Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Ooookay Dakka,

I recently ran out of GW white primer, which I have been using to prime my Nid Army. I know there are alternatives, but since this is my first army I'm painting to a much higher scale per model, I wanted something that wouldn't gak up my models detail so I went with the GW stuff. I recently ran out and I'm debating using another of my Primers. I have in stock two different white primers. One is Krylon Indoor/Outdoor Primer White. The other is Krylon Fusion for Plastic - Satin in white. I'm unsure which would be a better primer for my nids (painted in Hive Fleet Kraken, a test model is in my gallery). Does anyone have any idea on the two of which would be a better match.

One Note: I attempted a spray test on two rhino doors (they have that mesh in their side so I thought that might show me detail gunkage) and the results were that the primer white went on thinner but would take I think multiple layers and the fusion went on thicker and indeed does have that satin finish but I have no experience painting any color onto or washing over either of the primers to know if they will work correctly.

Thanks again for the help Dakka, if you need any other info or have another majorly better alternatives, feel free to chime in.

Sounds like you will need two test bits in order to find out. I always assumed the krylon for plastic was just a paint and not a primer, which would not be good for addind more paint on top of it. Hopefully someone here has experience with this.

Unrelated stuff about GW Primers.


Sounds like your Krylon is not a primer. Don't use it, stick with the other one. Multiple layers is okay, even better since you're not dumping one thick layer for the sake of coverage.


Hope that helps.

I would go with the regular Krylon flat white and do multiple coats. I use Krylon flat black as my base primer and it works like a champ. I usually do two light passes. Less coverage actually gives you greater control over not obscuring the detail.

I recently made the mistake of getting some rustoleum 2x white primer from home depot and it was disastrous. Had to strip a model because it just chewed up the detail. Stick to the Krylon.

 Kolath wrote:
I would go with the regular Krylon flat white and do multiple coats. I use Krylon flat black as my base primer and it works like a champ. I usually do two light passes. Less coverage actually gives you greater control over not obscuring the detail.

I recently made the mistake of getting some rustoleum 2x white primer from home depot and it was disastrous. Had to strip a model because it just chewed up the detail. Stick to the Krylon.

Unless I am wrong, doesn't regular Krylon have an element that is not good for regular plastic miniatures?

I saw an automotive primer in a redish color at Walmart, has anyone tried it?

Dax415 wrote:
I saw an automotive primer in a redish color at Walmart, has anyone tried it?

Assuming its anything like the duplicolor grey auto primer, I think its great.

I use self etching, not sandable. Sandable will fill up the details. It is amazing how nicely auto primer goes on though. Nice thin, flat coat.

Shoppin at the Walmart I stubmled on a great primer.. Cant say if its better than worse then GW but its deffinetly more reliable. >>> GW bash: Ive purchased GW primers and a week later before I even used them the propellent has leaked out.

I plan on using this for the basecoat of my Nids once their done soaking in a chemical bath.

Krylon: Indoor Outdoor PRIMER - "Ruddy Brown" {"http://www.krylon.com/products/indooroutdoor-primer/]
Its not the traditional plastic primer but the color is great!
Its a natrual red clay color

Skip the Fusion - it goes on thick (in my limited experience - only ever used part of a can of red), can't be stripped from plastic, and satin or gloss finishes lack the tooth desired in an initial paint layer. It sounds like you have a decent primer in the Indoor/Outdoor (I'm reasonably happy with the gray version), though, so you needn't look any further. It's always better to apply multiple, thin coats than one thick one, anyway, but you don't even need 100% opaque coverage, at least as far as adhesion is concerned (may still want it, for color consistency).

Granted, I don't consider true primers even remotely necessary on plastics. Plain old enamel spray paints practically fly off of metal models if you so much as sneeze at them, but they perform admirably on styrene. Most flat/matte colors have sufficient tooth for subsequent layers to behave just as well as over a good coat of primer, too - you just have to be sure you're getting the right finish.

I use only Krylon primer as well as the Primer Paint Combo. If you do light bursts with a few coats it comes out really nice imo.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Also I forgot to mention I did try some of the camouflage spray paint from Walmart and it was a great base coat for my Tau.

Doesn't the krylon grey primer have acetone (or whichever) component in it that is supposed to hazardous to a plastic mini's health?

 Havok210 wrote:
Doesn't the krylon grey primer have acetone (or whichever) component in it that is supposed to hazardous to a plastic mini's health?

I have never had a problem with it. Maybe they have changed their formula since then.

I always use the 97 cent cans from walmart. Perfect everytime... provided the weather is sunny and dry.

The tyranids i picked up are the 3rd ed. metal before the 5th ed version, so its something I over looked.

I have a number of GQ (plastic and metal) second-hand mini's that even after week long chem soaks still have orignal coat of primer.

 Havok210 wrote:
Doesn't the krylon grey primer have acetone (or whichever) component in it that is supposed to hazardous to a plastic mini's health?

Nope. I have been using Krylon for 15 years and never once had a single problem with it. I use the primer for metal models and regular flat black for plastics.

Crylon camouflage is my favorite..

Since its been hinted at but not said I'll say it.

GW sprays are paint and not primers. True you can use paint as a primer but a true primer is better in all respects; it will adhere better and have a surface that takes paint more keenly.

 oadie wrote:
Skip the Fusion - it goes on thick (in my limited experience - only ever used part of a can of red), can't be stripped from plastic, and satin or gloss finishes lack the tooth desired in an initial paint layer. It sounds like you have a decent primer in the Indoor/Outdoor (I'm reasonably happy with the gray version), though, so you needn't look any further. It's always better to apply multiple, thin coats than one thick one, anyway, but you don't even need 100% opaque coverage, at least as far as adhesion is concerned (may still want it, for color consistency).

Granted, I don't consider true primers even remotely necessary on plastics. Plain old enamel spray paints practically fly off of metal models if you so much as sneeze at them, but they perform admirably on styrene. Most flat/matte colors have sufficient tooth for subsequent layers to behave just as well as over a good coat of primer, too - you just have to be sure you're getting the right finish.

I use Krylon "Fusion" paints all the time, but you do have to be careful not to overspray. Skip the paints that say "Fusion" in big letters. As Oadie says, they are satin or gloss and don't do well with paint on top. Instead get the Krylon Camo sprays that say "made with fusion tech" in small letters. They go on dead flat/matte and take paint really well.

I use cheapo hardware store sprays for white and black, but when I want to prime and basecoat a military color in one step, I go with Krylon or Rustoleum Camo colors.