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Firstly, you must make a stand to hold your kits when you prime or paint them. I have drilled holes of different size on a flat cardboard box, and I put my models on it after priming to let them dry. |
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Hold your model and primer, press and go!
Keep one thing in mind. Try to spray very very (I really mean very!) thin layers each time. If you spray too much, you'll cover up the details. Second thing is, keep the distance. I usually spray from a little less than a feet away from the model, but the distance can vary. If you are too far away, the primer will dry in mid air and the surface will not be smooth. Too close and the paint will be too thick, so you have to do a little experiment to find out the optimal distance for that particular paint. Notice that the distance changes with weather too. |
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That being said, another thing to notice is that you do not spray directly onto the model at first. Spray primer with a 'sweep' action, as illustrated.
Start spraying on the left side, sweep quickly to the right, then stop. Do not start or end when the model is still inside the spray cone. If you do it this way, you should be able to make a thin enough layer. Repeat a few times until the color of the primer comes out (provided that the paint is thin enough) and covers the surface nicely. |
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Primer lets you see your model clearly. Many of my model has been treated with various putty (epoxy, plastic, polyester) of different color (light green, gray and yellow), remodeled with styrene (white), etc. The model is essentially a mess before primer is applied, making it impossible to spot all the flaws on the kit. Primer are usually of gray or white color, making it easy for you to inspect your model clearly.
Circled in this picture is a seam I have missed before I prime. That was a junction of the original model and styrene sheets I have added. Now I will have to fill it up and prime it again... |
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Primer should be sprayed thin initially. The amount shown in this picture is just about right. The whole process is to spray, look for flaws, work on it, repeat the process until everything is right.
When all the flaws have been taken care of, then spray thin layers each time, let it dry, and spray again until the model is covered in primer nicely. |
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This is what happens when you spray too much. Excess primer flows to the bottom, forming thick layers, and the whole thing is riddled with air bubbles. You need a lot of sanding to get rid of this mess.
I did not spray excess intentionally so that I can show you this picture, but it happened that I was close to using all the primer in the can. When this happens, there is not enough air pressure inside the can, and the spray doesn't come out. When it does come out, well, everything comes out in a splash... thus what you see. |