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AFV Painting & Weathering
Answers to questions about the right paint scheme or tips for the right effect.
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Vallejo Primer Doesn't Grab Plastic Well
BBD468
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Texas, United States
Joined: March 08, 2010
KitMaker: 2,465 posts
Armorama: 2,383 posts
Posted: Friday, February 21, 2014 - 03:50 PM UTC
Hello Chrisk,

I can only tell you my personal experience with Vallejo primer. IMHO, its the worst primer i ever used. I clean my models with 91% iso Alcohol everytime and even sand flat areas with 400-600 wet-dry sand paper. The stuff WILL NOT adhere to the plastic right, Will NOT sand and WILL peel easily. I cant for the life of me see how this product is considered "good", but each to their own i suppose. Its a B*tch to clean out of the AB too.

I use Tamiya Surface Primer Grey in the bottle, thinned with Lacquer thinner (Yellow Top) Or Tamiya Primer in the rattle can in a pinch and it bites the plastic like a Pit-Bull to a Postman's leg. Never once had an issue with peeling, flaking...sands great and tape has no affect on it.

Like i said, just my 2 cent fella.
BBD468
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Posted: Friday, February 21, 2014 - 03:54 PM UTC

Quoted Text

It seems like this Vallejo Primer is more trouble then i's worth.I mean with all these ratios,sanding,surface prep,that have been talked about,why use it ? Just wondering

I just spray on Tamiya Fine or Mr Surfacer 1200 with no issues


Mr Surfacer 1200...Thats good stuff as well. I primed a M-24 Chaffee with Mr Surfacer 1200 few years ago and worked basically like the Tamiya.
Chrisk-K
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Maryland, United States
Joined: January 09, 2012
KitMaker: 310 posts
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Posted: Friday, February 21, 2014 - 04:44 PM UTC
I think I'm done with the Vallejo primer. The primer's job is to adhere to the plastic and Vallejo primer doesn't do the job well. I'm not supposed to struggle to make a primer adhere to the plastic. I bought Plastic Prep for Vallejo primer!

I never cleaned my models for the Tamiya primer and yet it grabbed the plastic like a vice grip. I never had an issue with it even when I left masking tapes for days. I'll give the AK primer a try. If it doesn't work well, I'd rather use the Tamiya spray can in my garage in the winter and use my ABs when the temperature stays above 60F.
Venko555
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Bulgaria
Joined: December 07, 2013
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Posted: Friday, February 21, 2014 - 07:07 PM UTC
As I said if you want acrylic primer, give AK (or AMMO-think they are same ) primers a try-they sand well and have a good bite. I'm satisfied with them. Other options, but not acrylic are Alclad, Tamiya and Mr.Surfacer-all excellent. This is from my personal expirience, but first try different products and what works for you best

Cheers!
Chrisk-K
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Maryland, United States
Joined: January 09, 2012
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Posted: Saturday, February 22, 2014 - 02:01 AM UTC

Quoted Text

I never gave what you just said any thought . I tried to airbrush Vallejo model color and model air and I failed miserably . Their only redeeming quality is they brush paint nice and it's not just me but other guys at the hobby shop , we all had the same experience with Vallejo . You are doing a banged up job with those paintbrushes . Now what about Lifecolor ?


Vallejo paints are superb for hand brushing but terrible for AB'ing in my experience. Lifecolor is manufactured by Vallejo. So I would expect similar results from Lifecolor.
Tojo72
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North Carolina, United States
Joined: June 06, 2006
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Posted: Saturday, February 22, 2014 - 02:26 AM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

I never gave what you just said any thought . I tried to airbrush Vallejo model color and model air and I failed miserably . Their only redeeming quality is they brush paint nice and it's not just me but other guys at the hobby shop , we all had the same experience with Vallejo . You are doing a banged up job with those paintbrushes . Now what about Lifecolor ?


Vallejo paints are superb for hand brushing but terrible for AB'ing in my experience. Lifecolor is manufactured by Vallejo. So I would expect similar results from Lifecolor.


I used Lifecolor once for my Isreali Sherman,no problems thinning with water,and good results,good smooth finish,no odor,and easy cleanup.But again,I only used them once.
SEDimmick
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Joined: March 15, 2002
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Posted: Saturday, February 22, 2014 - 03:57 AM UTC

Quoted Text


Vallejo paints are superb for hand brushing but terrible for AB'ing in my experience. Lifecolor is manufactured by Vallejo. So I would expect similar results from Lifecolor.


LifeColor isn't manufactured by Vallejo, Vallejo is a Spanish based company and LifeColor is Italian company...
viper29_ca
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New Brunswick, Canada
Joined: October 18, 2002
KitMaker: 2,247 posts
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Posted: Saturday, February 22, 2014 - 04:41 AM UTC

Quoted Text

From Vallejo FAQs:

7.3. Can I dilute the new Acrylic-Polyurethane Primers for use in an airbrush? They seem thicker than Model Air.

The new acrylic-polyurethane primers are especially formulated for use in air brushing. The special quality, the polyurethane component, which gives it the strength and the resistance to nicks and scratches, will be diminished by diluting the product, but the product can be diluted with our Thinner or even with distilled water. To maintain its special qualities, the less dilution the better.
-------------

So diluting with distilled water is OK.


While yes it will dilute with distilled water, the water will actually weaken the covalent bond of the paint to the kit.

First, wash your parts. 2nd, if you have to thin the primer, do so with Vallejo's AB thinner, as it is designed to work with their paint, and aides in adhesion of the paint to the kit, however, you don't need to thin the primers to airbrush, just up your airpressure 5-10psi, and it sprays great. Haven't had any adhesion problems with kits, even if I don't wash the parts beforehand.
viper29_ca
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New Brunswick, Canada
Joined: October 18, 2002
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Posted: Saturday, February 22, 2014 - 04:46 AM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

I never gave what you just said any thought . I tried to airbrush Vallejo model color and model air and I failed miserably . Their only redeeming quality is they brush paint nice and it's not just me but other guys at the hobby shop , we all had the same experience with Vallejo . You are doing a banged up job with those paintbrushes . Now what about Lifecolor ?


Vallejo paints are superb for hand brushing but terrible for AB'ing in my experience. Lifecolor is manufactured by Vallejo. So I would expect similar results from Lifecolor.


Yup, not sure where you heard that, but that is completely not true.

Vallejo does manufacture a couple of other brands of paints for different companies, but Lifecolor isn't one of them.

The new Italeri paints are manufactured by Vallejo as is Reaper, and I believe Army Painter. Andrea paints used to be manufactured by Vallejo but not anymore, and have gone down hill since changing manufacturers.

The one the primer is dry to the touch, you can paint over it, but if you need to sand it at all, you need to let it fully cure, 48hrs should do, otherwise it doesn't fully form the skin and can peel off. Once it is cured, it is pretty much rock hard, and will even resist most paint stripping mediums. Tough stuff!
Removed by original poster on 02/26/14 - 03:20:12 (GMT).
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