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I'll soon be in the season where outdoor spraying of anything is a big no-no. (I live in Massachusetts.)

So, with that in mind, does anyone have any recommendations for good brush on primers?

Any experience using them?

The last time I did was way back in the day when 2nd edition 40K was released, and a used a white brush on primer for my box set Marines.

So, it has been a while.

Any and all help is greatly appreciated!

Out of interest, what happens in Massachusetts?

whatwhat wrote:Out of interest, what happens in Massachusetts?

It gets cold and windy. Sometimes it snows.
Your welcome,
Neighbor in New Hampshire

Try the Gesso technique for priming. It seems to be all the rage on here, and there's more than a few posts about it.

ZamboniKnight wrote:It gets cold and windy. Sometimes it snows.

ah
ais divent feel cold cos ais is a geordie like.

I'm pretty sure the only 'OK' conditions for spray priming are spring and/or fall like weather.

Definitely NOT winter weather.

I'll look around for the Gesso technique...

I've read about Liquitex Black Gesso as a primer, and the application was very straightforward. I haven't tried it myself, but the article stated that it goes on thick enough to obscure details but dries out into a thin coat similar to a properly used spray can. Dry time is 24 hours.

A test model or two should suffice. There wasn't much more prep other than that, as I can recall, though it probably wouldn't hurt to rinse it in warm or mildly soapy water to remove oils prior to application.

Reaper Master Series also offers a brush on white primer. However, Reaper's bottles are small enough that you'll lose your mind (and wallet) trying to prime a whole army.

Really, as long as you bring it in real fast, and the models, nozzle, and can are warm when you use them, you will be ok.

If its a matter of comfort, I think a second in the cold would be better than a sore wrist after brush priming an army

You can always use matte varnish to prime too. It doesnt do anything in cold weather that will harm a final paintjob.

groz wrote:I've read about Liquitex Black Gesso as a primer, and the application was very straightforward. I haven't tried it myself, but the article stated that it goes on thick enough to obscure details but dries out into a thin coat similar to a properly used spray can. Dry time is 24 hours.

I use Black Gesso all the time and it works fantastic. Dry time is usually way shorter than 24 hours... often just an hour or less. Of course I don't slop it on like the guy at Wee Toy Soldiers but try for a thin even coat. Brush marks magically disappear and the Gesso shrinks down to a nice tight coat in no time.

Alternatively, if you don't mind having to do a little bit of handyman work, you can set up a small priming booth inside pretty easily. Get yourself a decent sized cardboard box, and cut out 2 sides and the top. Place it on a table up against a window. At the back of the box place a fan exhausting out the window, and place your model in front of it (just not too close). You can place plastic sheeting over the top of it to make a sort of tunnel (or you could leave the box top on for this).

Just be careful to have a good 12-18" of space between your model and the fan. I've used this method for priming things other than models in the winter months, and I'll be testing it out myself on models here in another few weeks (I'm in Idaho).

I've primed for years outside in Chicago winters without a problem. I start with the can and models in the house, bring both outside, spray for 2 minutes, and leave the models outside to dry. I use Floquil or GW, prime close (about 3-4" from nozzle to figure), and spray in bursts to ameliorate winds carrying away the spray.

The guys over at SomethingAwful have been going nutzo over Gesso. They /claim/ it's better than spray on primer in every way except the time you have to wait before painting.

Do what I do when I'm desperate. Wait until the missus is out, then throw some newspaper on the bathroom floor and shield the bath/toilet and spray in there. Open the windows staight afterwards and she'll never know!

Did I ever tell you the story of the ant and the grass hopper? one upon a time........

Build and spray as much as you can NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I live in the Alps and have been feverishly converting, basing and building for the last 3 months before the snow comes!!!!
It's all a matter of time management!
Sorry for being a smartarse!