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Hey everyone,
So my flgs always seems to carry different brands of primer so whenever I go in there I never get the same one.
I like army painter primer but this time I picked up P3 primer because that's all they had.

Anyways to the issue. P3 has this nozel on their primer spray that gives a vertical line of spray. This seems like a good idea for larger models like tanks planes etc. The problem I have is that it is pretty difficult to spray smaller models because the paint goes everywhere lol
I also can't seem to get the spray onto the base since its hard to direct the spray. I have to hold the model like 4 inches away to get in a certain spot (but that obviously causes issues in paint thickness) but with holding the nozel at the normal length away I find the vertical spray also makes the paint go on super thin.

Anybody experience this? Could I take out the little red piece in the nozel to open it up?

Nobody has had this problem or noticed this? :p

Sounds like the nozzle has something in it or is defective.

I'd go to the PP replacement portal and have them send you out a new can.

Try cleaning the nozzle (turpentine would be great, isopropyl alcohol if you don't have any). I can't recall if the P3 nozzle heads come off nicely, because I never really had a problem with them, but if it does, you can sit it in a small jar of isopropyl overnight. They are a funny shape, so you can't just swap it with another spray top.

Before and after you prime, hold the can upside down and give it a spritz into the air to clear up anything in the passageway. After you prime, it's not a bad idea to wipe off the nozzle with a paper towel -- I find that I have to do this with Army Painter once in a while.

I've had lots of P3 white and black primers, and never had a problem with any of them from a mechanical perspective. You never want to spray close with P3 though.. it turns into a globby mess. With AP primers, you can spray much closer than P3 (in fact, they tell you to). However, I think P3 primers have much better teeth than AP colored primers.

Sounds like a fan nozzle. These are deisirable for painting larger objects than what we usualy deal with in mini wargaming. Would be good for spraying a gaming table for example.

I find it odd that a hobby/model company would choose that over a round for their primer though?

HairySticks wrote:
Sounds like a fan nozzle. These are deisirable for painting larger objects than what we usualy deal with in mini wargaming. Would be good for spraying a gaming table for example.

I find it odd that a hobby/model company would choose that over a round for their primer though?

I think that's exactly what it is! It is strange that it isn't a round nozzle. Its tough to prime the smaller miniatures with it because it isn't easy to get the paint where you want it.

I think it's just your rattle can sprayer being defective. The spray pattern is slightly elliptical, but not so that it would be an impediment to priming models of whichever size. I believe it's done this way because you generally move a primer can left-right, rather than up-down.

Here is a picture of the spray pattern at around 12", the recommended distance. I didn't bother to shake the can much, and I snapped the photo right after I sprayed, but you get an idea. Also, I included what a new (never used) can / nozzle should look like. Note that it is angled; perhaps this contributes to your "targeting"?



Incidentally, I always try a new can of primer on cardboard before I use it on a model, to see what it looks like to ensure that it doesn't do something silly like come out in a messy splatter or at a funny angle.

^wow that's nice with the picture!
You might be right that it might just be slightly defective. Just don't seem to get the right coverage of primer seems extremely thin even after shaking it for quick a while.

 chiefbigredman wrote:
^wow that's nice with the picture!
You might be right that it might just be slightly defective. Just don't seem to get the right coverage of primer seems extremely thin even after shaking it for quick a while.

Just take it back where you bought it and wave it under their nose most hobby shops are pretty good about exchanging product.