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I have a small Cryx force that I decided to paint up in white, so naturally it seemed like a decent idea to prime them in white as well.

Maybe I'm doing something wrong, but when I paint the metallics, it's quite difficult and annoyingly time-consuming to get a nice and even coat. The paint often refuses to stick properly and sort of split apart when applied, thus needing quite a few coats to make it look even.
Never had these problems with black primer. Just wondering if this is a normal issue with white primer

Which paint ranges? I prime white, and I can just about get a decent silver over it, but gold colours require 2 coats (or a different basecoat).

 Riquende wrote:
Which paint ranges? I prime white, and I can just about get a decent silver over it, but gold colours require 2 coats (or a different basecoat).

The metallics are Citadel.

Silver metallics generally look better over black. Golds work over reds and greens, if you're looking to tint them, and browns or tans for the more common look. Given the comparative coverages of black and white, I might suggest priming in white, as you have been, and slapping a quick undercoat of black on areas you'll be hitting with silver. Unless you're thinning quite heavily, a coat or two of silver should be enough to give a nice, even finish.

Metallic paint is usually difficult to properly cover a surface in the best of times (not opaque).

The bright white competes VERY well with the metallic that is why black is "not a problem".

To paint it properly you should base coat close to the desired metallic (dark red-brown / rust, dark grey / steel, brown / brass, light brown / copper).

It should also be understood that since metallic flakes are larger and less dense than pigment that watering down as a wash does not work out so good.
You would want the flakes to stay in the raised areas anyway so it always makes it look right to put some "shade" on after so the crevasses do not shine as much.

General rule for metallics over other colours:

Grey base for Silvers.
Black for gun-metals/burnt steel
BROWN for golds.

White base: NEVER for metallics.

Thank you all for the advice