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Hai guise,

Got my first touareg miniature a while ago. I tought priming just meant putting a base colour on, so I 'primed' my miniature with citadel white, and then began painting with some cheap hobbypaints. The paint immediately started chipping off, so I finished the model just for fun and removed all paint when I read about real priming.

I bought some Vallejo surface primer in a bottle so I can apply it with a brush. I diluted it with a drop of water, and this time painted over the primer with gamecolor, so quite a leap in quality there, but the paint is still chipping off. I'm holding the model between my fingers while painting, so I tought that could be the reason, but it can't be possible that I'm not able to hold the model without chipping paint off right? Is there a way to avoid this? Do I need other paint, a second layer of primer or another finishing thing?

Wash your models with soap, there's probably some powder CB uses to keep the mini from sticking to the mold.

I've always used one coat with spray primer, the cheap stuff you can get from hardware stores. Brush priming seemed more flaky around hard edges or raised detail. Plus I hate seeing brush strokes on the model.

If the model isn't glued to a base, use a small amount of glue/putty/blue tack to attach it to something you can hold while painting like a paint pot you're not using.

What do you mean with flaky around the edges? it's really the edges that are disturbing me, like the nose and the turban on this model. I've washed my models when I removed the paint, they're cheap hobbypaints so I could easily remove them with simple household cleaner. But now I've got gamecolor + decent primer so :/ I've put an extra layer around the edges now, tomorrow I'll paint them and see if they stick better. I also glued the model on it's base so I won't have to touch it too much anymore =)

Paint tends to rub off minis around edges because they see the most wear. Edges rub against foam in storage and fingers whenever you pick them up. Good quality primer can reduce the paint chipping and rubbing off.

You can also use a clear varnish to put a protective layer over the paint. Sometimes its sold as "clear coat". Unless you're going for a glass or water effect matte or dull is what you want. You should test it on a small patch of the paint before applying to the whole model; some varnishes can tint the paint subtly. I use the Vallejo one, and haven't had any trouble with it.

Easy answer, use a real primer. GW white is not a primer. Go to a walmart like store and by a cheep spray can of primer. Oh and wash you models, like other hhave said.

From what I've read, most people using Vallejo surface primer as a brush on use it straight out of the dropper, 2 thin coats with 24h curing time (after 2nd coat, only a couple hours between coats).

There WILL be a mould release on the models.

EVEN for metals. This will prevent the paint getting a proper bond to start with.

Acrylic paints form a plasticised 'skin' over the model, like a stretched balloon.

A proper primer, will adhere well to the model, and provide a much better surface for the next paint layers to stick to. Most acrylic paints don't stick very well to smooth plastic or metal.

I use an auto primer for mine (it's cheap and does the job - but I have an auto-parts store around the corner). Any other spray primer will also do the job.

As noted, GW spray paints are NOT a primer.

I use Army Painter Grey primer straight over built Infinity models. I don't wash them either. I don't have any issues with chipping paint. Maybe I've been lucky?