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Is it cool to prime plastics with plain enamel spray? Or enamel spray primer? I have heard a few people claim that you can just use a clear sealer to prime and paint straight on the grey plastic!

Priming is something I have never fully understood and I can't bear undercoating another Fire Warrior in chaos black by hand.

IMHO you would be better using an acrylic primer

The general rule of thumb is that you can paint enamel over acrylic but not the other way round

Not heard of a sealer but I like the key that a primer gives.

Chibi Bodge-Battle wrote:The general rule of thumb is that you can paint enamel over acrylic but not the other way round

That's true for house paint, but not as universal for hobby paints.

Painting over gloss enamel with acrylics can give you some headaches. I've been painting over a matt black enamel spray for about 10 years now with no issues.

The primer I use is an enamel.

It's an automotive primer. Works well, is cheaper than the GW black spray paint and gives a good foundation (as a primer should).

If I screw it up, depending on the paint stripper used, it may only get taken back to primer. If I want it all gone, into the brake fluid it goes.

No.

Enamel paint is oil-based, and acrylic (yes, even the GW paints are acrylic) paints are water-based. Think what will happen if you mix the two: they will crack, especially is the water-based paint is above the oil-based one, but not so much vice-versa. Plus, the water-based paint will have an incredibly hard time sticking to the surface, because, yannow, the surface is resistant to it. Try putting cooking oil on a mini and try to paint on it: the paint will behave more or less the same way. I've learned the difference between oil-based and water-based paints the hard way in painting class (used enamel paint to be the canvas primer and, lo and behold, nothing sticks to it).

Also, priming your models is really recommended. You can choose not to o it, but the pros outweighs the cons.

No, really. Please don't do it if you value your minis. Using enamel spray, that is.

@starsdawn

I asked on a few forums and they all said automotive spray, White Knight Squirts, and touch-up paint are all fine, all of which I have here and they are "enamel spray primers".

I'll try using Matt Black spray.

Ordo Dakka wrote:@starsdawn

I asked on a few forums and they all said automotive spray, White Knight Squirts, and touch-up paint are all fine, all of which I have here and they are "enamel spray primers".

I'll try using Matt Black spray.

I also like Testor's Flat Black

Oh, spray PRIMERS. The paint itself is oil-based, but the primer should be water based (notice that I used "should", because some are still oil-based). But if it's regular enamel paint, then you'll have a headache (and ruined minis).

Still, please consult the can first just to make sure and test it on some sprues first. And why can't you just use acrylic spray primer? I'm sure they're safer to use if you're gonna use acrylic paint anyway.

Ordo

If you do use an enamel then make sure it is matt.

I have painted acrylic over matt enamel on model kits (not playing figures) and had no problems but then it has been on something that is not handled. Like a cockpit interior.

However, it is far simpler to stick to one medium type which will give better binding. With matt enamel you are relying soley on the key of the matt paint for grip.