Anyone heard of zinc plate primer?

big-dog · Post by **big-dog** » Mon Jun 12, 2006 3:50 am

I have it from a reliable source that Nostromo (the filming miniature-all 8 feet of it) was painted with zinc plate primer-not grey primer as often reported. I Googled it, and found essentially nothing. Is this a British thing, apparently it's an automotive primer. If it is Brit, does anyone know what the US equivalent might be? Thanks a lot.

Tony Agustin · Post by **Tony Agustin** » Mon Jun 12, 2006 5:09 am

Interesting information.

I found these links here and here to Zinc Primer.

Kylwell · Post by **Kylwell** » Mon Jun 12, 2006 9:23 am

IIRC there is a primer coat sprayed onto some metals before being Zink coated. What that primer is I have no idea.

big-dog · Post by **big-dog** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 7:13 am

Thanks for the replies guys, if I can't find it here the main point was that it should be 'considerably darker than primer grey'.

Lt. Z0mBe · Post by **Lt. Z0mBe** » Wed Jun 14, 2006 1:30 am

I've heard of zinc chromate primer. It's the yellow-green primer you see on the gear bay interiors of certain American World War II aircraft.

I hope this helps.

Kenny

Darth Humorous · Post by **Darth Humorous** » Wed Jun 14, 2006 10:06 pm

Might you be thinking of cold galvanizing compound in a spray can? I can't remember the brand name, but it is fine zinc particulates suspended in a liquid in a spray can. The can is very heavy. It sprays out a dull silver gray, and is typically used to protect steel from rust. Looks sort of like hot dipped zinc galvanizing when dry, with a rough texture.

Mark

big-dog · Post by **big-dog** » Thu Jun 15, 2006 5:41 pm

You know I just noticed that yesterday at WalMart of all places, in the auto paint area, there was one from Rustoleum, and one from Krylon. I'm guessing it's the right stuff, though with the rough finish it might look out of scale. Thanks a lot for all the replies and info guys. It was cheap so I'll try it and see how it looks on some scrap first.

jtparker · Post by **jtparker** » Sat Jul 25, 2009 9:29 am

Its called ZInc Chromate Primer.

it is used to treat aircraft parts. you can buy it in spray cans from Wicks or from an airport FBO maintenance shop...

http://www.bladesaviation.com/paintprocess_tmp.htm

https://www.carolinaboatoutfitters.com/ ... s_id=73095

The second color version of the nostromo was painted this color before it was ordered gray, more detailing, and the bottom front Thruster pod added to the ship.

nice Nostromo "yellow "

android · Post by **android** » Sat Jul 25, 2009 9:52 am

One guy I worked with in the Navy called it Zinc Primate one day, so I've been calling it that ever since.

jtparker · Post by **jtparker** » Sat Jul 25, 2009 9:17 pm

You are correct about the Nostromo being yellow. actually it was repainted about 4 times. The zinc chromate was the second to the last paint job.

Individual panels were sprayed at different times and distances to give different textures to the ship. some of the panels were steel-wooled to shine up the finish. The Nostromo at this point was very beautiful, but then Ridley Scott made the decision that it was to bright for the mood of the film (to his credit), and the Nostromo was repainted once again with some smaller details added and the large registry numbers on the nacelles painted over, and moved to smaller numbers just under the bridge windows.

seam-filler · Post by **seam-filler** » Mon Jul 27, 2009 2:07 am

Zinc Chromate Primer is priamarily used as a passivating primer for aluminium, zinc, cadmium, copper, silver, magnesium, tin and their alloys to slow corrosion. It can't be used on iron or steel. It can be anything from a bright golden-yellow (when the object is dipped in a solution), though a dull yellow-green through to quite a dark green with a hint of yellow. It is used exensively in the marine and aero industries to prevent corrosion of aluminium components.

As to the Nostromo - much of the pre-production artwork was done by Chris Foss. Many of his ships appear in a dull yellow like construction industry vehicles (what we call JCB yellow in the UK).

jtparker · Post by **jtparker** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 10:52 pm

if you want to see all about Nostromo History and the Nostromo kits I make, as well as all of the awesome alien props our small community does check out

www.propsummit.com

partially complete 2-foot Nostromo
http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu23 ... stromo.jpg
http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu23 ... CT0469.jpg
http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu23 ... nished.jpg
http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu23 ... CT0413.jpg

Shinnentai · Post by **Shinnentai** » Fri Jul 31, 2009 1:08 am

seam-filler wrote:As to the Nostromo - much of the pre-production artwork was done by Chris Foss. Many of his ships appear in a dull yellow like construction industry vehicles (what we call JCB yellow in the UK).

Chris Foss's stuff was earlier in the production. The final screen used concepts were Ron Cobb designs. Both Foss and Cobb used very industrial colors for their Nostromo concepts though, with orange and gray two-tone schemes being dominant.

Sounds like the zinc chromate base color or primer is only a starting point if you're looking to do the earlier unused Nostromo scheme, not the final screen used one.