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Im just wondering how to get a brighter white on my Black Templar's shoulders without priming white. I use codex gray as an undercoat but still requires multiple layers of white... any other techniques out there?

Codex gray, fortress gray, skull white.

Multiple thin coats.

What trouble are you having exactly? And what methods are you using? Are you layering up as Phantom suggested, or trying to get a solid coat to shade down from? Any photo examples of what's gone wrong?
I agree with Phantom on using layering to get a great white. You don't have to go neutral white though, you might want to try for a warm or cool tone white depending on what the rest of your models look like. A worn and weathered marine would likely have a warm tone, while polished and super clean power armor might be slightly cool. You could also use a warm or cool tone to offset or complement other colors on your models like red purity seals and emblems, or cold steel bolter casings and chains.
If all else fails, try getting a white with better opacity so it takes less work to experiment. I love p3 morrow white.

Prime the shoulder pads white?

I use Astronomicon Grey foundation
but essentially agree with Coolyo and the good tips from Dais.

Skull White as whites go is not bad.
not tried p3, iand not familiar with the brand tbh.
Am in need of new white soon, is Vallejo white any good please?

Try out Reaper Polished Bone as an intermediate step after the Astronoicon Grey. It's bone with a little bit of grey in it, so will layer over the grey nicely and give you a nice foundation for white.

Try the Vallejo Model Air White as last step. As whites go, it was one of the best ones I've tried yet.

I agree with the others, that layering up to white is the way to go. I also used to go from dark grey, to light grey, to white on a black undercoat. Nowadays I usually prime grey, so the steps to white are a bit easier.

Cheers,


IK-Painter

Astronomican grey the area you want white, then get your skull white, get a dab on your brush, add water, thin it out on a paper towel. Ghetto wet pallet i know, it work though.

Lay down your first coat, it will not look right, let it dry, repeat until you have a white you like.

i have been doing white for 4 months now, i am no expert, bit here is what my white looks like now.

http://www.dakkadakka.com/gallery/255162-Space%20marine%20captain.html

Anytime I need to paint white, I try and keep the parts separate, then prime in white, then layer on thin coats of white. Don't touch the part, grease from your fingers will affect the color. After you are done painting, gloss than matte varnish it.

I think you need to smoke the same cigarettes that Mick Jagger does, or something like that. Otherwise, you'll not get any satisfaction with bright whites.