In the context of UK railways, a "four-aspect signal" is a type of railway signal that provides four distinct...
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What is a 4 aspect signal?Read more -
How to use a track gauge like Peco SL-36 and SL-336?Read moreTrack gauges of this type don't look like much when you take them out of the box and it's often hard to see how to...
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What are 'lowmac' wagons and how were they used?Read moreThe term "lowmac" refers to a type of flat wagon used for transporting heavy goods or machinery. The name "lowmac" is...
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What is a 'Beetle' van?Read moreA 'Beetle Van' is a term used to describe a wagon specifically designed to carry prize cattle or other valuable...
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How much paint is required for a model kit?Read moreOnce you have chosen a model to keep you occupied for a weekend or two, you will need to buy some paint to finish it...
What is the difference between a coloured primer and a basecoat?
Historically, the difference between primers and basecoats had much clearer boundaries, a primer sealed and provided a surface to which paint can adhere and a basecoat was all about providing a coloured foundation on which to build desired effects. But nowadays, we have coloured primers, and you may well be wondering if the one product can really do both jobs!
In modelling at least, that does seem to be the case. As paints and primers have become more sophisticated, the paint companies have found ways to produce primers that can act both as an adherent and provide a coloured basecoat all in one formula. The only problems arise when these chemically advanced paints are not used as intended.
As modellers, we can all be forgiven for getting creative now and then, after all, that's what we do! But paint companies have invested time, money and expertise developing such paints specifically to work with other paints from their range. When we add a spot of home-brewed thinners or pound store specials into the mix, the results can often be compromised, so this needs to be considered if using an advanced coloured primer.
These days, whether you should use a multi-function colour primer on your models is purely a matter of choice. The bigger issue, whether using a traditional primer and basecoat or a colour primer, is getting the colour right for your topcoat. This is a consideration often overlooked but one that can make a huge difference. So do your homework to see which colour undercoat should be used with a particular colour topcoat, and you should be just fine.
Posted in: Painting
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