Red Oxide Primer Question
 

What is the best kind of red oxide primer to use on a Tamiya Tiger? I want to prime both the metal and plastic parts. Most of the primers that you typically get at your local hardware store are intended to be used on metal parts, not plastic.

I spent a lot of time stripping the old paint off of my Tiger (What an ordeal that was, I won't be doing that again..) I'd like to choose an appropriate primer to use as a base to spray my Tamiya acrylic paints over top of it. I want a primer that will take the Tamiya acrylic paints and not have adverse effects on the plastic parts.

I think some of you guys have used Rustoleum and Krylon primers, which are probably intended for metal parts. Do these work OK on the Tamiya plastic parts without causing problems?

Do any of you guys spray primer through your air brushes, or do you all use Shaker cans?

Lastly, is red oxide the correct primer color for a Tiger that was manufactured in the summer of 1943 (June,July)?

RE: Red Oxide Primer Question
 

i never used an automotive red primer on these tanks i have just the one and painted another for someone else i just when directly on the plastic with acrylics
but Krylon is a paint for plastic it is advertise as that so maybe thats why some have used it i don't see a problem using an automotive red primer on it if used through an airbrush i think with using a spray can you put on too much paint and where you have a small detail on your tank painting it with a spray can you would lose that detail from the paint build up the airbrush puts a nicer finish on not too much paint so that you can keep these small details i just spray my paint from the spray can into the airbrush jay i get it on my hands but i'm use to it you do get overspray flying around doing this so make sure it's not around anything you don't want paint on and wear a mask while painting even just a dust mask for the vapors as far as the history of the use of the red primer i have no idea someone else may have to answer that one...lol

Greg

RE: Red Oxide Primer Question
 

Use Hull Red, that's the best

RE: Red Oxide Primer Question
 

I used X-O Rust Red metal primer. No problems to report. The Tamiya acrilic paints I used for camo seem to stick to it just fine.

Rattle cans for primer and an airbrush for finish coat.<br type="_moz" />

RE: Red Oxide Primer Question
 

I only use Tamiya primers now, out of a rattle can. As mentioned before, some of these red primers build up and hide some detailing. They make them in either metal & plastic versions or just for metal. Kinda on the expesive side but hey, it's a 700 dollar tank. :)

Can't answer the the question on what they used on the real thing. If the paint sticks well enough you'll never see the primer. :D


- Jeff

RE: Red Oxide Primer Question
 

I used Tamiya's spray can Hull Red to paint my tank's wheels...looks bril I think

http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/q...h/DSC01802.jpg

http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/q...h/DSC01825.jpg

RE: Red Oxide Primer Question
 

Yes red oxide was the color in use at that time. Floquil makes it in acrylic in their polly scale line. Xtracrylix does too if memory serves.

RE: Red Oxide Primer Question
 

Well, I ended up purchasing and using the WRONG primer. In a rush and semi-panic, to get the metal parts primed in my garage before the temperature escalates into the 90s (which it is supposed to do starting tomorrow), I purchased a can of Rustoleum Rusty Metal Primer (for the ultimate finish on heavily rusted metal, which didn't register with me when I looked at the bottle in the store that this primer might actually produce a rusted metal effect.. Duh). I was thinking it was going to produce a red rust color, not a rusty texture in addition to that. It was the only red primer that I noticed on the shelf at Ace Hardware.

Now my Tiger's metal parts look like they have been lying in a field somewhere for the past 66 years. They are covered with a textured coat of what looks like surface rust. I was going to buy just regular gray primer, but no, I saw the red color and decided to try and get a red primer like the Germans supposedly used on the real tanks. Now I have a good start for modeling a Panzer wreck..

If you ever want to paint a model so that it looks like the entire tank is covered with surface rust, then this is the stuff to use!

Hopefully, I can salvage this screw up by airbrushing over top of the rusty metal primer with Tamiya Hull Red Acrylic or something equivalent. I guess I will try to sand the gun barrel and muzzle brake a little with #800 grit sandpaper first before I shoot the Hull Red on it using the airbrush. I really do not want to have to strip this rust primer off the parts and start over again from scratch.

I don't have a paint mask yet, so it was loads of fun trying to hold my breath and run in and out of the garage between sprays. At least I was able to have the garage door fully open while I did all this crap. I was spraying with the parts laid out on top of a flattened cardboard box, which was sitting on top of an old table. Even so, I ended up getting some of the red primer on the bottom of my shoes, though I don't really notice any on the concrete floor of the garage.. I wore old worn-out shoes, so that wasn't really that big of a deal. But it proves that these rattle cans produce a large amount of over spray.

RE: Red Oxide Primer Question
 

After further research, via the internet, into the "primer" that I had the misfortune of using, I have found out that the primer contains fish oil! This ingredient is used to combat moisture and prevent rusting of the metal. With the fish oil, I don't know how this is going to work out when using Tamiya acrylics as a top coat.

Has anybody encountered or used this Rusty Metal Primer? It would be nice to know if I can spray my acrylics over this stuff, or if I am going to have to strip this Rusty primer off of the parts with more Superclean..

RE: Red Oxide Primer Question
 

if it's a primer it should be ok to paint on read the can does it say anything about top coating over it i think you will be ok yes the spray cans do overspray a lot i painted a motorcycle tank and side covers for a friend with automotive paint in my garage and i was lucky i had a mask on cause there was a cloud of vapours for like an hour in the garage i'll never do it again i used a large spray gun and the clear i used was to even worse yes use a mask even with the airbrush just a dust mask is good for the airbrush they would be at your hardware store

Greg

RE: Red Oxide Primer Question
 

Airbrushler - Yes, the can states that you can top coat over the primer.. Just doesn't say what kind of paints can be used as a top coat.

I think this stuff is intended for painting an old tractor or something that had previously been covered with a layer of surface rust. After airbrushing or sand blasting the rust off, you would then spray this stuff on, then top coat it. It is weird stuff, and it certainly does look like actual surface rust, after you apply it. It takes a long time to dry too. It has been drying for over 2.5 hours, and still has a tackiness to it. Don't ever confuse this with Red or Red Oxide Primer like I did. This is a different animal.

RE: Red Oxide Primer Question
 

does it have a drying time or a time when you can top coat it's a primer probably like zinc oxcide for paint to stick to aluminum once it dries i'm sure you can sand and paint over you going to use your paint for top coat through the airbrush?

RE: Red Oxide Primer Question
 

It says to add the top coat within 1 hour or after 48 hours. I'll probably wait the 48 hours..

Yes, top coat will be via an airbrush.

RE: Red Oxide Primer Question
 

ok keep us posted on the results i'm sure it will be fine

RE: Red Oxide Primer Question
 

Its your tank, but me I'd spray that thing with easy off oven cleaner and then a good bath in lot of water fast before it dries, it may not come all that well when it is dry. Besides you will probably have that texture and your only dealing with a tank in 1/16 and not a tractor like you said.

RE: Red Oxide Primer Question
 

Where's the pictures of the fish oil paint job??? [:-]

RE: Red Oxide Primer Question
 

Sorry, didn't have a chance to take any photos of what this horrible primer looks like..

After examining the parts this morning, I found that the crappy primer was just flaking off on my fingertips as I touched the parts. Little small round particles of the red primer on my fingers. To say that I made a mistake selecting this primer is an understatement. Major disappointment. As Charlie Sheen would say, "sucky, suck, suck".

I have all the parts soaking in Super Clean. I'm going to let them soak in there for several hours.. Hopefully I'll be able to get all of this worthless primer off of the metal parts without too much scrubbing. The only way this could have been any worse is if I had sprayed the entire tank with this stuff.

Now I need to find a decent, gray primer to repaint the parts with. Screw the red primer, I just want something that'll work and be compatible with the Tamiya acrylic top coats.

RE: Red Oxide Primer Question
 

That's why I use Tamiya primers. As long as the surface is clean right before spraying there is no longer 'surprises' like before and as what you are describing.

Testors makes a good primer as well.


- Jeff

RE: Red Oxide Primer Question
 

I think you're overthinking this. I have used Polly Scale Red Oxide primer for 6+ years on 20+ tanks with no problem. IMO Polly Scale is better then Tamiya, almost no smell and thins with water. Their Red Oxide comes in both 1/2 and 1 ounce bottles in acrylic and enamel. There will be no problems laying Tamiya paints on top of it either.

RE: Red Oxide Primer Question
 

Hey James, does Polly Scale come in a spray can and where can it be bought at?


- Jeff

RE: Red Oxide Primer Question
 

Not sure about spray cans but most hobby shops carry it under the parent name of Floquil Polly Scale in a Railroad Colors display case. The Red Oxide in the 1oz bottle is classed with them if memory serves. Tower Hobbies carries the line and you can search to see what is offered.

RE: Red Oxide Primer Question
 

Well, thanks. I like the convenience of the spray and Tamiya's are metered so precise that they get the job done clean and fast. I'll leave the airbrush to those projects that require a special shade or color but for right right now a rattle can is best for me.


- Jeff

RE: Red Oxide Primer Question
 

well that sucks
hope that you can get it painted soon take pics

RE: Red Oxide Primer Question
 

Severalarticles in the Osprey Modelling Manuals series for such tanks as the Stug IIIand Tiger recommend a primer coat of airbrushed Floquil lacquer. The lacquer is supposed to adhere well to a variety of media (metal, plastic,resin). The recommendation is to let the lacquer primer coat curefor 2 days prior to any additional paint is applied

Update:

Did some research online and found out that Floquil no longer makes lacquers, only enamels and acrylics. This could invalidate the previous statement in the Osprey Modelling manuels.

RE: Red Oxide Primer Question
 

how did you make out you get new prime on yet