Acrysion - bílá základní

A white layer under the color coat

A white primer has a different job on a model than a white top color. It is not meant to be seen; it is meant to unify the surface and give the shades laid over it a light base on which they come alive. The difference shows above all with yellow, orange and red, which look dull and flat on dark plastic.

It is applied in thin even coats with an airbrush, and it has to be perfectly dry before the color coat arrives. A rushed job shows itself when the layers start dragging at each other and the surface roughens. Water serves as a thinner; for a finer spray, the dedicated thinner from the same paint line is better.

Why not to skimp on the primer

• it reveals scratches and unsanded joints before it is too late
• it unifies parts made of differently colored plastic and of resin
• it improves the adhesion of the following layers on a smooth surface
• it saves top color, because that can then go on thinner

Anyone working with light schemes usually gets by with a white base; a gray one suits dark camouflage better. Both exist in this paint line, so the choice can be made according to the particular model and the scheme that will end up on it.

The primer is applied thinly, but it has to cover the whole surface including places that are hard to reach. The most common mistake is to miss the inner sides of the landing gear bays and the undersides of the wings, where the top color then takes less well. So it is a good idea to turn the model while spraying and check it against the light to see whether bare material shows through anywhere. Checking at this stage is quicker than repairing a finished paint job.