Primer for resin

Stilgar · Post by **Stilgar** » Mon Feb 02, 2009 4:08 pm

I need to find a good primer for a expensive resin kit I am getting. Does anyone have any preferred primer for resin?
I would prefer something acrylic based....but...will do whatever is right..

All help appreciated.

Stilgar

Malcolm M · Post by **Malcolm M** » Mon Feb 02, 2009 4:33 pm

Well everyone has there own preferences when it comes to primer. I usually stick to the white primer from either Lowes or Home Depot. If you're in the UK Halfords make a nice primer that I used for years without any problems.

The best thing you can do with a resin kit is to ensure all traces of the mold release have been removed. This can be accomplished with a wash in warm soapy water and a light scrub with a nail brush to make sure the last trace is gone. Give the parts a good rinse and allow to air dry. Then you shouldn't have any problems with you choice of primer.

starmanmm · Post by **starmanmm** » Mon Feb 02, 2009 7:27 pm

Been building resin kits for awhile now.... I like to use automotive primer like Duplic Color Primer Filler. I usually will let it sit in warm water for 10 to 15minutes, shake it up and spray the kit.

Now if you can get friendly with an autobody shop in your area (I have done this) they usually throw away the primer they have left over from a job; but if you talk to them, you may get them to prime you kit.

They did it for me on two resin kits I had and it cost me nothing.

Kylwell · Post by **Kylwell** » Mon Feb 02, 2009 8:42 pm

There is but one primer... Mr. Resin Primer. Very thin, cuts through residual mold release, just perfect.

Post by **TER-OR** » Mon Feb 02, 2009 9:42 pm

I also like the Mr. Surfacer 1000. Very very nice glossy coat when it's done and if there are any flaws you'll see them.

Also, I like PolyScale's Plastic Prep as a pre-treatment. It removes residues and reduces static charge, which prevents dust from sticking. I can tell a huge difference if I neglect to use the Plastic Prep on a section of model.

Stilgar · Post by **Stilgar** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 6:22 pm

I plan to use ACRYLIC paint for the kit. Dont I need to worry about the primer being acrylic as well?

I thought I had heard of some crackling after a lacquer based primer was covered by acrylic paint....

Stilgar

USSARCADIA · Post by **USSARCADIA** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 7:54 pm

The Gunze stuff is great if you can find it. I lost my source a while ago. Someone on the boards here said Tamiya primer was the same basic stuff so I tried it. It does seem the behave about the same. And I can still find it.

kenlilly106 · Post by **kenlilly106** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 11:12 pm

Stilgar wrote:I plan to use ACRYLIC paint for the kit. Dont I need to worry about the primer being acrylic as well?

I would definitely not use an acrylic primer like the one Testor's sells in the their Acryl line, you want a paint that's "hot" enough to bind to the substrate, then the top coat will attach itself to the primer.

Always apply paints in this order:
Lacquer
Enamel
Acrylic

I use Duplicolor primers also, the filler-primer is nice for kits that have pinhole problems, the white produced a nice semi-gloss finish that's a good base for light colors. Duplicolor paints are available at any decent auto parts store that sells paints. A big can costs $5 or so, you'll pay more than that for the small cans of the Gunze or Tamiya primers.

I thought I had heard of some crackling after a lacquer based primer was covered by acrylic paint....

I've read of issues with gloss Tamiya or Gunze paints being applied over a basecoat that was not fully cured out, the different shrinkage rates cause the outer surface of the gloss paint to crack. Give the primer several days to cure before applying a finish coat, when in doubt do the sniff test, if you can smell paint, then the primer is not cured out.

Ken

Kylwell · Post by **Kylwell** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 11:30 pm

I spray Tamiya & Gunze acrylics straight on Mr. Surfacer/Mr. Resin Primer/Alclad all the time, no problem. The only time I've heard of an issue is with enamels on lacquer, which a coat of Future in between solved.

Post by **TER-OR** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 9:49 pm

As do I, acrylics over Gunze has never been a problem. Although I have had problems with gloss paints over gloss coats like Future. I tend to use semi-gloss for most painting.

UncleMarsellus · Post by **UncleMarsellus** » Thu Feb 12, 2009 7:11 pm

I bought a few resin upgrade parts for a model kit and I had never thought that I should treat painting them (or even preparing them) any differently than the rest of the styrene model. Should I use the same kind of primer and paints on both the resin and styrene?

Newbie Doobie · Post by **Newbie Doobie** » Fri Feb 13, 2009 2:17 pm

I use duplicolour. This is what most guys I've talked to use as well.

Kylwell · Post by **Kylwell** » Fri Feb 13, 2009 2:19 pm

UncleMarsellus wrote:I bought a few resin upgrade parts for a model kit and I had never thought that I should treat painting them (or even preparing them) any differently than the rest of the styrene model. Should I use the same kind of primer and paints on both the resin and styrene?

Once you've primed you can treat them the same, one of the reasons I prime multi-media kits, it evens out the various surface adhesion.

Colin Droidmilker · Post by **Colin Droidmilker** » Wed Aug 26, 2009 10:25 am

Kylwell wrote:There is but one primer... Mr. Resin Primer. Very thin, cuts through residual mold release, just perfect.

Is this the one also known as Mr Resin Surfacer Primer? If so, is it gray, and also do they give you enough in the rattlecan version to cover a 1/24 X-wing? Thanks...

DaveVan · Post by **DaveVan** » Wed Aug 26, 2009 10:37 am

Another Dupli-color user here. I have produced resin kits in the past (automotive) and used it on all resin kits. I have used all types paint over it including Tamiya lacquer which is a lot 'hotter' than any enamel or acrylic on the market. They have a few different version...the light gray sandable is my favorite but also use the ruddy brown (red) and black.

bluesman · Post by **bluesman** » Mon Sep 07, 2009 1:04 pm

I use Krylon grey primer or Mr surfacer.

Warming up the can in warm water is the way to go.

Kylwell · Post by **Kylwell** » Mon Sep 07, 2009 1:55 pm

Colin Droidmilker wrote:
Kylwell wrote:There is but one primer... Mr. Resin Primer. Very thin, cuts through residual mold release, just perfect.
Is this the one also known as Mr Resin Surfacer Primer? If so, is it gray, and also do they give you enough in the rattlecan version to cover a 1/24 X-wing? Thanks...

Well I'm not sure how much a can would cover, but they do make it in a spray can.