Primer for enamels?

[BattleshipBob]

Yes a question!!

Going to use enamels for brush painting, first time

Do you need a primer??

[Guest]

Not necessarily I’ve painted tons of models with enamels without ever having heard of primer.

[BattleshipBob]

Not necessarily :smiling3: I’ve painted tons of models with enamels without ever having heard of primer.

Appreciated Jakko, will practice first with thinning ratios

[adt70hk]

Same as Jakko.... At least in my youf...... Never once had the paint come off and of never heard of the primer either.....

[Tim Marlow]

Personally I prime everything. It shows up flaws and bad joints so you can sort them out before the top coat goes on. It’s not essential, but it’s useful.

[Jim R]

Stynylrez primer every time. As Tim says it shows up any flaws which may need work before the top coat. Also if you have filler, pe, resin etc it unifies the surface.
Jim

[Guest]

Same as Jakko.... At least in my youf......

That’s what I was reminiscing about too Humbrol straight from the tin to the model.

[BattleshipBob]

Do you need a dedicated primer ??

[Gary MacKenzie]

I have used Tamiya Enamel Primer ( Grey ) HERE , but i personally find it ( not John ) expensive for 100ml, and prefer to just use acrylics for all I paint now.

[langy71]

If it helps any, my go to primer is usually Halfords plastic primer or tamiya's own primer

[adt70hk]

That’s what I was reminiscing about too :smiling3: Humbrol straight from the tin to the model.

Indeed..... And even more I still have nightmares about how badly I did..... My Sherman in particular..:fearful::fearful::unamused::unamused:

[Valeron]

That’s what I was reminiscing about too Humbrol straight from the tin to the model.

During lockdown I made my first model since the late 1970s and that's exactly what I did. I didn't realise there was now an alternative

[BarryW]

Yes a question!!

Going to use enamels for brush painting, first time

Do you need a primer??

Not for paint adhesion but what about seams and build flaws?

If you don’t use water based acrylics the main reason for primer is to highlight build flaws, then it might be to create a uniform canvas and, finally perhaps for preshading.

Identifying and dealing with seams and build flaws being the most important reason overall.

[Tim Marlow]

You don’t need a dedicated primer Bob. Any primer will do it’s job as long as it’s properly dry before you add the top coat.

[JR]

In the true sense a primer is self explanatory it gives a surface for subsequent coats of paint something to adhere to.
Any one who has painted say a door frame or the like with out a primer will fail to get a decent finish to the final coat .MDF is a perfect example, any edge needs to be completely sealed other wise it will continue to absorb the finish .
Why do some people not use it I'll never know. Maybe if you don't handle the item fair enought.
Why spend hrs doing subsequent coats of paint, washes , varnishes and not use a primer ?