jun AustriaGBCPAQ wrote:I was spraying my primer too long. Meaning, I was spraying coat after coat of primer.

Look on the bright side-- it'll sand out to very smooth finish

Jun AustriaGBCPAQ · Post by **Jun AustriaGBCPAQ** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 1:41 am

Joseph Osborn wrote: Look on the bright side-- it'll sand out to very smooth finish

Yep, had fun sanding it using running water in the kitchen. While my missy is giving me the "look of she wants to use the sink" hehehe.