Spray Primer?

[*Jack*]

Righto -

I've been painting quite a while, and for primer, I've nearly always stuck to GW stuff, because I know it works. Not wanting to continue paying through the roof, and handing money to the evil empire, I'm looking for some alternatives. What do you use? I want stuff thats fit for miniatures, nothing that will obscure the detail or pool up on models.

I've used army painter before, and whilst good, its almost the same price as GW and the three cans I've bought have all fizzed or exploded before I'm done with them.

I've only used black previously, but if anyone knows where I can get a decent white one from too, I'd be grateful (GW one is crap, I'll buy army painters and try it after christmas)

Thanks in advance

[Mister_Q]

I've tried a few. I had a truly horrible experience with the Army Painter cans, although I know some people swear by them (I just swear at them ). I keep coming back to the GW ones - they give a nice even coat every time.

I also do use cheap primer from the local hardware store for terrain and 40K tanks. It's fine on the bigger stuff. It would probably work ok on regular figures with a bit of care.

[brib4169]

I've always had good results with the armory ones (has comic book characters on the front), but I have read reviews who have had bad experiences, they are cheaper than GW so not too expensive to experiment.

Edited December 23, 2012 by brib4169
typo

[Rameses]

I've had similar experiences with Army Painter - White. Army Painter - Black was just fine all the way until the can was empty. The White petered out on me 3/4 of the way through.

Currently I am using Krylon - Black Primer and I have no complaints at all other than the spray tip sucks: the can I has a weird flat wide area spray.

[harbinger]

Krylon primer. Havent seen in black but the white and grey work wonderfully. Doesnt conceal detail and sticks well.

[PeregrineFalcon]

The one + to Army painter is that I find it takes one quick hit, where as the kyrlon usually takes two. I was very happy with the krylon for a while, then used some grey army painter I had left over and realized how much better it was.

On my new Yan Lo crew I'm decided to try Army painter again, this time with a crystal blue as the base and I'll probably do a quick light spray of their bone color. Hoping to get a subtle 'magic' blue glow effect from his crew. We shall see.

[StormLordXIII]

I've traditionally stuck to GW primer too because I know it works and the risk of ruining my miniatures has always deterred me from experimenting with other brands. I have tried Privateer Press primer, and their stuff is pretty good (but I still use GW...)

[theJudge]

I used to only use spray primer but I recently decided to give airbrushing a go so now I use Vallejo Surface Primer and shoot it through the airbrush. It just needs a little thinning and its perfect. Covers excellently, very little waste as what I don't use gets tipped back into the bottle. I also never need to worry about getting a dodgy can.

The only issues are the upfront cost for an airbrush and small compressor as well as it does take a little longer to prime models with an airbrush than with a spray can.

[Huang Da Wei]

Army painter for me, I find it covers better than GW and gives that even coverage right to the end. I have always found GW tends to become 'bitty' near the end.

[Webmonkey]

Duplicolor spray primer. It's an automotive grade, but it's sandable and lays down really nicely. If you're in the states, you can get it at most auto parts stores.

[Serigala]

I just buy regular stuff from hardware or automotive stores. I've used matt black, grey and white and also a brick red (specifically called plastic primer). Can be as cheap as £3 a can. There again, I've never won a Golden Demon, but its fine for tabletop quality.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Plastic-Primer-400ml-bumper-mirrors-dash-etc-GREY-/350483005330?pt=UK_Body_Shop_Supplies_Paint&hash=item519a6a3f92

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Plastic-Primer-Red-400ml-Aerosol-/180930053491?pt=UK_Body_Shop_Supplies_Paint&hash=item2a20458573

[MudgeBlack]

I use Rustoleum Ultra Cover (has a big 2X on the front) in black and white primer and have had great results.

[sqir666]

I've been using the Krylon primers, both black and white, for a few yegars now and I've always had good results.

The only thing I've haf to worry about is the rapidly changing humiditu levels in this crazy state.

[ced1106]

I paint at night (and almost lost an irreplaceable miniature outside when I dropped it outside!), so use thin layers of brush-on primer. I'll still see metal, so follow this with thin layers of white (or whatever) paint.

Clear gesso works fine, too. You can add whatever paint color to it to shade the cracks, start coloring the basecoat, whatever.

[Wings]

Halfords is supposed to be good (particularly their grey?). I'm afraid I don't actually use spray primer for my minis though as it was not particularly university accommodation friendly, so I can't give authoritative advice on different products.

[adary]

Vallejo polyurethane primer is the best of both worlds. You can brush it on (works really well since it's self levelling) and you can shoot it from an airbrush. Not to mention that it comes in white, black, grey, yellow, red, green (and a few more colours)