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.

Does anyone know where to find a good grey primer? Cost not an issue, I'm looking for something that does the job.

Spray Can or for an Airbrush?

Spray can, the army painter is pretty good but really thick so go easy.

Airbrush, the Vallejo stuff is tops.

Sorry to be clear I am looking for an aerosol that applies thin (or that I can spray lightly to apply it thin).

I'd do a forum search there are a ton of topics started on this. A ton of folks on here recommend using automotive primer. I've personally never used it so I can't recommend for or against.

I am a painting perfectionist. But when it comes to primers, I am perfectly happy with Krylon or an equivalent mass market spray primer. I'm not sure on colored primer, but for white, black, and grey, I use Krylon almost exclusively. I've always been happy with the results. Save the money the game companies want to charge your for their "special" primers.

I use automotive grey/black/brown primers. Dunno if there are Bosny spraypaints in your part of the world but that's what I use. Simple, does the job and is tough.

Vallejo used to have a nice grey primer but I can never find it anymore. I've been using Army Painter's but it can goop up on you if you are not careful.

I am never really pleased with automotive or Krylon sprays because of similar issues with obscuring details.

as said above, do a search - this question is asked all the time, in fact, there are at least TWO other active threads on the first page regarding spray primer.

If cost is no object, get an airbrush, and use vallejo surface primer.
The airbrush gives you amazing control, and vallejo is awesome.

(do a search for a good airbrush, that is one of the few topics that gets asked more commonly than primer).

If you don't want to bother to do that, I buy armory brand - I love their gray, gives great coverage and goes on thinner than automative primer.

If it's asked so often maybe get a sticky for it under the "Dakka's Modeling and Painting Articles", as there's nothing in there when searching for "prime" or "primer" queries.

Thanks for the help and feedback, the specific brands I have not used before will definitely be worth investigating!


Automatically Appended Next Post:
A deeper search shows that it's buried in the "Painting Tutorial" subthread.

If cost was no object, I'd probably use Tamiya rattlecan primers exclusively. They're lovely. But oh so expensive.

Rust'o'lium for me. several light coats and it dries quite quick.

Ah ok so when I go into a hobby shop and there is an etemsive range of aerosol cans belonging to tamiya in a variety ofcolours, they are all primers? or just a base coat?

Nope, Primers will say Primer on them. The rest are just spray paint.

Halfords Grey Primer here, Or vallejo grey surface primer through the airbrush.

Halfords is a UK brand, its an automotive / general use primer.Comes in white, and red too. Not a spray filler / filler-primer / highbuild primer etc etc all of those are meant for filling in little scratches from sanding down car panels and the likes. And are intended to be sanded back to smooth after application too. (halfords, and most other automotive paint suppliers sell those too, and its not what you want)

Other examples of a primer you do not want is 'etch primer' which is meant for application on smooth metal sheets before regular primer is applied, and plastic primer(which might not be totally unsuitable - its meant for adhering to plastics without melting them and damaging the panel)

All of these kinds of primer will probably be within sight range of each other at the paint store. You just want plain old primer, no filler or etching agents added.

As a side not lots of people claim that the citadel chaos black spray is actually just black acrylic spray paint, and not an actual primer.
I dunno about that, But I can say that halfords matt black spray paint (read paint, not primer) does a fine job and is plenty durable on plastic figures, on metals that are roughly handled it might rub off on the edges without a clear coat.