Is there any way to tell when to prime before fully assembling builds? I have started 3D printed this mech here and I want to try to prime it (never done it before) and later on try to air brush it (if you have any recommendations to kits I’m all ears!). I am a complete noob on anything paint-wise and would like some help. There’s endless sources online but they all recommend something slightly different, and I don’t have enough filament for a reprint. Should I try to prime each piece before socketing them or after? The model has joints similar to bionicles so I’m afraid of priming it to much ruining any mobility of the model.
Any recommendations on airbrush kits? I wanted to use this project as an introduction to airbrushing, but I never even knew about air brush primer. Just know about the rustoleum primers I saw people recommend. I don’t want to cheap out on a kit but I also dont want to pay an arm and a leg just for a name brand. Any tips for my search?
If you wanna prime before the assembly, cover the joins with tape. I wouldn’t risk to ruin the model with primer and paint building up over the joins. Also keep in mind you may need to fix excess glue or need to fill some spots after the assembly.
I usually assemble before the final priming, right after the filling/sanding part.
For the airbrush, I suggest the Harder & Steenbeck Ultra 2024. Is not cheap, but it’s made for beginners.
Always look on how you want to paint it!
If you have hard to reach places or too much you would have to mask before airbrushing, do not assemble these parts. Other than that, assemble as much as you can, get rid of the seams, sand it down as good as you can. Test a rough assembly and look how it fits, again get rid of the seams. Then you are going to put the primer on. After you applied the primer test if everything still fits nice, then sand again lightly if needed and paint / airbrush your model. You can apply a coating in between paint sequences to protect the paint, assemble and apply a final coating to protect the paint.
