Primer to use!

[GMahaffey]

I need to know when which color of primer to use (black, white, gray, olive, gelb). Colors taken from primers available on Ultimate site. I primarily use black primer as my go to primer. I am asking because when I use white paint on the black primer, it looks like its dirty white. Also one of the kits I got was an F-22 and nearly all interior parts are white (Landing gear, weapons and gear bays and intakes).

[Kevthemodeller]

If you want the surface colour very white I'd use white, although it might make seeing what areas you've not top coated difficult. Yellow or buff may also work I've no experience of what effect these colour primers will have on a top coat, but you could just do a few experiments.

[Nev]

I mainly use the black and the grey primers

[digger303]

i use grey and find it's not a bad compromise

[Lysus]

i use grey and find it's not a bad compromise

I agree with this. I don't use black too often, and white really only unless I need a bright red or yellow--which isn't impossible with grey, just a bit quicker. I've primed stuff meant to be white before with white primer and while yes, you get a bright white instantly, I was constantly turning the parts in the light to see if I've missed anything. Sometimes you need a second, light coat of white over grey but not often and you KNOW you haven't missed any bits.

[Twokidsnosleep]

I remember one of my old modelling buds give painting advice

"keep your layers thin so the details remain"

Certainly hard to do with white most times

[Kevthemodeller]

The kit colour also has a big part to play i.e. if it's black than you've got to go for a light primer, if it's gray or tan, gray would no doubt do it, better still if it's white just a very light white primer will do.

[simondo]

I struggle to see white primer on white plastic that then has a white basecoat. Does anyone know if Ultimate white pimer could be ever so slightly tinted with something compatible to help both differeniate between white plastic and white primer, then white primer and white basecoat?

[Paul]

I struggle to see white primer on white plastic that then has a white basecoat. Does anyone know if Ultimate white pimer could be ever so slightly tinted with something compatible to help both differeniate between white plastic and white primer, then white primer and white basecoat?

Yes mix it with a little of the grey or black Ultimate primer

[simondo]

Thanks Paul. Wanted to be sure and now can give it a try.

[DaveMac]

This thread is just in time, I've got two Tamiya models, the 1/24 Nissan Impul GT-R R35 Calsonic and the 1/24 Xanavi Nismo GT-R (R35), one is molded in blue and the other in red. I plan on paining them their actual colors which are blue and red, which primer would work best for each of these?

[Twokidsnosleep]

White prime makes bright colours pop....you just need the patience of a saint to spray light layers. I am no saint
Yellow, like Tamiya flat yellow with MLT, makes red pop
I have been using Mr Surfacer 1500 white as a primer and final white layer with MLT as thinner. It sprays reasonably and flashes off rather quickly so your layers dry faster and ready for the next thus better coverage.
Just my $0.02

[DaveMac]

Thanks for the info Scott

I'll see if Burnaby Hobbies has some Mr Surfacer 1500 in stock

[Twokidsnosleep]

Thanks for the info Scott

I'll see if Burnaby Hobbies has some Mr Surfacer 1500 in stock

exactly where I got it!!
This is the one:

There are others that you would just need to thin a bit more
He is a bit hit and miss with the Gunze stuff