If you're still wondering if a water-based primer is for you, then keep reading! We're going to demonstrate how to use our primers, so this article is a bit long, so we recommend you save it for reference later on.
If you've used water-based primer for your model kits before, you should know that it's generally weaker and grainier than its lacquer-based counterpart.
However, we've developed Kaleido ColorWorks specifically to be in the middle of them, enjoying the benefits of both water-based and lacquer-based paint. In our primer lineup, we have a Matte White Primer, generally used to bring out the best of warm color tones like yellow or red. Then we have the most commonly used Matte Grey Primer. They are widely used because they are pretty neutral, and the color grey allows you to see flaws in your model kits with ease. Then we have Matte Black Primer, which is used for metallic tones.
At Kaleido, we offer something special that not many manufacturers do: our High-Gloss Black Primer. It is our best-selling primer so far, and we have received numerous positive reviews. We developed this primer specially for the use of metallic or metal colors. The high-gloss black primers enhance your metallic paint even further. Making it easier for you to achieve a high gloss finish, even if you don't use 2K clear coats.
We recommend using 0.3mm or larger airbrushes for primer application, as they are often tougher and their particles are generally larger than those of conventional paint. For this tutorial, we will be using the Mobius 0.3mm with the GTX-778 Ultra Silent Air Compressor set to 25 PSI.
To begin painting primers, we usually start with a light misty coat to prep and adhere to the surface. Once it's dry to the touch - usually a couple of seconds you can proceed with airbrushing regular coats of primer until you're satisfied with the result.
We have some pro tips just for you guys about priming, so make sure you stick till the end of the article!
Also, to show you guys the subtle difference primers can make to your colors, we have painted red on different kinds of primers. We have matte white, matte grey, matte black, and high-gloss black.
Although there's not much difference, if you look closely enough, you'll see some shifts in color saturation. You can then use this knowledge to apply to whatever you're working on to achieve different effects. Our colors are also very saturated and have strong coverage, which affects the final results you see. Other brands might produce different results, so keep testing to see what you like!
Now, for the high-gloss black and its true purpose, we will demonstrate what our KM012 Flashy Gold looks like on both matte white and high-gloss black primer. First, apply a light coat of our Flashy Gold to both test shells, then proceed with a normal coat. The painting process is fairly easy, and for Kaleido ColorWorks, you can start airbrushing directly from the bottle.
So here are the results: the Flashy Gold definitely looked more refined on the high-gloss black and had a different kind of shine.
And oh, remember the pro tip? Primers are generally rougher than normal paint, and if you really want a smooth surface and results like lacquer-based primers, we recommend adding a single drop of thinner or retarder thinner to your airbrush fluid cup when you paint and see how smooth the surface is. It is amazing what a drop of thinner can make.
It makes the entire painting experience much better and smoother! Also, try to use primers rated 25 PSI or higher; anything below that might result in a grainy texture. Last but not least, have a separate airbrush just for priming. It would increase your efficiency, you won't need to keep swapping needle sizes, and cleaning would be much easier as well.
If you're looking to get some of the primers yourself, click here!
So that's all from us for now. Let us know if you have any questions in the comments section. Until next time, bye bye!
