I'm afraid I won't get primer between Vader's body and his cloak. I would like to paint him in two peices but there is that large gap between the pieces. How has everyone managed to get paint back there when they have primed him in one piece?

Get the GW paint-pot primer if you're doing black. You can reach hard to reach areas with it.

I just stuck my airbrush up there and gave it a blast. But truthfully, when are you going to be looking up between his cloak and his body? If it’s not primed who cares?

I primed after assembling, but before glueing to the base. So I was able to spray primer a bit farther into the recess. There is still some unprimed area, but I don’t think anyone will ever see it and it doesn’t bother me.

If you really want complete coverage, you could try this (I haven’t tried, just an idea):

1. On the cloak/head piece, cover the tab with blue tac or painter’s tape. On the body piece, partially fill the hole with blue tac. The intent here is to not add any thickness to the contact areas via primer or paint, thereby increasing the size of the gap between parts.

2. Prime both parts separately.

3a. If you don’t care to paint the backside further (black primer should be enough), glue the parts together at this point.

3b. If you do want to paint the back, paint the two parts separately. Then glue together when ready.

4. Strike fear into your opponent with a fully painted sith lord!

Good luck! Hope that’s helpful.

I'm currently working on my Vader, too. I painted the base black on both parts separately, but the inside top of the cape and the back of the shirt, where the two parts meet, I colored with a black sharpie. That will kill any reflecting light up there, should any be a problem (which I doubt it would be) while adding the most negligible thickness. Once I glue them together, I'll green stuff the seam on his chest, but I decided I'll paint his lightsaber at least while the two parts are separate as it will be easier to not his the saber with the black cape paint or the cape with the silver sabre paint.

I was very paitent with my spray can. A few short blasts while parallel (or lower) with the mini from a few angles and it got most everything.