The best primers for plastic miniatures, such as those from Games Workshop Citadel miniature lines, may not be the best for metal surfaces. This greasy, usually invisible layer of mold-release that helps the miniatures pop out of the molds. It’s fairly expensive for a primer, but may be valuable for the Contrast Paint Technique of “one thick coat”. When it comes to finishing 3D prints, elementary school arts and crafts ain't gonna cut it. If your goal is to color your print with a high level of detail, you’ll need to start … The thinner viscosity of the Liquitex version of gesso makes it amiable for preserving the fine details on miniatures. Rust-Oleum Specialty Plastic Primer prepares plastic for painting with any top coat. Other colors are available. For a small/quarter size spot job, do yourself a favor and use an aerosol. It is a new formulation designed for use along… When in doubt, thin your primer (just like you would your paints). Expensive as a primer. Versatile, cost-effective, and easy to use. For exposed wood, chalking or chipped paint, use an oil-based primer. A primer covers the skin to prevent the make-up you place on top from being absorbed into your skin. Due to its formulation, the primer applies easily with a brush or airbrush and creates a smooth and even surface for model paint color. Each layer slightly removes details from the miniatures. You want to avoid obscuring details. )The oil-based formula is made to resist chipping and adhere to a range of surfaces like plastic… Note that there are times when you want a brush-on primer (more about this below). It is even good on models made of wood or cardboard surfaces (e.g., MDF terrain) as it seals with a solid coat, filling and sealing off porous surfaces. Every miniature painter or fine scale modeler should consider using the best primer for their project. Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, or ABS plastic, is used to create all sorts of molded products, including musical instruments, plastic piping and even some types of golf club heads. Primer bonds well to metal and plastic. Dual-Mix™ Structural Impact Resistant Adhesive, How To Select the Best Primer for Plastic. Gesso is fairly hard compound formulated with plaster or some type of glue-like substance. I’m recommending Gray, but any of the Surface Primer colors are great undercoats. In my opinion, though, Testors spray primer is a solid product (just make sure you shake it well and spray in a preferably cool, low humidity environment). Adler Varicolor 2in1 Acrylic Coloured Paint for Indoor and Outdoor use - 125 ml RAL3020 Traffic red - Weather-Proof Paint and Primer for Wood, Metal & Plastic - Silky matt 4.3 out of 5 stars 808 £8.76 £ … This Vallejo Surface Primer thins nicely with pure water or Vallejo’s airbrush thinner. Unfortunately, because ABS plastic is nonporous and slick, it is not ideal for paint … They are generally less costly and come with a lot more primer for your money. Ultimately, the purpose of a primer is to provide a thin even surface in preparation for paint. I’ve used this automotive primer to great effect on 3D printed parts and larger terrain pieces made of MDF or plastic. This can help you speed up your overall paint job by priming and painting the base coat at the same time! It’ll happen fast if you’re not careful. Step up your game with this guide on the best paint for plastic. Adheres to hard-to-paint surfaces. This is essentially the same as the Tamiya Surface Primer. Maybe you do want to hide fine scratches, bubbles, or imperfections on your models. Not all primers are the same. The following are my recommended top 10 best primers for painting plastic and metal miniatures. I’m not a fan of the bottle caps on these Badger paints and primers. It comes in many different colors. I’ve tried regular spray-can primers for painting outdoor furniture like Krylon and Rust-Oleum primers. Simply, you apply this to a model as a primer coat. If you’re repairing plastic, you’ll need a primer that removes any minor sand scratches and conceals any body work (i.e. Companies like Vallejo or Tamiya have been in the business of making primers specifically formulated for their model kit product lines. But, if you’re willing to wait for an overseas delivery this may be a great primer for any model you’re preparing to paint. Spray Evenly from a Distance. To accomplish that, look for a primer … It is also possible to use wet or dry sanding methods to further smooth and prepare a surface for paint. Here’s why: Gesso is a hard compound, usually plaster or glue-based, that is traditionally used on canvas, or stone and ceramic sculptures, before painting. Start by answering this question: Am I repairing or refinishing? Wet or dry sand. The shadows are taken care of for you. Not sure if your plastic requires an adhesion promoter? Latex-based paint is easy to use, is less messy and doesn't require specialty products for cleaning up. In general, although hard to find in some countries, and usually with long delivery times, the AK Interactive Primer has some of the best features of my personal favorite Vallejo Surface Primer. Gesso is especially useful for metal or resin miniatures. Enamel is a much harder substance than the polyurethane material of a lot of non-rattle can primers. It doesn’t take much primer to effectively cover your model. In other words, do you like painting something to make it lighter; or, would you prefer to darken a model as you make progress? The right primer can help your paint job stay seamless for years to come. Hold the nozzle about 6-12″ away from the miniature while you spray. The nice thing about automotive primers is that they are designed specifically to smooth out imperfections on surfaces. The Citadel Paint Contrast Spray is about $25 online and more in stores. The Vallejo Surface Primer sells for $16 and worth every penny! If there’s a knock to this product, it’s the premium price. As a primer, it works well and provides a very smooth surface for applying overlying model paints. Harmful vapors are not friendly to painting in a basement or enclosed area with poor ventilation. It’s well regarded by the miniature and modeling community. As mentioned, AK Interactive primer is a little hard to find in the United States. The quality of the final undercoat with Tamiya surface primer is top-notch. Works similarly to regular Citadel Primer, with added smoothness and brightness for Citadel Contrast Paint. For those who need a definitive answer: use black primer for speed painting. Other times you’ll want the finest mist of primer to keep all those beautiful facial lines and wrinkles intact on that 75mm scale resin bust. SEM Solution: High Build Primer Surfacer, For larger repairs, you’ll need a primer that’s catalyzed. As a primer for miniatures and models, Krylon spray primer is also inexpensive! Gesso comes in many forms, but they are all brush-on type primers. It dries fast and auto-smooths on the surface of both plastic and pewter miniatures. Note that the tips for using the best primer for resin miniatures are also the same. Another benefit of primers is that they help smooth out the texture of the surface. Most of the models you see on this site were first primed with Vallejo Surface Primer. Rust-Oleum Painter’s Touch Ultra Cover is a highly rated spray paint option for many surfaces, including plastic. For redwood, cedar wood or wood that’s stained, use a stain-blocking primer. It stinks literally. Gesso is versatile. Liquitex provides this gesso in one of the thinner viscosity forms. It effectively forms a hardened surface with the model you’re working on. This provides the thinnest, most even coats on your models. Bubbles can form if you try to apply thick layers of brush-on primer. ), Another Busy Week – Monday Night Gaming Pictures. READ MORE: SHAKE YOUR PRIMER BOTTLES WITH A MINI SHAKER! Note that the best temperature to prime miniatures with an aerosol rattle can is about room temperature (75F or 24C). Auto-smooths as it dries on any surface, including plastic and metal models. A brighter base coat primer can help get those color saturations quicker with less effort. This allows paint to be applied on top of the sealer in a relatively short time, with no sanding in between. A final cleaning with mineral spirits or isopropyl alcohol … An acrylic layer of paint can absorb moisture, which can lead to subtle warping and expansion of the paint. You can let some of the primer show through in the shadowed recesses! These programs are designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to the above affiliated sites. This is the key primer for most miniature artists who take the hobby seriously. Because the can is under-pressure, you should be aware that storage in a safe place away from heat is important. Use latex paint … Glossy surfaces: Bonding primer, formulated to stick to glossy surfaces, is a must for the slick likes of glass, plastic, or tile. Painted Wood: If paint is in good condition, primer might not be needed. For me, Testors is more available in local art supply stores than Tamiya’s product (which is billed as more specialized). Gesso is inexpensive, forms a protective surface for applying paint, and smooths out surface imperfections. As mentioned above, each has a purpose. This is great, and perhaps this is one of the most under-rated, largely ignored primers on the market. There aren’t too many cons with Tamiya’s surface primer. But, also note that these are airbrush-ready primers formulated as an acrylic-polyurethane undercoat. The specialty primer can create a foundation that helps the paint stick. Apply the spray primer … ... Click to add item "Rust-Oleum® Specialty Interior White Plastic Primer - 1 qt." The Citadel Model Primer is a primer that is useful for plastic and metal miniatures. Plastic Primers Give your plastic and structural foam products a great foundation with our line of highly effective primers. For miniatures, automotive primer is perfect for smoothing out imperfections and filling tiny gaps in models or 3D prints. Primers aren’t formulated like miniature paints, which are generally acrylic polymer-based mediums. For my personal work, I like separating the priming stage from my painting stage. Vallejo makes a great surface primer (my favorite) that you can either brush-on or use with an airbrush. I use a cheap synthetic brush for priming and base coating models. Spray farther away and in very light misting coats. Although I mentioned this is attribute of cheaper primers is advantageous for 3D prints (which have fine build layer lines you want to hide), or large terrain pieces; for miniatures that have small details, including high resolution resin 3D prints, I would suggest you avoid non-hobby grade primers for miniature painting. In principle all primers work the same. The best enamel based primers are those in rattle spray cans (aerosol based primers). Next, look for a primer that lays down as a thin, smooth coat. The Krylon primer can therefore provide a solid undercoat foundation for any miniature painting project. The Testors Enamel Primer can sells for $9. And, I’m not sure why except that maybe these primers are not advertised as much as the others and are fairly new on the market. Overall, it’s a toss up between Army Painter and Citadel branded primers. White primer will help you see details in the surface of the model. Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. The one that I use to thin water-based polyurethane surface primers is made by Vallejo. The Badger Airbrush Primer (Stynlrez) is about $8 per primer bottle or $16 for a set of 3 colors (black, gray, and white). Using this with a brush allows me to apply thicker coats that are useful for hiding print lines in 3D prints. (Rust-Oleum American Accents is a similar paint with similar properties, if you’re looking for additional color options. Some heavier primers can easily cover these details. This is great for 3D prints and large models. But, this mold-release lubricant repels primer and paint. When the wear and tear of hitting the road affect your hubcaps, grates, or other plastic parts on the car, a coat of paint can revive them. AK Interactive is one of the best primers for those looking for a no-nonsense acrylic primer. All Rights Reserved. All the pros of regular Citadel Primer plus the added bonus of combining with Citadel Contrast Paint application. Liquitex Gray Gesso is my preferred gesso medium for priming larger models and terrain pieces. Glue doesn’t adhere well to that residue of mold-release. Great for pewter and resin miniatures. More about this below. plastic repair A primer is a substance you use to coat an unpainted surface to prepare it for subsequent layers of modeling paint. I’ve had good results with cheaper primers for terrain pieces. The best primers for metal models include the Tamiya Surface Primer and Testors Enamel Primer. As with any aerosol, there is also the need for good ventilation. For the price, a single bottle has lasted me hundreds of models. Many colors. Learn how your comment data is processed. In contrast to acrylic paint, primers do not absorb water after they dry. It is formulated for all types of miniatures, including those made of plastic and metal. Each layer of primer coat you apply to a plastic miniature will slowly build up in the recesses. Testors enamel primer is a premium product for modeling, and is priced as such. Do not spray too close to the piece, as it will unevenly thicken the … This should only take a few minutes, as this stuff dries fast! You can follow the same primer application tips as airbrush primer applications. Testors is a direct competitor of Tamiya’s product. As you see below, there are some limitations. Note that if you’re using an airbrush with a nozzle size of 0.3mm (or smaller), you may want to thin your primers with water or dedicated thinner mediums. The white color acts as an undercoat for applying the Contrast Paint over it; speeding up the process of painting with Games Workshop model paint colors. Needs is Vallejo surface primer ( just like you would your paints...., automotive or outdoor furniture like Krylon and Rust-Oleum primers your plastic an! 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