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I want to spray my bases but my chaos black was run out and my "local" store is 1 n 30 come and go.
So i ask my friends on Dakka Dakka can i use a cheap spray from a paint store to prime my bases with the same resolute?

Yes. Citadel sprays are simply enamel spray paints, like any other. I've used exceedingly cheap spray paint (Walmart's ColorPlace flat black, sold for a dollar a can) to perfectly good effect on dozens of plastic models, as well as their bases, terrain, etc. Plenty of other people use other common brands, like Krylon, RustOleum, etc. - not quite as cheap, but still far less than GW's offerings. The only place where flat enamels fall short is adhesion/resilience on problem materials, like metal, where you'll want to use an actual primer.

The general consensus here is that it's never worth buying Citadel sprays if you have another option. They work, they're just ludicrously expensive for what you get.

Honestly I have used privateer press, army builder, and citadel paints and I just started buying the citadel ones for my models because they are more reliable, you can get a solid covering, and can get a lot of models per can.

The other ones either didnt work well on metals, needed VERY specific outside conditions to work, or for the really cheap ones(like those from walmart) will NEVER come off a mini if you decide you want to re-paint it.

I think for bases it doesnt really matter but for the main model itself I would recommend just spending the money.

I spend 400+ dollars on an army. I can afford 30 to make sure that I dont risk the model.

 Leth wrote:
because they are more reliable

I have used all the same brands as you (plus some) and the overpriced GW spray paint is equal to most and worse than others.

you can get a solid covering

You don't need solid coverage for priming. Really, you don't and you shouldn't. Having plastic, metal, or resin show through your primer is perfect normal and the proper way to do it.

and can get a lot of models per can.[/spoiler]The GW can holds the same volume of paint as any other standard aerosol can (400ml or 13 ounces), albeit at a much higher price. Even something like the Tamiya Fine Surface primer is better. It is half the size and half the cost, but is superior to GW "primer."

[spoiler]The other ones either didnt work well on metals, needed VERY specific outside conditions to work, or for the really cheap ones(like those from walmart) will NEVER come off a mini if you decide you want to re-paint it.

GW spray paint requires the same spraying conditions to any other aerosol spray paint; it is enamel spray paint and there is nothing inherently different about it compared to any other enamel spray paint.

but for the main model itself I would recommend just spending the money.

It simply isn't worth it. You can buy high-quality sandable automotive primer that is superior to GW spray paint in every way... with the added benefit of being much cheaper.

I spend 400+ dollars on an army. I can afford 30 to make sure that I dont risk the model.

Quite frankly, spending $400 on GW models doesn't get you much these days and to spend $30(!) to "prime" it is absurd.


To the OP: Go to a hardware or automotive store and look for a sandable automotive primer at a good price and use that.

OP asked for our experience and preference. I shared mine. GW primer has worked in conditions where others have not. Having to go back and manually get the primer in was annoying, having primer constantly flake off the metal was annoying. Not being able to get the cheap primer off models is annoying.

For bases I said it doesnt matter but for models I wouldnt recommend the cheap walmart primers

My experiences were different than yours. You think I WANT to spend more money? Hell no, but I do because the difference is worth it to me.

Honestly - I've had fine results with my $2.50 flat black spray from Wallmart. It looks "greyer" and flatter than the GW spray. but once painted I don't notice a difference in the models. And it's around 1/10th the price of GW spray paint in Canada.

 Leth wrote:
OP asked for our experience and preference. I shared mine. GW primer has worked in conditions where others have not. Having to go back and manually get the primer in was annoying, having primer constantly flake off the metal was annoying. Not being able to get the cheap primer off models is annoying.

If there was a problem with using any other spray paint, primer or not, I can almost guarantee you that the issue you had was user error. It could have been dirty models, unfavorable humidity, unfavorable temperature, or just plain old user mistakes like improper distance or technique. GW spray paints are not intrinsically special as in it does follow the same general principles as any other aerosol spray paint. That part of any experience is not subjective.

Also, the primer not easily coming off easily is a good thing to most people. For what it is worth, I have had difficulty removing GW black spray from old minis.

For bases I said it doesnt matter but for models I wouldnt recommend the cheap walmart primers

Chemically, the GW spray paints are no different than any "cheap" paints you are referring to; unless it is an actual primer, which GW sprays are not. The reason why the paint is so damn expensive is not because it is some super-secret high tech formula known only to GW. It is because they use the cheapest paint they can purchase, put their name on it, and hawk it to the masses because they know people will buy it.

My experiences were different than yours.

See above.

You think I WANT to spend more money? Hell no, but I do because the difference is worth it to me.

Then don't spend the money.


Please keep in mind that this is to not tell you that you don't know what you are doing, but a reminder than it is easy to make mistakes with something as finicky as aerosol spray paint (they all behave this way). This also isn't a bash on GW; I thoroughly enjoy GW and 99% of the models I own are made by them. That doesn't change the fact that their paints (and glue and tools) are not the end all, be all that they claim they are.

Yes. Krylon works wonders.

I use modelmate, its a few £ cheaper than GW spray, has a finer mist, and lasts longer too. I use the dark grey. But I also use Humbrol primer too when I cant get modelmate.