Lord Wehrmacht Posted September 1, 2007 Share Posted September 1, 2007 Heya folks! Just wanted to underscore something that alot of folks have discussed ad nauseum, that is primer. I just managed to find a location in my city... the black hole that is known as St. Louis, that carries both Tamiya Fine Primer and Apoxie Sculpt. I just primed a model with it to test it out... put it side by side with one of my older models which were primed with Duplacolor and the difference is absurd. Just go get it, or order it online, or slay someone that has it. Imo it is that good, and the difference is noticeable to me. Much smoother coat, thin and no troubles whatsoever. Only down side is cost but honestly how many figs can you prime with one can? That is all. LW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eastman Posted September 2, 2007 Share Posted September 2, 2007 Interesting. On Friday I did some priming with both Duplicolor Sandable White and Tamiya Fine Surface Primer. I'm prefering the other direction. Both gave a good thin, even coat without obscuring detail, but the Tamiya seems a little too slick. I'm going to do a bit more testing before reaching a final decision, but at this point, I'm certain I'll be buying more of the Duplicolor (especially as I build more of 1/6th scale and larger resin kits). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fieldarchy Posted September 3, 2007 Share Posted September 3, 2007 Tamiya is a bit slick from what I'm finding as well. The paint isn't sticking to it as well as say, GW. I've always used GW primer and only had a few problems with it. I may just stick with that even though everyone swears by Tamiya. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eastman Posted September 3, 2007 Share Posted September 3, 2007 Tamiya is a bit slick from what I'm finding as well. The paint isn't sticking to it as well as say, GW. I've always used GW primer and only had a few problems with it. I may just stick with that even though everyone swears by Tamiya. Go to an auto parts store and try a can of Duplicolor Sandable White primer (not the gap filling primer). I think you'll like it (and it is about half the cost of GW). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fieldarchy Posted September 3, 2007 Share Posted September 3, 2007 once my Tamiya runs out I'll do that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reaper User Vaitalla Posted September 3, 2007 Reaper User Share Posted September 3, 2007 If the paint isn't sticking to the Tamiya then you may be thinning your basecoats more than you need to. If I over-thin my base I'll notice a little beading, but adding another drop or two of paint to the mix always fixes it (and gives me a faster basecoat as well!). My two cents. --Anne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thrush65 Posted September 3, 2007 Share Posted September 3, 2007 For game pieces I use Duplicolor and for display stuff or anything plastic Tamiya. I only encounter this problem in 1 out of 10 figs and I usually do what Anne does if the paint starts to bead and problem solved. One painter I know likes to hit the Tamiya with DullCote if he has any problems like this. Duplicolor is a very good alternative. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fieldarchy Posted September 3, 2007 Share Posted September 3, 2007 hmmm . . . noted. I'll have to see what happens on the next couple of models I paint and the consistency of my basecoats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cerridwyn1st Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 I haven't had the beading problem lately with Tamiya. When I apply the primer, I "stroke" the can across the mini, which leaves a thin, even coat. Maybe you are over priming the mini. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Artists Wren Posted September 6, 2007 Artists Share Posted September 6, 2007 Guess I'm another heretic. I had previously been using Floquil when I spray primed. I did a few pieces these past few months with the Tamiya, and I'll probably switch back. No doubt the Tamiya is wonderfully smooth and a great bright white. I can see why people like it and haven't had any beading problems. But I also find it a little brittle. It's not at all unusual for me to find a small area of didn't quite prep good enough, and normally I just file it down and spot prime with brush-on and it's all good. The Tamiya being more of a uniform all over coat, I've found it more difficult to do that, often having to reprime an entire area or use thick primer to fill in a crater if I scratch out a piece of dust that got under the primer or whatnot. I had a mini I had to bend just a little after I started painting, and the primer cracked significantly at the area that was bent. Luckily that area was just a base coat so it wasn't too much of a chore to repair, but it makes me worry about small stresses in shipping or even general handling. I haven't heard anyone else mention a similar problem, so maybe I had bad luck on that one and should test on another mini or something. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Lee Posted September 9, 2007 Share Posted September 9, 2007 I've been a faithful user of Krylon white primer for years, but I think they changed their formulation ( it smells different anyway) and it doesn't seem to work as well. I couldn't find the Tamiya locally, so I opted to try the Duplicolor like Eastman suggested and I just sprayed a coulple of mini's and it is really smooth and gives good coverage. John Lee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eastman Posted September 9, 2007 Share Posted September 9, 2007 I've been a faithful user of Krylon white primer for years, but I think they changed their formulation ( it smells different anyway) and it doesn't seem to work as well. I couldn't find the Tamiya locally, so I opted to try the Duplicolor like Eastman suggested and I just sprayed a coulple of mini's and it is really smooth and gives good coverage. John Lee I got the idea to try Duplicolor based on all the recommendations on the garage kit forum I'm on. There the debate wasn't over the use of Duplicolor, it was the split between white and light grey Duplicolor Sandable Primer (that and not to use the gap filler sandable primer for models). Some of the resin kits I've bought even recommended using Duplicolor in the directions included with the kits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Kutz Posted September 9, 2007 Share Posted September 9, 2007 It seems that a lot of people really like the Tamiya primer, but I haven't really found it to be exceptional. I get about the same results with a can of Model Master's primer - though that is in grey. Whenever I had something that needed to be primed and needed to be primed perfectly - I always went with Mr. Surfacer, Mr. Metal, Mr. White Surfacer or Mr. Resin Primer. They come in rattle cans or brush-on form. The silly Gunze names should let you know what to use them on...otherwise, I can help explain. The biggest problem that I have found is the the primer is very fine. It can be a bit too fine till you get comfortable with it (compared to stuff like Krylon and GW's it is like the difference between stucco and smooth plaster finishes). I've taken to applying my initial base coats with an airbrush to block out the colors and than follow up with the details by hand. Best primers I have used overall though. Mr. Resin Primer is really handy for those PITA resin models which tend to not take primers well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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