Base paint as a layer

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**Matthwkrause**

Hey there, I've been using a base (macragge blue) for a layer and I've been thinning it down a lot. But the paint still looks streaky like you can see the paintbrush marks. Is it not good to use a base as a layer? I like the color but it doesn't look clean . Thank you for any help!

**ScootyPuffJunior**

How many coats are you applying to the model? One coat should never be enough (which is the point) and make sure each coat is fully dried before painting the next one on top of it.

**Matthwkrause**

First prime it with the macragge blue spray then go over with a shade then paint the blue on top again. I water it down enough to get 4 coats until I get the right color

**Sammoth**

Matthwkrause wrote:
First prime it with the macragge blue spray then go over with a shade then paint the blue on top again. I water it down enough to get 4 coats until I get the right color

You never primer anything with non primer paint. You can use macragge blue spray as a basecoat after the primer. Not a primer. You might be having the problem with the paint sticking to the model because you're not using a primer underneath the basecoat.

**AllSeeingSkink**

Matthwkrause wrote:
Hey there, I've been using a base (macragge blue) for a layer and I've been thinning it down a lot. But the paint still looks streaky like you can see the paintbrush marks. Is it not good to use a base as a layer? I like the color but it doesn't look clean . Thank you for any help!

If you are thinning sufficiently it should go on fine. The only paints I use from the GW range are the bases and I use them for layering, airbrushing and base coats.

**Matthwkrause**

Thank you! Are the skull white and chaos black primer thinner than the spray I've been using?

**ScootyPuffJunior**

Matthwkrause wrote:
Thank you! Are the skull white and chaos black primer thinner than the spray I've been using?

The Macragge Blue spray isn't the problem here, what you described is not a paint adhesion issue. I still think you might have thinned it a little too much, but if it takes four coats it doesn't sound too bad. Maybe try thinning it a little less and see if that helps, as long as it doesn't obscure any detail. If not, just paint as many coats as it takes to look proper.

**helotaxi**

If you're thinning it too much with just water, you'll break down the medium in the paint and the pigment will separate. Add a little matte medium when you thin it way out. It will keep the pigment uniform.

**AllSeeingSkink**

Base paints do have a decent amount of pigment, so even thinned properly I doubt it'd take 4 coats to get good coverage unless you're doing something like painting Averland Sunset (yellow) over black.

**oadie**

helotaxi wrote:
If you're thinning it too much with just water, you'll break down the medium in the paint and the pigment will separate. Add a little matte medium when you thin it way out. It will keep the pigment uniform.

I would guess, at least, that this is the issue. Foundation/base paints are more heavily pigmented than normal/layer paints, with a similar starting consistency. If you thin to the same consistency as you normally would a layer, you'll get higher opacity from a base paint. Conversely, if you try to thin to the same opacity, the consistency of the base paint will end up much thinner - quite possibly thin enough to change the paint's behavior (pigment drops out of suspension and clumps, often leading to a streaky and/or chalky finish). Thinning with matte/glaze medium will effectively turn a base into a layer, which can then be thinned with water to your desired consistency.