Best Model Primers: Surface Prep That Makes Every Paint Job Better

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Primer is the least glamorous coat on any model and arguably the most important. It gives paint a uniform surface to grip, reveals sanding scratches and glue marks while they are still fixable, and evens out the patchwork of plastic, putty, resin, and photo-etch that a finished build actually is. Skipping it is how paint ends up peeling off masking tape. The choices are broader than they look: lacquer primers bite hard and sand beautifully, acrylics are gentler and low-odor, and colors matter, since black, grey, white, and pink undercoats each change how topcoats behave. This guide compares rattle-can and airbrush-ready primers, and explains which chemistry and color to use for your surface and paint system.