Painting question

[Vietnam Vet67]

Haven't built a model in years, however, I picked up the following kit at a toy show last week plus a "Testors Amazing Air" airbrush paint set with various acrylic paints. SO, when I paint the body white (it is molded in white plastic) how do I prep the body? Do I have to put a primer before doing the white or can I just spray the white over the body after cleaning? What should I use to prep body before painting? The paint in the kit says it is acrylic..................are all Testors paints now acrylic or are there enamels out there I should use? Any other help would be appreciated. Thanx...............

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[Ace-Garageguy]

...are all Testors paints now acrylic or are there enamels out there I should use? ...

 

Testors still makes full lines of lacquer and enamel products as well.

I strongly advise you to practice using that little airbrush on something other than your model, to get a feel for how it handles and how the material behaves. I recommend small soda bottles, scuffed and primered as you would do a model.

There are about as many opinions on prep as there are painters, but in general, i have had excellent results scrubbing bare plastic parts with an abrasive cleanser like old Comet, hot water and a toothbrush.This method removes any mold-lubricant contamination, gets in small nooks and crannies that no sandpaper or scuffing pads can possibly reach, and it does it without flattening details...which sandpaper will almost certainly do if you're not extremely careful.

I don't shoot acrylics, so somebody else will have to advise you there. 

 

[TarheelRick]

I am not an expert painter by any means.  But I would definitely suggest using a primer, especially under the acrylics.  A good primer coat will allow you to first notice any areas of the body which will need attention, i.e. mold lines, sink marks, etc.  Secondly, it will give a bit of "tooth" for the acrylic to adhere to.

BTW, welcome home from another Viet Nam era vet.