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Vinyl Kit priming
Posted: March 20th, 2024, 12:58 am
by weird_oh84
Hello everyone!
I’m getting ready to paint my first kit — it’s a Steve Wang Gillman bust from the 90’s and its cast in Vinyl.
Can I use Tamiya Fine Surface Primer to prime it or is there a better primer to use on Vinyl?
Thanks for the help!
Re: Vinyl Kit priming
Posted: March 20th, 2024, 1:48 am
by bucketfoot-al
I have always used Krylon gray primer on vinyl. Just remember to wash the vinyl with dish soap BEFORE priming to get any of the mold release chemicals left over from the casting process off the vinyl surface.
A VERY important point that I did not know about 20+ years ago when I got back into The Hobby.
Good luck!!
Re: Vinyl Kit priming
Posted: March 20th, 2024, 3:11 am
by weird_oh84
bucketfoot-al wrote: ↑March 20th, 2024, 1:48 am
I have always used Krylon gray primer on vinyl. Just remember to wash the vinyl with dish soap BEFORE priming to get any of the mold release chemicals left over from the casting process off the vinyl surface.
A VERY important point that I did not know about 20+ years ago when I got back into The Hobby.
Good luck!!
Awesome…. Thanks for the reply!
Re: Vinyl Kit priming
Posted: March 20th, 2024, 6:53 am
by Ant
Do *not* use any enamel based products on vinyl - they will never dry. In general it's best to avoid anything that is not acrylic. If you are not sure, test on a piece of scrap and leave for a few days.
Automotive acrylic primers are great, or failing that purpose-made primers like Stynylrez are fantastic for airbrush priming.
Re: Vinyl Kit priming
Posted: March 20th, 2024, 7:05 am
by LOBOREX
I have had really bad luck with vinyl, but rule of thumb is lacquer based primer for vinyl. Always test on a piece of scrap first.
Re: Vinyl Kit priming
Posted: March 20th, 2024, 4:54 pm
by Rocketeer
I've used Tamiya spray primer on vinyl successfully. On vinyl, your color coats have to be acrylic; enamels won't dry at all.
Re: Vinyl Kit priming
Posted: March 21st, 2024, 5:35 am
by Squidy53
Rocketeer wrote: ↑March 20th, 2024, 4:54 pm
I've used Tamiya spray primer on vinyl successfully. On vinyl, your color coats have to be acrylic; enamels won't dry at all.
Re: Vinyl Kit priming
Posted: March 22nd, 2024, 12:02 am
by tay666
Rocketeer wrote: ↑March 20th, 2024, 4:54 pm
I've used Tamiya spray primer on vinyl successfully. On vinyl, your color coats have to be acrylic; enamels won't dry at all.
If you lay down enough acrylic or lacquer to form a barrier first, then enamels will work. But it is better to play it safe.
I always test my primer on the scraps that get cut from the vinyl. It's better to have the primer not cure on those parts, than on the actual kit.