Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Does anyone out there know an acceptable alternative to GW undercoat?  I just ran out and dont really feel like dropping more money into that sinkhole that I dont have to.

I assume you mean a spray primer?

I use (and have always used) Krylon Gray Primer. A large can will set you back ~$6 (not sure exactly how expensive as it lasts a LONG time) and you can find it at almost all hardware and craft stores. Krylon will also give you consistent flow and good coverage (generally you only need one coat with a few touch-up sprays to get into the nooks n crannies).

I've never used GW undercoat... but you can't go wrong with Testors.

I use Krylon white primer or ultraflat black spray paint. Way, way cheaper than GW(around $3 per can), and better too.

I've used Armory spray primers with good success.  They also offer white, grey, and black cans (and cheaper than GW, last time I compared).  Just a note, the black from Armory comes out a little 'grayer' than the GW black. 

I've only ever used GW and Armory, with GW consistently over the last couple years.

GW Primer works quite well, but if you are rather determined to never use GW's stuff, then I'd suggest Testors.

I used Testors recently for a white primer. It was terrible compared to GW sprays. It was to thin and pooled in the gaps, even with very light sprays. It also made the model sticky until I painted it, but it didn't help the paint stick very well. Dull Cote, I have no problems with.

Actually, I prefer the GW primer to most others out there. A lot of Armor guys I talk to like the GW primer as well. It doesn't have as high of a solid content, and really does do a good job of tightening down and not obsucring find details. I don't mind spending the extra, I would use it more if it weren't for the fact that nobody within a half-hour drive carries any. Most automotive primers are also intended as fillers... so they will fill in a good deal of detail if you aren't careful. I can't stand Tamiya primer, nor do I like Testor and many people have warned me away from Armory as they claim it is way too think for fine detail.

The Krylon and other hardware store primers seem to bond well, but have a high solid content in them. Be careful which ones you buy because many of them, especially automotive primers, are intended as primer/surfacers that are supposed to fill in scratches and such. So they can spray on very thick and while paint bonds well to them they can also be somewhat soft. If it says "Sandable", and isn't a model primer, definitely don't use it.

-Hans

Tamiya for the win.  It's cheaper than GW and better, and even when using it in near freezing tempratures, I've never had it fuzz up, or go on thick or any other sort of problem (the primer also comes in dark gray, light gray, and white).  If your FLGS carries Tamiya products, all you can do is benefit from switching over.

I think that pretty much any primer on the market will get the job done. I get my white primer from Canadian Tire for about 6 bucks a can while at GW it cost me 16 bucks for the same amount.

If you have access to an airbrush, just undercoat with regular black or white (or gray, if that's your bag) acrylic paint.

If you don't have an airbrush, I recommend getting one.  It's really worth it, especially when it comes to undercoating and doing things like vehicles (especially with camo patterns).

The reason it's so great for undercoating, is because the coverage you get is ultra smooth, and it's difficult to accidentally fill in the detail when you're using an airbrush.


If it's an option, airbrush all the way.  If not, I'd say Testors is a safe choice.

The one and only time I EVER purchased GW primer was when I began painting my Dark Angels.

Silly me. I figured Dark Angels Green would match with Dark Angels Green...

Posted By Hordini on 04/28/2006 4:24 AM
If you have access to an airbrush, just undercoat with regular black or white (or gray, if that's your bag) acrylic paint.

If you don't have an airbrush, I recommend getting one.  It's really worth it, especially when it comes to undercoating and doing things like vehicles (especially with camo patterns).

The reason it's so great for undercoating, is because the coverage you get is ultra smooth, and it's difficult to accidentally fill in the detail when you're using an airbrush.

That's why I reccomend Tamiya sprays, if you have no other reason to get an air brush.  I really can't understand why you'd want to prime or undercoat with a brush anyway.  When you're doing a whole piece in a single color, you get an even, smooth coat from the spray, and since it's all going o be one color anyway, why not spray?

I've tried tamiya's primer its excellent!

But one thing...for black or white primer which is the code? And can GW's Skull white and Chaos black be able to touch up the areas and still have the same tone of black?

Vjicken out

Do Tamiya sprays give a smoother finish than most other sprays or something?

Posted By Vjicken on 04/30/2006 10:48 PM
And can GW's Skull white and Chaos black be able to touch up the areas and still have the same tone of black?

Vjicken out

Doubtful at best. Every batch of 'Black' paint is a different color, not to mention the different textures of the two different types of paint will not match. The 'toothyness' of primer and the 'smoothness' of acrylic paint make them look very different because they reflect light differently.

Ermm what? Sandable primers *can* work fine. It depends. I almost exclusively use Duplicolor Black Sandable Primer now. It produces a smooth even finish. And I know I am not alone. Privater Press paint goddess Ali McVey (aka PPS_Fluffy) uses it on her minis.

I would avoid Armory primers, though, as their batches seem highly inconsistent and prone to "the fuzzies".

Unless you purposefully spray for an hour with Armory sprays, I dont find a problem.
Armory has worked fine for me, I dont see how one spray can will magically remove details unless it really is thick, or you spray about 50% of it onto your mini.

I've lately been using the Krylon black primer and it's perfectly fine stuff. About 3.50 a can, too. Doesn't obscure detail at all, and paint takes to it wonderfully.

Posted By jmurph on 05/01/2006 5:39 PM
Ermm what? Sandable primers *can* work fine.

????

I'm just saying that if you simply use spray primer and then touch up, the touchups will not match perfectly due to the inconsistencies between the two types of paint.

My response was to Hans. Sorry if it was confusing!

No problem my friend!

A good policy is to start off with "@Hans" or to simply quote the section you are referring to, especially if your response is not directly following the initial post.