DO I NEED A PAINT PRIMER IF I AM ONLY DOING A SELECT FEW AREAS OF THE PLANE?

Here are the colors of Coverite fabric and paints I am using for the LT-40.

DARK BLUE
Paint - http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXB310&P=0
Fabric - http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXB189&P=V

WHITE
Paint - http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXB308&P=0
Fabric - http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXB185&P=V

RED FABRIC – no need for paint.
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXB187&P=M

Requirements for both paint colors says . . .

REQUIRES: 21st Century Primer for a Base Coat.
In order to get a true match between 21st Century Paint and the 21st Century Coverings, you must use 21st Century Primer as a Base Coat.

If I am only doing the engine compartment, fuel tank area, landing gear block, wing saddle area, rear of fuselage where elevator control rod exits, and possibly the tri-stock for fin/stabilizer – and the rest of the plane is done in the pre-painted Coverite fabric – is a Primer really necessary to have the paint and fabric blend perfectly together? Or can I just do a few coats of the paint? I have studied the colors closely and as you can see they are a perfect match.

Tigerdude,
Primer actually accomplishes several purposes. First it fills in any small scratches or imperfections in the surface. This will give a better finish in the final product. Primer also gives the top coat of the paint a better "grip" to the surface being painted. As in the other thread, I'm not a chemist so I can't explain the entire process in detail but I was taught that the paint needs to be considered an entire "system". Just like an airplane being a system, you have to have all the parts for it to all work correctly. You wouldn't try to fly an airplane without a vertical stabilizer, in the same way you shouldn't paint without the primer.

This may not be the correct answer, but that is what I was taught and that's the way I've always done it.

Ken

Without the right primer you're likely not to get the perfect color match they advertise. The samples they show are made using the primer. I'm another person who doesn't fully understand the chemistry of paint; but people I know who paint automobiles say the correct primer is very important. I guess I think that applies to or models. The fuel has chemicals and oil that will try to dissolve the paint so it needs all the help it can get to survive.

Take a piece of scrap. Paint one half with primer, the other leave blank. Then apply your top coat. You'll see a differience in color. That will answer all of your questions.

I am having a hard time finding a medium blue fuelproof paint. I prefer that it blends with my Coverite fabric but Coverite only sells 3 colors including dark blue, but I want medium. Anyone know of a paint that is fuelproof and is medium blue? ----->APPROX. THE COLOR OF THIS LINE I TYPED HERE<-----

Thank you

Check out the Hangor 9 Ultra Coat paints or the Top Flite Monokote matching paints, I think they are called Lustercoat. I have really liked the Lustercoat stuff as it matches the Ultra Coat colors better than the Ultra Coat paints. The color matches are typically a few shades off one way or the other. Good Luck, Dave