Thanks again to you all for your help. The plastic deck i want to grey paint is self coloured green. I want it grey so as i didn't want a gloss finish i thought of using grey primer but some people ( including myself ) thought that it might show up scratches / water stain marks if left unprotected? Allso, can anybody suggest a rattle can matt spray so i can tone down the other gloss finishes i will be using? Thanks again, regards, Dave.
Dave,
I'm curious, why do you want to use Halfords Rattle Cans if they won't provide the finish you actually want?
I don't know whether you are aware of this, but you can get paints mixed and supplied in rattle cans to your own specification. Therefore you can request whether you want it gloss, satin, or matt. It would also be far easier to do future repairs or touch up's in the event of a mishap, than tying to replicate an unorthodox process to tone down a finish.
With regard to using primer for a satin or matt grey finish (or other colour for that matter), I seem to recall a thread on here (within the last few weeks) where someone was trying to touch-up a model which used primer as a finish coat. I'm afraid I can't remember the model, and I can't remember if it was Grey or red Oxide primer, but I seem to remember from the various replies, that the primer mixes weren't being manufactured to a consistent shade, whereas finish colours were (obviously). A factor that is worth considering as it has an impact on any future remedial work.
Also, bear in mind that any primer/undercoat won't be as durable as a finish coat, and therefore, does increase the likelihood of 'touch-ups'.
If you've already got some paint, you could paint a few test pieces and see how it stands up to a bit of thumbnail abuse before attacking your model...
Andy
Ha ha! Late Update - I just found the thread I referred to (above), it's called 'Matching Halfords primer' at
http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,42166.0.html The second reply from 'craggle' (Craig) may be of interest as he has experience of painting a tug in Halfords grey primer and adding a satin clear on the top. Might be worth a PM.