Airbrushing acrylics without primer layer

[marcinko]

Is this ok ? Or for acrylics primer it`s a must ?

[Dmanton300]

You might get away with it for Tamiya and GSI, For any of the water based paints you take your life and your model in your hands attempting it.

[longmc]

you will always get paint to stick better with a primer layer, regardless of enamel or acrylic. Plus it gives you a last chance look at any surface flaws.

cheers,

Mike

[Don]

I use Tamiya and Testors Acryl pretty much all the time and I highly recommend a primer coat first.

My two cents.

[marcinko]

Thanks for replying guys

[dnl42]

Know primer, no tears. No primer, know tears.

[spejic]

I frequently paint with all kinds of acrylic without primers. I very rarely have problems with paint lifting off with tape or other masking material. I do clean the surface with alcohol first.

[egmccann]

I've gotten away without priming on *clean* plastic using acrylics. And if it's something that will never see handling / fingernails/scrapes (cockpit interiors, for instance,) you're probably fine.

Otherwise, you probably want to prime. Some are a bit more prone to scratching and/or lifting with masking without it.

[Thadeus]

I've found out that sanding entire model with 800-1000 grit sandpaper helps acrylics to adhere. This way plastic loses its shine. I rarely use primer, and thin my MM acryl paints with tap water. I've had a lot of paint lifted by the masking tape before that. Now it rarely happens. I also find that multiple very thin layers of paint adhere to the model better.

Or You could just use primer.

On a curious note, masking tape lifted some MM Acryl primer sometimes. Never had this issue with mr surfacer.

[Tgoetz]

Help me out here. What is different about primer? Anything chemically? I get why a paint will adhere better to the primer, but what makes a primer adhere better than any other paint? If there is some amazing chemical makeup of primer that makes it adhere better, they why not use that will all the paints?

[balls47]

Help me out here. What is different about primer? Anything chemically? I get why a paint will adhere better to the primer, but what makes a primer adhere better than any other paint? If there is some amazing chemical makeup of primer that makes it adhere better, they why not use that will all the paints?

Most real primers are solvent based, and the good ones are lacquer based. They bite into the plastic just a bit, making them hold on to the plastic when masked with the proper masking agent.

[leptiprince66]

after a long sanding prep work I use Mr surfacing 1000 Gunze liquid sealant to aero: