To prime or not to prime

[fireball]

I have recently noticed on some tutorials that it appears no primer is used on any of the projects being viewed. Now I am wondering if priming the parts before gluing and painting is just a waste of time. Any thoughts. What does the modeling population usually do after washing all the sprues? Fireball out

[ORANGF15Guy]

Hey Fireball,
I've been building models for, I hate to say because it dates me, 50 years ! I've never primed a model while pieces were on the sprues. I certainly have primed before I get ready to lay down my top coat colors and especially bare metal areas, because any imperfections show right through, but never before I start building the kit! That's just my two cents!

[GW8345]

My take:

I rarely prime a model, the only time I would is when I have to do major seam filling/sanding to help me see if I missed anything. The only other time I will prime is if I'm doing bare metal, which is extremely rare. Other than that, I don't prime and I've never washed parts and never had a problem.

Just my input.

[f-15ERJ145]

I don’t prime small parts but the entire kit before painting just like Brad said.

[Devo666]

I have never used primer on a model I've built and I've rarely even washed the parts to boot as per what Gerry said above.

I just put the paint straight on the built model...but I'm a brush painter(Yep hairy stick all the way)....cause I like a challenge!

[Dwill]

I’ve never used primer for enamels or Tamiya paint, but for the Spanish eye dropper acrylics, I’ve found that a good primer is a must. I’m using the Badger primer when I use those acrylics.

[RJ Tucker]

I only prime for a BMF, or if the plastic is a hard color to cover like black, red, dark gray etc. I, always, prime resin parts before working with them.

[major malfunction]

Arcrylics are too easy to pull off with tape, so primer on first if any masking will be done.

[jefropas]

I only prime when I use filler or if its a panel line rescibe, other than that, wash and paint...

Jeff

[spiralcity]

Use primer. It serves to even the surface before the final coat, it will also show imperfection in your build before you spray your final coat. Primer is a very useful tool and I recommend it to everyone.