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Hey all,


Been testing lots of alternatives for hobby supplies I use often that are typically A LOT more expensive at your FLGS.

Primer is a pretty touchy item to try alternatives, but on recommendation from internets I tried Krylon Indoor/Outdoor Primer (gray) and was not disappointed. I am currently working on a Dark Elf army and the Krylon has consistently given me a good finish. I pick mine up at Ace Hardware (USA) for about $4 a can, a huge savings.

http://www.krylon.com/products/indooroutdoor_primer/

I suggest testing it thoroughly on some leftover models so you get a feel for it. The distance you spray from and how long you need to linger over the models is definately different than the GW spray primer.

As a result I have also gotten much more interested in gray priming for mass tabletop painting. You can paint light and dark colors with equal ease over it, YMMV. I think I might use the black if I do some vehicles, though, just to create that instant shadow so you don't have to do additional blacking out.

- Blackbone

I have had really good luck with Rustoleum Dark Grey automotive primer - it is basically black.

I have also had good luck using Color Place (generic walmart) Flat White for priming models white.

The only Krylon that I have used is for painting yellow over my white primered models for my Imperial Fists.

Here is a post on my gaming groups blog where I talk about the Krylong yellow if you are interested -
http://www.thehogsofwar.com/2009/09/imperial-fists-yellow-secret-sauce.html

I used the Krylon primers for both my Deathwing and my Raptor Legion army and swear by them both. I also used their gray primer to make it easier for both shading and highlighting - it's good stuff.

I mostly use Wally-Mart $1.16 Flat Black and Primer Grey.
The Flat White is $.98

I've used the Krylon black primer in the past and been happy with the results.

I've taken to using Duplicolor sandable auto primer. It's available at many local automotive stores. The stuff is really good in my opinion. Much less susceptible to variable performance during colder temperatures. I really find myself liking their grey sandable primer. It lets you use light or dark colors without altering their color too much. It's also much easier for me to see details on my models.

big_d wrote:
I have had really good luck with Rustoleum Dark Grey automotive primer - it is basically black.

I have also had good luck using Color Place (generic walmart) Flat White for priming models white.

The only Krylon that I have used is for painting yellow over my white primered models for my Imperial Fists.

Here is a post on my gaming groups blog where I talk about the Krylong yellow if you are interested -
http://www.thehogsofwar.com/2009/09/imperial-fists-yellow-secret-sauce.html

I have experience painting RC Boats, here is my guide http://remotorboater.com/how-to-paint-your-rc-boat/ and can say that Krylon works amazing for that. It dries fast and doesnt run.

 Anpu42 wrote:
I mostly use Wally-Mart $1.16 Flat Black and Primer Grey.
The Flat White is $.98

Same here, easily the best buy for basic undercoat (goes on even, and very thin, so I never lose detail)

I've been experimenting with Krylon satin colors for base coats. So far, I've found a nice imperial blue (Oxford Blue if I recall) that works great for a base coat on my Crimson Fists. At roughly $5 a can, you can't beat it.

The walmart brand paint I can't use. I don't remember why, but for some reason I have a vague feeling of foreboding when I look at it :p I do swear by krylon though, for anything I don't undercoat with my airbrush.

I have used Krylon for base colors for over twenty years (the colors names do change over the years, but the Italian Olive is a great flat military green for IG, etc.)
Krylon needs practice, just like all paints, I find a light dusting from distance, let dry, then a second pass to finish...
.
I also use the .98 Walmart flat black and flat grey for terrain and Vehicles.
.
BUT, I JUST learned about Liquitex Professional Spray Paint, that I have yet to try... ANYONE?
.
Obviously, if you are going to enter in Golden Demon, Air Brush and other alternatives to Spray Paint are suggested, lol...

There are literally dozens upon dozens of threads on alternative primers, so perhaps do a check there.

I find that for normal rattle-can primers I like the rusoleum 2x cover stuff...its affordable and gives excellent coverage.

If you have an airbrush, vallejo surface primer is amazing (although it takes a while to fully cure).

i like the walmart stuff. i noticed krylon is more prone to fuzz. walmart goes on smooth 95% of the time. even the walmart colored ones are pretty damn good if you can handle a little gloss. make sure you put it over top the flat black though, it does need something to key off of.

15 dollar cans of hobby primer is a pretty big racket.

I am a big fan of both Rustoleum and Krylon primers ... to include the camo colors. I end up priming a lot of figures dark green, brown, or khaki. My Tyranids are all primed in almond.

Recently picked up some (light) grey Vallejo PU primer to reduce waste and stink and early tests are encouraging. For the aerosols I've been using up until this point, I've settled quite happily on the same Krylon grey primer for my metal models and ColorPlace enamel for plastics (white takes a bit of finesse to get a nice coat, but the black goes on like magic).

Unless I need a specific color I always use the Krylon Camo brown as a base. It is by far the best spray paint for basecoating. Plus that paint is designed to bond with the plastic or metal since it is for outdoor gear and vehicles. Only had it chip a couple of times and that is when I used it overtop other paint.

Brown is also a great base color for reds. I use the camo green for all of my imperial guard and Death Guard. I primed my Tau with the khaki.

Colour place Black,White , And grey ..Krylon and/or Rustoleum
flat Camos ..all make good primers/basecoats..Tamiya Brush on for those spots that just dont prime well with spray..

I would personally never use krylon. I had a couple really bad experiences, i find Krylon is really finnicky with humidity. YMMV.


When i was using spray primer*, i used duplicolor sandable black primer (it's an automotive spray primer). Humidity and temperature tolerant (much more than any other spray primer i've used), and it's readily available. It also was pretty durable on the model, dried quick, but, came off really easy with purple power. Best of all worlds.


*Frankly though, i'll never go back to spray primer. I use gesso all the time now. Cheaper, better, no temp / humidity / seasonal issues - and you basically can't over prime / over spray it at all.