G503 Military Vehicle Message Forums

Hi All,

Time to start painting some parts on the GP.

In the past I have used the Dupont self etching primer followed by an epoxy primer, but can not find a local paint ship that sells it.
Granted it was about 16 years ago when I last really got into painting parts.
Local store I stopped at said that was old school and they recommend just the epoxy primer, these days.

What are you all using for your primers?
Do you stick with the read primer to mimic the lead based primer of the 1940's?

Inquiring minds want to know.

Thanx.
Dj

For the important parts i use zincromate like the original. not legal for automotive but aircraft supplier still carry. it is double the price of the primer the military suppliers sell.

Was the zincromate primer also used on GP (like on MA ans Slats)? Typical Yellow-green color shade? And Bantam BRC?

DJ

You can still get a DuPont manufactured etching primer. It's a two-part DuPont Nason product, Select Prime Part # 491-17 and uses activator 441-43 and is a one-to-one mix ratio. This is what I use on everything (aluminum & steel). Ive had good luck over the years with it but of course it's not as good as the older DuPont Variprime etching primer but they dont make that any more. It's an off light green/beige color. It's Thin to spray especially in colder temps but I'll shoot it down to 40 deg F, just got to do a few lighter coats. I follow that with DuPont Nason SelectSeal Part # 422-23. This is a surfacer/sealer and is totally awesome. One part ready to shoot. It's like water so shoot a test piece but it lays on darn smooth and gives you a really awesome nice smooth finish to shoot your top coat on. I mainly use it on steel parts to prevent moisture getting down to the primer and base metal as most of the flats & semi-glosses aren't the best sealing-wise. I know there's a lot of epoxy primer surfacers out there but I never have had too much liking for them as I self-learned and came up on all the older more labor intensive processes

Yah, the Variprime is what I used to use.
So they don't even make it any more?

Might be a stupid question, but for judging, does it matter what color the primer is?

Yes I think it does matter what color the primer is. There are some parts patialy primed only (backing plates e.g.). And why don't follow original style and processes when restoring these beauties...?

DJ

No, they haven't made Variprime for many years now ( The "dogooders" out there always take away the stuff that works best.

You'd have to look at some of the judging forms to see if they look at/for primer. In our world I cant think of much if anything left exposed in primer. It would only be visible with a scratch or possibly where a fastener were tightened. In the case, for example backing plates, the axle components were typically individually primed prior to assembly. So you have, for example, a primed up axle assy and once fully assembled it was painted O.D. So you would expect to see the inside of the drums and backing plates left in red oxide primer and that's how Ive done all of mine. For my painting suggestion once you get the surfacer sealer on, shoot it with red oxide primer. I think they make the SelectSeal in a red but if I remember correctly it was a pinkish color.

In terms of final color, primer color can influence topcoat color but Ive mostly see that with lighter colors. I shoot OD over the SelctSeal all the time and I see no primer color influence on final color. The only bummer is if I miss a spot usually an edge.

Paul

Paul,

Do you have a recommendation on a brand for the red oxide primer?

Dj

DJ

No specific recommendation. When you get the other priming supplies just ask then. Lacquer based RedOxide primers for sanding and filling should be pretty much all the same. Most of what I use is all gray unless I have a specific need for red.

I would have thought that the judges would carry a set of keys with them and just scratch a deep furrow on the hood to see what colour primer you'd used.