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Hi, I'm a brand new painter. Years ago I did a little WHFB & 40K painting. I've recently started up playing 40K w. Tau again.

I have the skull white spray from GW, but I'm having some problems. When I spray them the final consitancy isn't very smooth... more like it's coated with fine dust (though there's not really any plastic showing through). It comes off if you rub it a little bit. I'm trying not to spray too close, but if I spray much farther than 6-8" away, they're getting absolutely no coverage, almost like I'm not even spraying them. The texture is making them hard to paint. Is this normal?

Let me start by saying that I followed all the directions on the can. I shook it for well over a minute. I tried spraying both outside and in a ventilated basement because I know that the GW stuff can be sensitive to humidity and temperature. I made a conscious effort to not overprime, going with a little bit of a light coat each pass. I also read the articles on this website.

I feel like this isn't how it's supposed to work, and I've read that if you spray too close, you can get a 'clumping' effect. Is that what I'm seeing?

Am I doing something wrong? Is this just a fact of life? Is there a better spray paint for basing?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Rmeju

its probably just the paint you should try Walmart brand spraypaint that's what I use.

Minneapolis getting later into fall, the colder temperatures could be having an effect. Do you have a garage or basement you could use where it could be warmer/less open to the environment?

Rmeju, you may be spraying a bit too far away, which causes the primer to "pill" and look almost like a dusty coating. It can cause the primer to rub off easily as well.

While it sounds like you're doing everything you can to maintain a proper flow, you may want to start spraying on a nearby piece of cardboard to gauge your distance and even out the flow of the spray before moving it to the model itself. Also, end the spray off the model as well. This prevents spotting from occuring.

Don't be too afraid of overpriming, as this can make your models underprimed which is just as much of an issue. Most primers will shrink when drying and may look a bit thick or wet initially, but dry nice and detailed. I use Krylon primers available in most craft and hardware stores and I know other hobbyists here testify to various brands, but use what works best for you.

The dusting is the paint creating little globs just before it hits the model. Humidity/air pressure/temperature and distance to the model are all factors.

Could be you were slightly too far away from the model.
(yes, apparently, a few cms DO count).

Skull White in a can IS NOT A PRIMER. Never has been.
It is a spray paint. Primers have a different formulation and are designed so that paint adheres to them exceptionally well. You'd be best to use an actual primer - I use a sandable auto-primer in white, light grey or black (but I'm over 18 and have an auto parts store around the corner.)

Thanks for all the responses so far. I've got a full fledged art store right around the corner (I have a few art colleges and an art institute within 5 minutes walk... Thank god for hippies.)

I knew I couldn't find the word primer on that damned can! I figured I must just be missing it, as I assumed the whole point of the spray can was for the sole purpose of priming. Oh well. I'll go get a different brand.

I'll also try spraying a little closer to the models and see how that goes. Under 6" (or 15 cm for you imperially challenged) sound ok?

Rmeju