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So I am beginning the process of building my Skitarii. (Don't worry, I know about 8th edition and am taking things slow, especially with building.) I am new to 40k, but not to painting. Even still, I am thinking about how to best paint these guys. Perhaps Caledor Sky robes with a Troll Slayer Orange contrast, and a mix of brass and steel parts. Now, I cannot use spray primer right now, and people say that the best paint-on alternative is black gesso. However, I have some questions that I cannot seem to find answers for.

1) How difficult is it to paint Caledor Sky and Troll Slayer Orange on black gesso? I am thinking about painting a Rhinox Hide or Mechanicus Standard Grey layer first. And if not an orange, how about something like Wild Rider Red?
2) Can I use gesso as if it were a base layer and directly apply shade and highlights to it? Or do I need to apply some acrylic coat beforehand?
3) I am currently thinking that I will build legs and upper body of my Skitarii separately, paint the inner robes and pants, and then sand excess paint off and attach the halves together. Is this the way to do it? Or should I just paint liberally while fully built and clean up later?
4) I am thinking about using some HDF bases with a cut-out. However, I hear that I need to seal these things to prevent possible warping. What should I use to do this? Can I just use gesso? And should I seal both the top and bottom of the base?

Sorry if these are dumb questions. I tried to look them up to no avail.

1) Ehhh... tried it and hated it. Try to find a solution where you can spray prime. Alternatively, get a cheap Airbrush and prime with that. If you want to prime with a brush at all cost (although I really advise against it), use the Vallejo Brush-On primer.

2) No, you would need a base coat.

3) Personal preferences. Try what works for you.

4) Why not use the regular plastic ones? HDF bases can warp, yes, but the small ones are very unlikely to warp.

Thanks for the answers. Some followups:

1) What about the colors? How much harder would it be to paint Troll Slayer Orange than Wild Rider Red as the robe liner? (I edited the OP to add the Citadel paint colors I am thinking of.)
3) I see. I am currently thinking either the paint-then-build approach or to not base the model and use blue tack so that I can flip it over near the end and paint the lining.
4) Because I can cut my own bases and slot my models into the holes for storage/transport. HDF is the cheapest option. And would you know how to best seal HDF? (EDIT: Just saying, HDF is considered moisture resistant when paired with a laminate layer and used in flooring. But I am unsure how it will handle on its own with paints.)

You can use vallejo colored primer as a base and go straight to highlights. Not sure about gesso, should be okay though.

yes, I would paint a darker, more covering color as a base before trying a bright orange or red over black. you can do it the other way, its just going to be a lot, a lot, of layers.

I generally pin or blue tac models to corks to paint, but I'm impatient and messy, so yeah, like he said, try one of each, figure out which works best for you.

No idea on the HDF. Heard something like white glue, possibly thinned, or varnish?

I also tried GEsso for a while and just hated it on miniatures, though I still use it on basic foam terrain. Conceptually Gesso (to me) feels like wrapping a model in a kitchen plastic wrap, that shrinks when it dries like a vacuum seal. So on fiddly models - especially like Skitarii it's going to be a pain.

Also if you paint with very ultra thin mixes/glazes, even several days after curing it will still react and make a mess.

I use it on basic solid pieces like hills etc.

I second getting a cheap airbrush. Otherwise both Vallejo and even GW make paint on primers. Just give them proper time to cure.

As to the colors. Orange over black is typically tough but the GW paints do have really nice coverage. Red over black is ideal though imo.

What sorts of mixes and glazes are we talking about here?

Do all reds work well with black? I am thinking either Wild Rider Red or that and then Troll Slayer Orange ontop of that.

I was specifically referring to mixes with lots of water.

Red is a difficult color to show contrast, its appearance is very much dependent on its context and surrounding. But since you're eventually going to orange at least you can add some contrast there... but yeah that red will be fine over black.

So a lot of sites say that gesso works fine on fiberboard, and I am going to trust them. Question is, what order do I do everything?

I am thinking:
1) Sand feet of a painted model and glue to base
2) Prime base with gesso and wait for it to dry
3) Complete the basing

However, I am concerned because of how gesso needs to go on thick and shrink. Should I prime before gluing? Will this affect the quality of the bond?

I think gesso is just the wrong material for tiny plastic models. If you were doing a Nurgle deamon horde any kind of mess may look deliberate, but on the flat cloth or metal any kind of crust will look off.

I recommend a spray can or airbrush primer. I'm using Vallejo Airbrush primer, which is a polyurethane based product specifically made for plastic, resin and metal surfaces and for acrylic paint.

Yeah really dude... Gesso IS fine on Fiberboard and lots of other flat materials. It is a long standing go-to primer for artists all over the world, it's great - but it is very much NOT ideal for miniatures.

Well good luck anyway.

I don't own an airbrush, and I can't spray right now. >_>

I'll let you all know how it goes, but most of my research has people reporting good results with the right brand and color of gesso. (Apparently, the colors change the formula.)

I can't imagine primer that works on fiberboard and canvas would not work for miniatures. After all, all primers are just binder combined with absorbent materials.