Hi All!

Been a while since I was on the boards (darn travel job!!!). I got back in from another project last week and thought I'd get a few minis prepped for painting. Much to my disappointment, the GW primer spray I used was utter crap. The paint turned out very powdery and just awful at coverage. The last two bottles of GW primer paint I used were great. I might have just gotten stuck with a bad bottle or something. :badgobbo:

Does anyone have recommendations of other lines of spray primers that are cost friendly and work well? I used pretty much just black and white primers, more white as of late as I like the colors on the minis to "pop" a bit. The GW primers are just getting way too high in price to justify continued purchases.

Thanks!

I use krylon fusion primer its about $6 u.s. it goes on very well and one can goes a very long way. just my (2c)

I agree ahmusgra
i use only kylon primer white black and ruddy brown
this is a common paint that is found in most department stores and home improvement store in the United States

I tried a can of green primer from "The Army Painter" a couple of months ago. I decided I'd rather stick with white rather than green, but I loved the quality of "The Army Painter" spray. Great coverage and a very smooth finish.

Where I shop, it is a little cheaper than GW's brand, but its not as cheap as Krylon. If I remember correctly, a can is abotu $10 US.

Generaly I dont have problems with GW undercoats. I have tried a couple of army painter ones and they are fine but you dont need to spray them as much as they tend to cover thicker. I would suggest with what ever undercoat you are using to always go for light sprays even if you have to spray twice or even more times. This seems to get the best effect. If your in the UK I have heard that Halfords car spray is very good but I havent tried it. I have also heard that you need to use it springly as well.

Why use spray paints? I just use brush on black gesso. It is just so much easier to control, takes about the same time with a big brush, and doesn't require that you go outside :)

Once you go gesso you never go spray-o.

ive been impressed with army painter.
nice smooth coverage.

as for mr brush it on above me it never feels quick when doing it that way for me and i always get bubbles above the detail so when it dries the bubbles pop and i get lots of small parts (like inbeteen chainmail / fur etc) need a 2nd coat.

but thats just me not saying it sucks completly :)

The thing with powdery GW primer may have resulted out off poor storage of said primer (not neccesarly by You, but by the shopkeeper You bought it from, for example). I've seen such powdery spray paint after the can has been exposed to low teperatures for a prolonged period of time (like it was standing in the garage during winter or smth.).

But OT - I have been trying around with many different primers, I also tried to prime by hand and brush, but I've come to the conclusion that the GW primer is actually the best one, at least for the plastic figs they are offering. It's cause it is no ordinary paint, but it somehow affects the plastic, so that the acrylics whit which You paint afterwards hold on to the surface much better (I don't know how to explain that properly, as english is not my first language :P ). That's also why I don't prime by hand - the acrylic paint (like the citadel ones) tends to "run down" on the smooth surface of the plastic they use and gather in recesses, and even if You manage to get a good surface primed (with many thin layers or one crude layer, which can ruin the details of course), it still isn't as "rough" for the subsequent paints to hold on, as the surface primed with the GW primer...

I hope this jibberish is understandable :P

Cheers,

I'll join with others saying that I'm liking Army Painter. It's a bit pricy, but I've come to think that it's worth it. Really smooth and consistent coverage.

I normally don't have any problems with GW primer. I have found a primer that isn't as good as GW primer BUT the primer only costs $1 lol. If you are near a Home Depot they have a Matte Black Primer there for $1, for that price you CAN'T go wrong. I actually need to go in tomorrow and buy more. I will take a picture and post it so you all know what brand to get.

HI All!

Sorry for the delayed response, was on the road again. :badgobbo:

Great feedback on the primers. I'll see if the local shop has the Army Painter, although at $10 it's still a bit steep for the budget. Amazing how much teef a little grot in the family can use up in fur lined diapers! :D

Ahmusgra and Kera, thanks for the tip on the Krylon. I might just give that a shot and hope for the best. I think it's half the cost of the GW spray!

Snikpik, great tip. I try to use 2-3 light coats when I'm priming. <_<

Morton, I kinda like it outside. :) Especially since moving to California! :D

Thanks again for the feedback everyone, I think I may hit up Home Depot over the weekend and see fi they have the Krylon spray.

Oh... Well that changes the situation. I'm from Denmark, so for me being outside mostly include rain or getting eaten by trolls!

Denmark + Whiskey, bagpipes, seamonsters, mountains and claymores = Skotland ;) !