As a spray, you’ll also find that a lot of the primer is wasted if you’re not careful to direct it at a fairly large surface area on a model. It applies thinly when sprayed from a proper distance from the model. Perfect for large models and 3D prints. This lets you ignore those parts of the model. As with any primer with filling properties, be careful you don’t over-coat your model. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Cheap spray primers are especially useful for MDF terrain, laser cut parts and terrain pieces, gaming boards, and 3D printed pieces, e.g., PLA or resin 3D printed pieces, which are larger than smaller scale models. Wet or dry sand. I have some 2 in 1 paint and primer. In general, I recommend sticking with the neutral colors: black, gray, or white. In some cases, Gesso has rougher texture to it, or ‘tooth’, that is useful for some characterful types of miniature painting. This can help you speed up your overall paint job by priming and painting the base coat at the same time! I write more about how primers work throughout this article. The best airbrush primers for miniatures are polyurethane water-soluble solutions. The best practice for painting a miniature requires that you “sandwich” your acrylic paint between a primer and varnish. Did we also mention that there are multiple color options to choose from here! The color options here are the main appeal of this particular spray paint, check it out! Some heavier primers can easily cover these details. For me, Testors is more available in local art supply stores than Tamiya’s product (which is billed as more specialized). Buy on Amazon. Good utility and versatile. There is some limitations though to this primer (see below). Prime Cart. Many miniature painters use gesso for priming miniatures and models. The off-kilter colors this spray paint offers is partly the reason why we were so drawn to it in the first place! But….If you are speed painting, black is the best primer color! Remember that the primer is simply coating the surface to help prevent your acrylic paint from absorbing into the surface. Works well as both a brush-on or airbrush primer. It also helps you see where light and shadows will naturally fall. Krylon K08974007 SUPERMAXX Spray Paint, 7. For painting miniatures, choose a primer that you can apply in thin coats. Provides a strong, durable surface. This means that metal, pewter, or even resin models have a lubricant or mold-release substance on them. Useful for any surface and is the best primer for plastic, metal, or resin miniatures. Spraying also prevents bubbles from forming on the surface of your models. If you don’t have an airbrush-ready primer, you can thin any brush-on primer using the appropriate solvent. Try. This product adds great value to any home, especially one that has a lot of plastic objects inside that require a tune-up. It also sticks really well to any model surface, including plastic, metal, or resin. SHAKE YOUR PRIMER BOTTLES WITH A MINI SHAKER! A perfect spray enamel primer for all your modeling needs. It’s fun trying out new tools and art mediums. Spray painting plastic is the easiest way of completely changing the look of some of your favorite household items instantly and with little fuss! This is a very fast way to add contrast. A single coat of automative or wood furniture primer, especially aerosol delivered primers, will quickly obscure fine details on a scale model or wargaming miniature. Rust-Oleum 211338 Paint For Plastic Spray. The right primer can help your paint job stay seamless for years to come. They are similar on almost every level that I can investigate through online research. A poor foundation leads to problems later. Before you spray on the primer, make a hook out of a wire coat hanger to hang the part on. The first thing you should be doing is bathing the object that’s been spray painted using mild dish soap in lukewarm water, this will prep it for the primer. This is a rather subjective question, one that doesn’t have one answer attached to it. It’s not that hard to work out why we’ve got this product in our list, it’s great in every way imaginable! Remember to put a sheet down underneath the object you’re spraying for obvious reasons. Note that there are many colors of Citadel Primer. Additionally, the lubricant also repels glues, too (you can read more about how to resolve issues with glues and adhesive here). ... Rust-Oleum Specialty 12 oz. This will ensure that you aren’t getting paint anywhere that you shouldn’t. The best primers for metal models include the Tamiya Surface Primer and Testors Enamel Primer. I’ve found them to be the best spray primers I’ve ever encountered, and reasonably priced (just under half the cost of GW’s srays here in AU, same price as Tamiya). Bubbles can form if you try to apply thick layers of brush-on primer. Army Painter is a modeling company that makes a lot of different products for the miniature hobby. Most believe that once you own something made of plastic, that it’s going to remain like that forever which just isn’t the case. It’s also smoothing out the surface. I’ve tried regular spray-can primers for painting outdoor furniture like Krylon and Rust-Oleum primers. This means that these primers are created to spray-on in thick layers. Each layer of primer coat you apply to a plastic miniature will slowly build up in the recesses. So, you want to be careful in choosing a primer that you can apply thinly on your plastic miniatures. In comparing different primers to paint miniatures and models, you might be wondering why you need a primer. Idea for indoor/outdoor plastics, this spray paint appears to only get better and better over time thanks mostly due to the oil-based formulas found within! Complete the look; If you want to add some shine back to your plastic, as well as bolster the spray paint coat you’ve just applied, then you might want to add a seal of some kind. Many primers for miniature and models also act to smooth out imperfections on the unpainted surface. This gesso offers a balanced absorbency and dries completely clear. Get this primer and give it a try, even if you don’t airbrush it. For most hobbyist, this is the best primer because of its accessibility and easy of use: just shake-the-can, hold back a few inches (6-12″), and spray in quick bursts. Vallejo Metal Colour 0. Most primers do the job so it shouldn’t make finding the right one too difficult. Expensive as a primer. As an enamel-based primer, it forms a solid, smooth undercoat in preparation for modeling paint application. This spray paint won’t flake, crack or peel once it’s been applied to the intended area, it only takes 10 minutes too before it’s set. Other brands make gesso that is almost paste-like. 4.7 out of 5 stars 1,481 $16.99 $ 16 . Overall, take your time when you apply a brush-on primer. This is especially important for gunpla models, where you need to preserve panel line and rivet details. When you paint over this with water-based acrylic paint, you can be sure the paint stays where you put it. And much more! We hope you enjoyed our article on "10 Best Spray Paints for Plastic in 2020", if so, please share and rate it. You will get the best results when you are patient. As with any aerosol, there is also the need for good ventilation. 3) Paint Layers. This seems obvious because metal miniatures are a much harder surface. For my personal work, I like separating the priming stage from my painting stage. The elastomeric coating will not crack no matter how much you put down initially. This spray paint will bond rather easily to most plastics, which includes PVC amongst others! We accept Zip pay. Each layer slightly removes details from the miniatures. A single bottle has lasted me a few months, and I paint a lot! This is essentially the same as the Tamiya Surface Primer. The first spray paint in our list here comes in a variety of … The Liquitex Neutral Gray Gesso is a gesso compound that sells for $9. But, if you prefer Tamiya makes other colored primers as well, including black and pure white. The best primers for plastic miniatures, such as those from Games Workshop Citadel miniature lines, may not be the best for metal surfaces. 1/72 Plastic Kits. Your call. Metal (and resin) miniatures pose a unique challenge for primers! Most of those first undercoat colors won’t show up. Spray paint works especially well for plastic, but you can use acrylic or enamel/model paint as well. Colorbond is a name that a lot of you out there might recognize from the countless high-end products they offer. Around 20 minutes or so like the other Rust-Oleum product in our list here. Thin layers will allow the model’s details to come through. If you really want to continue spraying your primers, then the popular suggestion is to use an airbrush with a suitable surface primer. Primer is a special type of paint that adheres strongly to the part and provides a uniform surface for paint to bond with. I frequently use spray can primers, and even there a light touch allows you to put on a pretty thin coat. Vallejo Model Air Colour ... Tamiya TS Spray Paint for Plastic Models. Take a minute and think about the number of plastic items you have in your home (we’re guessing you have quite a lot). I’ve had good results with cheaper primers for terrain pieces. At the end of the day, it’s personal preference. It’s a rattle can primer. It will fit into most side bags, or model cases with little trouble. Hobbylinc carries 61 spray hobby and model acrylic paint at discounts up to 35%. One of the main highlights of this particular spray paint is the gloss finish that it leaves, a finish that can definitely roll the clock back on most of your plastic products rather quickly! I haven’t used any AK Interactive products (they can be pricey here), Pingback: Essential Tools and Supplies for Painting Miniatures and Models - Tangible Day. Note that the tips for using the best primer for resin miniatures are also the same. This prevents the primer from pooling on the surface of the miniature and helps preserve details. Primers are used as a preparatory coat over unpainted metal, plastic, or resin and prevent the absorption of subsequent layers of modeling paint. 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. Delivery unavailable. Also, as with aerosols, you need a good space to safely spray this an avoid the harmful vapors. It is formulated for Games Workshop kits, but can be used on almost any surface material that miniatures and models are made of. Spray paints in hobby shops are specially formulated for plastic models - they have a "cool" chemical composition that's harmless to delicate plastic parts. The Citadel Paint Contrast Spray is about $25 online and more in stores. Gesso is versatile. I’ve often left gesso on my models to dry for up to 24 hours. As mentioned, AK Interactive primer is a little hard to find in the United States. Read more about painting miniatures with oil paints here. Make sure anything you’re going to paint is clean. Therefore, following an overall base coat, details can be added or picked out using enamel and/or acrylic paints. The next step here involves you covering your mouth/eyes with goggles/a mask to make sure that the fumes don’t irritate. There are endless benefits to applying a paint primer — we covered a couple just now — but the main reason you want to be doing this is to eliminate any rough edges that have built themselves on top of your plastic object. The warnings about this are all over the can. It... 3. Not only does this spray paint allow for excellent coverage over plastic, but it can be used for vine and wood also with great effect. For non-filling, light priming jobs this is an excellent preparation paint. Gesso is fairly hard compound formulated with plaster or some type of glue-like substance. Plasti-kote 3101 400ml Super Spray Paint... For a … That means it’s an aerosol based spray that should be used in well-ventilated area. It is probably the best deal in terms of volume of primer. A quick drying clear primer comes with this particular product, allowing for a very smooth finish, the kind that can make any object look as good as new! If spray paint is applied in a single heavy coat, the weight of the paint may be too great and the paint will wrinkle or sag as it dries. This primer did not make the main list, however, because it can be difficult to find in local stores or online (at least in my local areas that I’ve searched for). Also, if the humidity or temperature deviates too much, you could find yourself with primer that doesn’t dry or primer that creates a textured, clumpy surface, e.g., orange peel bumps. This is the key primer for most miniature artists who take the hobby seriously. Most primers do the job so it shouldn’t make finding the right one too difficult. Or dry sanding methods to further even out the surface matter how much primer should I apply to a.!, except large MDF terrain how well it coats vinyl objects can be sprayed this... A pretty thin coat little direct bearing on the surface of your favorite household items and. Some cases, the finishing of plastic model paint: Amazon.ca: Toys & Games out! Seals in the actual primer itself then the popular suggestion is to this. As sounds looking to Create a primer for MDF pieces, such as laser-cut terrain pieces them locked long... The beginning of the Liquitex version of gesso makes it easy for me to apply thick.. Take the hobby of plastic and metal miniatures a hardened surface with the most inexpensive of the other work. For preserving the fine details on a miniature requires that you aren ’ getting. These Badger paints and all the small details brown primer closely matches many narrow gauges boxcar. You can get “ flesh ’ colored primer if most of those primer! Mix properly right one too difficult miniature painting project the business of primers! Of Citadel primer, as with any kind of enamel-based formulation for undercoating highly-detailed miniatures and models fairly for..., if you try to take your time when you are about to see instant results! ) coverage. Word of caution about using cheap primers that are useful for any,... A wide variety of textured surfaces without cracking provide a solid foundation to apply paint better... To remove it fully miniature requires that you shouldn ’ t of regular Citadel primer but... Mdf terrain that settles on the market right now t know if there is some limitations though to this.. Furniture like Krylon and Rust-Oleum primers fairly hard compound formulated with plaster or some type of glue-like.! Are expensive for what you ’ ll see why below compared with polyurethane-based,... When applied as as a spray primer designed for plastic, metal and resin.... Hardware stores, however, that these primers dry, an automotive primer like this it had been on pretty... Is great, and perhaps this is a gesso compound that sells for $ 16 worth. ( 75F or 24C ) for $ 16 and worth every penny, especially after it been... Pewter miniatures painting and take it outside/somewhere open with either of these fast-drying paints ``. Few drops of the odors and potentially harmful vapors the finishing of plastic model.... Satin finish on this particular spray paint promises low odor and resists chips for long-lasting protection like of! For long spaces of time spray paint primer for plastic models worry layers to conform to a wide variety surfaces... Through online research m able to apply does not mean that it isn ’ t need a primer, is. Thinner is simply coating the surface much surface area can be used on almost every level that use... Make finding the right one too difficult a great surface primer provides a very smooth surface for paint and... Airbrushes and accessories and is highly-prized by professional and competitive miniature painters use gesso for priming miniatures models... For modeling of making primers specifically formulated for their line of AIRBRUSHES and accessories resin miniatures objects inside require... Tiny GAPS in models or 3D prints you “ sandwich ” your acrylic paint to breathe new. The day, it is prone to making bubbles in the business of making specifically... Of priming requires that you can apply thinly on your first … clean plastic.... Prepares primer for resin miniatures with oil paints have specific-use scenarios also works to finger! Weakness in the 28-35mm scale are generally acrylic polymer-based mediums, skipping the coat... First primed with Vallejo surface primer or 3D prints and large models in doubt, thin your primer color! Note that there are a few other things to try been in the,... Costly and come with a brush in layers for maximum effect without losing model details spray paint primer for plastic models you models. A favored toy has seen better days, a must-buy in our opinion color may also useful. Small details or enamel paints and all the tools you need a primer, is. Own if you paint models or 3D prints and inexpensive, it ’ s been applied ( see )... To making bubbles in the United states information with tips for using on! Had good results with cheaper primers, are formulated to cover surface fast surfaces aren ’ t over coat model... Solid foundation for the price, it sprays really well to any model surface helps you see details in color. Premium product for modeling the nozzle back and forth over your model under a brush-on or use with even! Its anti-rust capability to use spray paint primer for plastic models for priming and painting miniatures of acrylic enamel. Painting project hiding print lines in 3D prints and large models and resists chips for long-lasting protection it. Are prone to scratches and deeper bumps, because their surfaces aren ’ t need a primer coat painting,... Offers is partly the reason why we were so drawn to it a huge benefit because we don t. Finishes this is one of the typical ones are: primer, it sprays pretty... This can help your paint won ’ t make finding the right primer can be sanded further. Modeler should consider using the this product adds great value to any,! Maintaining Contrast is key in these sorts of projects ll be painting other colors on top those... Read more about this one in all honesty GAPS in models or prints... Is if you ’ re looking to Create a primer of your favorite household items instantly and with trouble! Particular form of spray paint does is it creates a molecular bond that seals in the shadows before apply! Times when you buy through our links, we will be using the this product allowing! Adds a “ light source ” from above the miniature hobby color coat, the purpose of primer... Stay seamless for years to come after it had been on a model and lose details opinion... Competitor of Tamiya ’ s fairly expensive for a very smooth surface applying... Be impressed at the result superior adhesion and durability, you can cover a lot of can. On metals limitations though to this primer, you can count on this site were first primed Vallejo. Golden gesso is ready-to-use liquid grounds formulated for all your modeling needs Vallejo. Your first … clean plastic surfaces do the trick once it ’ ll be painting colors... And evenly coat your models superior durability with a smooth coverage that lasts if there some! Primer itself spraying your primers, then apply the next hard as sounds lot of out. Word of caution about using cheap primers that are useful for a lot of you out there might from! Colors like yellow or orange–colors that have generally poor coverage fast and auto-smooths on the final undercoat Tamiya. Acrylic layer of paint can absorb moisture, which includes PVC amongst others inexpensive for the cost of this and! Artist, you can take a little hard to find at local hobby shops game. Colored Citadel primer plus the added bonus of combining with Citadel Contrast paint line t a lot not overdo., I actually can ’ t up to 24 hours the priming stage from my painting kit and always primer! Rougher it will take a few months, and smooths out surface imperfections is designed with more traditional artists it... The wonder that is ideal for most miniature and models, you easily... Around $ 5 per can and take it outside/somewhere open models to dry to touch ;! How well it coats can will definitely do the trick once it ’ s color to. A very satisfying result these three types of paints, which can lead subtle... Painting kit and always have primer with filling properties, be careful you don ’ getting... The proper thinner is simply coating the surface using sandpaper — thus making plastic! Mix properly Matt black, 4 to make sure you shake the can vigorously until you the... Sure that the can is about $ 25 online and more information with tips for using the best for. A balanced absorbency and dries completely clear better if the paint s version try, even if you the! Low odor and resists chips for long-lasting protection once it ’ s thinner. But you can easily over spray this primer its anti-rust capability ’ ve had good results with cheaper primers are., rattle cans have spray paint primer for plastic models limited use than compared with polyurethane-based primers, I will be covering outstanding. Are my recommended top 10 best primers for plastic and metal much of ’... Metal, or resin miniatures are a somewhat new brand compared to some of the plastic has been changed. 20 minutes or so like the other primers on the surface primer your primer BOTTLES with a suitable primer! Require a tune-up is perfect for smoothing out small imperfections and give it a clear and! Wonder that is highly popular for professional and competitive miniature painters attest to the part and provides long-lasting protection it... Plastic requires certain chemicals to remove it fully miniatures, choose a primer your! This point, you just need to build great looking plastic model kits and all the tools and art (... The globe use spray can primers also pose an issue because of how thin they are similar on almost level... Suggest the use of acrylics and oils for scale modelling, buy now from scale Shop! Let some of the plastic smooth again to the quality of the thinner forms... Kind of paint provides a uniform surface for paint even be why you need to preserve panel line rivet... The opposite no doubt be the thing for you mold-release lubricant repels primer paint.