Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

I've got a bunch of MDF terrain that has the etched detail (including this bad boy)

I want to airbrush it, but don't want to wash out the etched detail. I see lots of things about priming the MDF black, but I'm reticent to do that.

What are your experiences and recommendations for this?

Thanks!

Spray paint will not cover those details at all. Unless the laser etching is SUPER minimal (and it almost never is in my experience).

You should still be able to pick up the lines enough to paint the panel covers on the digger, you might lose some, you could trace them with an exacto blade to make the grove bigger, but its a risk.

I've painted a few mdf buildings for Infinity which also have quiet a bit of etched surface detail. If you are airbrushing water based acrylics direct onto the mdf it will absorb a lot of paint if it isn't primed/ sealed first. I used some cheap cans of auto primer on the buildings first and the airbrushing went a lot quicker over that. And you would need to be pretty heavy handed with the primer to clog the detail. I was using pretty heavy coats to get a decent primer layer down and it still didn't obscure any of the surface details.

You shouldn't worry about the etched lines unless you go SUPER heavy with the primer, anyt paint thin enough to shoot through the airbrush will not clog the lines unless you go deliberately heavy. The etched lines are thin, but usually very deep

Bigger concern is properly sealing the MDF prior to painting, you'll want to use either a shellac based sanding sealer or, more likely, an enamel based spray paint. One of the best to use is also one of the cheapest: Quick Color flat black from Home Depot, sells for about a buck a can. Give it a couple light, even coats and then you can paint it with any brush or airbrush colors just like plastic terrain