BattleTech - The Board Game of Armored Combat

BattleTech Miniatures and Terrain => Hobby Tips and Tricks => Topic started by: Cazaril on 08 July 2019, 06:21:53

Title: Old School Plastic Mechs and Primer
Post by: Cazaril on 08 July 2019, 06:21:53
I'm asking about the old school plastic Mechs. The ones that came in the (I think) 2nd/3rd Edition boxed set. Not the Plastech ones, or the Introductory Boxed Set ones. Mostly Unseen with the variant stamped on the front of them...

I've cleaned a few of these Mechs up now and again, so I know most of the suggestions about dealing with that. What I want to know is about primer. After dealing with Reaper's new Bones minis it got me thinking, should I even primer these plastic Mechs.

So what I'm looking for is whether or not people have used primer, and what kind of success/problems they have had.

Thanks,

Caz
Title: Re: Old School Plastic Mechs and Primer
Post by: Lorcan Nagle on 08 July 2019, 07:32:26
Way back in the day I almost never primed plastic minis, and the 3rd edition guys gave me no end of trouble with paint pooling and not covering evenly.  This might have been because I didn't bother cleaning them - after the fact a friend suggested soaking them in soapy water to remove any releasing agents remaining on the surface.  But that was 25 years ago...

These days I prime everything just to be on the safe side, and were I to get another batch of the 3rd edition plastics I'd prime them too.  I currently use Vallejo airbrush primer, before that I got cheap rattlecans of car primer from a car part shop in Dublin.
Title: Re: Old School Plastic Mechs and Primer
Post by: worktroll on 08 July 2019, 10:18:15
Had similar issues to Lorcan. I gave my 3rd Ed plastics a dose of Easy-Off oven cleaner - my preferred paint stripper - and that removed the mould release agent or whatever which made them problematic. Following that, brush-on primer/base coat.
Title: Re: Old School Plastic Mechs and Primer
Post by: Cazaril on 08 July 2019, 12:41:16
I'm passed the point I can spray it down with Easy-Off or even soaking it (although I will file that away for the next one)... What I may do it run it under some water and use a toothbrush and dish soap... Hopefully that will take care of any residue... I'll probably primer this one then and see how well it works out...