Painting my Model

[awins]

Ok folks I'm at the stage all ready to paint Minnie now. Do I really need to go to such lengths of all this etch primer I'm told about in my Phoenix Precision Catalogue or can I just apply a simple grey primer. Its only ever been my intention to display this model indoors not even to steam her so it wont be subject to heat etc.
Any ideas please I'm always grateful

[baggo]

Hi Awins,

omit the etch primer on brass/copper alloys and aluminium at your peril!! The paint will not stick to such non-ferrous metals without it due to the layer of oxide that forms on them. You can use ordinary primer on the steel but it's just as easy to use the etch primer on everything.

John

[paul]

I can vouch for that - I've seen the results of using paint without etching primer on aluminium shop-fronts.... it lasts about a week!

[greeno]

Can't say that I was too impressed with the Phoenix etch primer. For me, it didn't stick at all worth a damn and I sandblasted the whole lot off and started again with a two pack etch primer for cellulose. That worked. All it took was a very thin coat brushed on and copper, and brass developed that "just out of the pickle tank" look, clearly visible through the paint. That look, by the way, is the only way to see which bits have been painted and which bits you've missed. The stuff is really thin.
Two pack isn't cheap - largely because of the min quantity problem - but what's all that work on the Minnie worth?

Regards, Jim

[tigermoth]

For my two penny worth, I have been using Halfords Etch primer on everything and find that it works great. Tried other primers and find that they chip or have no adhesion on non ferrous.

I have acquired some old 2 pack stuff (there was also some GWR Green) that my mate used to paint the Prairie and found that it was impossible to remove with stripper, manufacturer recommended shot blasting when I asked them if they had a stripper (paint men paint) but then looked on the tins and saw the health warning, great shame really as there is about 2 1/2 ltrs and at Precision prices would be worth a few bob.

Norman.