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^ I'd simply like to see some evidence that "GW spray is not a primer" based on "this is the trade manufacturer of GW sprays, they make paints not primers", "this is the chemical compound of GW sprays, no bonding agents like in primers" or something..

... as opposed to "well, my minis scratch a lot and GW sucks therefore not primer".

That's all.

My main reason for staying with GW sprays is the consistent smooth coat rather than protection issues. Krylon flat white (also not listed as a primer) is the only one I've found to be just as good as GW, although the price is pretty much the same and it's harder to get hold of in the UK (it is apparently readily available and dirt cheap in the US along with a number of other far superior brands). I can at least buy GW spray from discount webstores, which tends to take the price down to a level on a par with other brands.

If anyone can recommend:

- An actual primer, not a spray.
- Considerably cheaper than GW.
- Easy UK Availability.
- Comes in white/black.
- Consistently gives a great smooth coat that doesn't obscure detail or cause grain/fuzz.

Then I'd be really interested... GW currently wins out due to ticking the last 3 out of those 5. I do get coloured sprays from Army Painter (are these even proper primers like it says on the can?), but it's a bit of a love/hate relationship since I've had a grainy can before that had to be thrown away.

I buy GW Chaos Black spray only if I can't be assed to walk to the local model store (its only about £3 difference so not exactly a rip-off).
However I do dislike the sheen that comes with GW spray.

The other store, called 'Model Zone' has an acrylic spray for half the price but about 2/3 the capacity. I like it because it seems semi-pourous and so absorbs the paint better.

For Australia i'd say just try a normal can of black acrylic spray from any model/DIY store and see if it works for you. You will still have to hand-paint areas of base coat as spray doesn't get into all the nooks and cranny, such as armpits or crotch areas.

Edit: There's a Model World in Adelaide if that is of conveniance.

@ scarletsquiq- COSHH Sheets and trade literature are available on most paints and primers if you look hard enough. Never found any on GW paint but it should be available if you call them.

That said, no has intimated that GW paint sucks as a primer (as I say I have used it for long enough) but I do recognise it does have its limitations as a primer; thats because...wait for it...it's not a primer, it's a paint.

I'm not a chemist so the evidence you require is not something I could expertly explain for you, just a long time consumer.

As a consumer I know that primer adheres to the surface and provides a key for base coats. Paint provides colour. While the two are similar in apprearance they are not the same infunction.

notprop wrote:Chaos Black spray is paint as you point out in your title.

I covers well and takes undercoat well enough.

What I found when I used it was that it doesn't actually adhere as well to metal models as it does to plastic. Not a problem if the model is fully varnished bit it does chip quite badly in use if not.

A proper primer on the other hand should minimise/get rid of this proplem.

I now use Vallejo poly primer through an airbrush because it is cost effective but any spray primer will have the same effect. If you can lay you hand on it for $1-5 then so much the better. Whats GW at the moment £9/$15?

Metal models don't hold paint well, period. I could use MIG or Vallejo and I'd have the same problems.

winterdyne wrote:

I now use Vallejo poly primer through an airbrush because it is cost effective...

This is the single biggest reason I'd suggest for spending £100 in getting an airbrush setup. Considering a can of Chaos Black is now £9.50 (??!!?!!!?!!), it won't take long to recoup your investment.

Plus it doesn't clog. And it's reliable in a range of conditions. And you can varnish with it.

GW primer doesn't clog... not if you're anything close to reasonable with keeping your equipment clean.

Paul wrote:Always prime, and always spray prime. It sticks so much better. IMHO the citadel sprays are a little expensive, but we are talking £9 rather than £7, realy not that much more.

If you want to try other paints then go for it, but test first. I always go for a model specific spraypaint rather than any old stuff as the loss of one mini to a dodgy can will cost more than you are saving.

Having said that Forgeworld recomend priming with car primer (which is gray. Most of there minis on the site are gray for this reason) then putting a white or black base on, then spraying with another colour if your mini is mostly one colour.

One day I will get an airbrush and I would recomend anyone else to get one, if only to base coat. Its just a matter of having the room to set up a compresser, as can powerd ones are not realy worth it.

This is great advice. Test a few things and see what works for you. Honestly, GW paint is nice and simple, and its the only place where occasionally the store guy will let you buy it if you're under the age of majority. ;D

Lots of debate with what is good and what is bad. Some people have bad experiences with certain products while other love it. I had a few bad cans of white GW spray and will never use it again. Left my models chalky and covered in little bumps (and yes I shook it well, I've primed for years). Chaos Black GW spray on the other hand has been amazing and I have used it for 15 years. I just recently bought Black Krylon paint/primer and it is far cheaper than GW and truth be told it is very good. From what I've heard GW sprays are NOT primers anyway. I would highly recommend Krylon if you have it available. 6$ at Walmart

I've used GW, Krylon, Army Painter, and Armory spray primers. My favorite is the Armory but I'm not sure you get as much paint in each can as you do with the others. It always seemed to run out faster. I used to prime everything in black but now I'm more likely to use white for character models and a light brown for troops (Cadians).

Good luck and I hope you find a favorite that works for you.

EDIT: I forgot that I also used Board to Pieces primer and that was great stuff but hard to find.

ironhandstraken wrote:I have to say do not use Fiddle Bits as it melted my fallcast model.

- ironhandstraken

What? I've used Fiddly Bits on finecast, worked fine for me. What was your range like? Coat thickness?

For most my models I use the Vallejo Polyurethane Acrylic Primer in gray, as I like a neutral base for my paintjob. I apply it with my airbrush, although you can also brush it on.

When I want a darker feel to my models, I tend to go with GW Black Primer and it always worked great for me. Good coverage, easy to use.

Cheers,


IK-Painter

If you go to your local mechanics there should be a brand called "Australian export", that stuff works a treat (but make sure you choose the matt spray paint)...

Thnx every1! Wow 2 pages, who would have thought...

Honestly, any spray paint will do. You just have to do it correctly in a place where there is no wind.

I use a small can of hobby spray paint my dad got who knows where, and it works great. Before that I used a regular can of spray paint (black) and it worked fine, as long as I did it right.

McNinja wrote:Honestly, any spray paint will do. You just have to do it correctly in a place where there is no wind.

I use a small can of hobby spray paint my dad got who knows where, and it works great. Before that I used a regular can of spray paint (black) and it worked fine, as long as I did it right.

In so many ways no. Spray PAINT(which is what GW sells, PAINTS, it's the fething title of their fething webpage dedicated to their fething PAINTS http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/catalog/armySubUnitCats.jsp?catId=cat470015a&rootCatGameStyle=) is in no way a primer. They are 2 very different things with very different uses. Primer exists to prep a surface to allow PAINT to adhere to it. Spray PAINT exists to cover larger areas with PAINT at a time than is possible with a brush.

Your thoughts Scarletsquig?