Model Forum / General / Models / February 2010

I've never used Etch Primer, but have you considered using it in a
pump bottle instead of your spray gun? I spray Future with an aerosol
pump sprayer that originally held eyeglass lens cleaner that I got
from Lens Crafters. $5.00 gave me two bottles, one 6oz. and the other
1oz. I used the smaller one for spraying Metalizer Sealer because I
didn't know what it could do to my spray gun and didn't want to take
any chances. The aerosol worked great and became part of my repertoire
for future sprayings.

I just use Krylon spray primer, dry, thin coat ( back off a little
further than normal, hit it with quick coat. Not perfect  adhesion, but
better than with NO primer.

I would think something that might work really well as a brass primer
might be a flat clear lacquer of some sort - like nail polish...that
should stick to brass pretty well, I'd imagine...If you can get a flat
nail polish.  But I don't do that, just a suggestion.  May try it, though.

I paint a base color directly onto the brass, no priming or etching or
anything like that.  I use enamels - yes, you can chip the edges, so I'm
just careful after I spray the base color; usually black or gray.

Then I use a #1 round brush to apply washes or paint gross detail like
instrument bezels and such - again, using enamels (I only use enamels).
   I sometimes also use colored pencil.

But for highlighting detail I drybrush - what I like to use is some sort
of silver; I take some Testors Metallizer and let it dry out in a cap
and drybrush the residue like a pastel...works great for highlighting
detail on anything subtle.

Once you get the hang of how and where the Metallizer flake sticks, you
can actually sort of "paint" with it - leaving more on higher detail
like switch knobs and details like that.  I use a #1 round or flat brush
for this as well.

Technique works on any part - brass or plastic.