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So I've been to the ONE hobby shop on the island and the ONE craft shop and neither carry anything like the usual primers I use for models (armory or GW, occasionally Testors).

And we can't airship aerosol cans.

So does anyone have advice on using hardware store primers? I see ones that say they're for plastic but they're usually aimed at plastic chairs and such.

I'm not sure about specific products but I remember briefly seeing an article about general hobbycraft (on the Reaper mini's site perhaps?) and it did list hardware stores as being a place for buying supplies, primers being one that they did list.

I use Dupli-color sandable primer which you can find any any auto store here in the states so not sure if you would be able to find it or not but works really great for me.

I've been using automobile primers all this time. It would depend on the brand but they're kinda cheap so you can buy test cans first.Then get sprues and using a hobby knife, put scratches on them with different depths. Then spray. You would see if the "details you made" got obscured or what, so it's a good gauge if they will do fine.

Here in the Philippines I use Bosny's Primer Grey and RJ London's Flat Black (both automotive primers). Haven't seen white primer, sadly.

I've been using hardware store bought spray primers for years now and the only difference I've noticed is the cash left in my wallet. Just make sure you go for the matt stuff

+1 on the Dupli-Color sandable auto primer. Been using it for years, after reading a recommendation (maybe posted to dakka?) from a very talented artist.

I've only tried the black though

On plastic models, I've even used the $2 el cheapo flat black sprays from Walmart with great success. Not sure what the equivalent is overseas though; it's a no-name paint.

Simple and short, don't do it, the most primers are cheaper but i'd reccomend army painter/Gw primer

So I should probably be using primer, like automotive primer?

I've used Krylon matte black indoor/outdoor paint on my models so far.
Would an automotive primer do better?
And are there primers (other than GW) made specifically for models?

If you're used to GW, I assume you aren't concerned with using a "true" primer, then. If that's the case, I'd just buy a can of the cheapest flat spray you can find and test it on some scrap (how I came to love my $1 cans of ColorPlace flat black/white from Walmart).

If anything, I've found that what makes the more expensive spray paints better at the usual tasks (faster coverage, special finishes, etc.) actually hampers the miniature painter. Cheap flat sprays usually go on pretty thin and have sufficient tooth that they're as good as any primer (if not better, due to the thinness and relative price), when above average adhesion and resilience aren't required.

I'd stay away from sprays meant for plastic (I've only seen the Krylon Fusion line, but I'm sure there are others). They chemically bond to the surface, which is great for giving plastic deck furniture a resilient coat, but is crap for minis. Mistakes can never be stripped off, for one, and I don't recall ever seeing a non-gloss version. The one can I've used had an annoying vertical fan spray pattern, as well, and was crap for anything non-plastic, so you won't be able to use it on terrain or resin/metal kits, either.

If you're looking for non-GW miniature primers, P3's primer is fantastic. $8 a pop.

I use Krylon's primer. Both white and black work great so far.

Krylon Indoor/Outdoor Primer, white. $5 a can at Walmart. I use Krylon's Low Odour Clear Matte spray as a sealer once my model has been painted, based and decaled. Also $5 a can at Walmart.

I've been using Krylon indoor/outdoor primer (black and white, haven't tried the red or grey) for about a year and have had no problems with it. It's about $3.50 for a 12 ounce can. Also, it has an adjustable spray pattern, between vertical or horizontal spray. It does spray a little thin, compared to GWs, but I think that's a good thing. All things considered, I feel that it's a very good substitute to GW primer and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a less expensive alternative.

Krylon is g0od. The one i use is applied correctly looks just like skull white or chaos black. You just have to shake it first.

They can usually be good, just be careful as some can be thicker than model primers.

I've never had a problem with any hardware store primer, as long as it was matte. As always, test first, but I haven't used a "hobby" primer in at least five years.

Wolf_Ov_The_Void wrote:Simple and short, don't do it, the most primers are cheaper but i'd reccomend army painter/Gw primer

....what.

I personally love the cheap Krylon primer I can get here in the States in either Walmart or hardware stores. It covers pretty evenly and it is very hard to screw up.

I like it a lot more than the Army Painter spray I have, which comes out very thick(even after about 20+ tests on termagaunts)

Don't forget that you are not limited to only spray primers.
You can try brush on gesso that you should be able to air ship. Just make sure you use a seperate brush (any brush will do) for gesso alone.

You can find an article here

The_Juggler wrote:So I should probably be using primer, ...
I've used Krylon matte black indoor/outdoor paint on my models so far.
...
And are there primers (other than GW) made specifically for models?

Eh? If you want to prime, use primer. Don't use Krylon non-primer.

Krylon primer is awesome, and is found for $3 - $3.50 at a place like Walmart. The black works amazingly well. It also comes in white and ruddy brown, though I haven't tried those. At first I was afraid to use it, because of the abundance of snobs claiming a $15 can of spray paint from GW was somehow specially formulated. It isn't. Krylon primer works amazingly well for 1/5th the price.


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StoneRaizer wrote:Krylon Indoor/Outdoor Primer, white. $5 a can at Walmart.

???? Either they raised their prices in the last month considerably, or you shop at the Walmart in Beverly Hills or something. I've never paid more than $3.50 for it at Walmart.

Another place to get it is Micheals, the craft store. Go in with the 40% off one item coupon that they have in fliers, or online, just about every week of the year, and the spray can will get knocked down to under four bucks.

GW's Black spray is just crappy black spray paint, NOT primer. Krylon Black Primer is the way to go.