"Skipping the Priming Step for Metal Minis" Topic

Just curious to see if anyone has tried skipping the priming step for their 15mm, and/or 25mm/28mm scale metal minis, when using a high quality, enamel spray paint from a can?

I'm considering giving this a try with some 15mm scale minis, since the Krylon Outdoor paint I have says it can be used directly on metal. I suspect it might also work with other, high-quality, spray paints from a can too.

Granted, priming might be best, but thought I'd give it a shot with a few figs, just to see how it works out, since less material on them presumably means less potential for covering up all those nicely sculpted details.

Then, I can follow up with a darker wash, other detailing, and a drybrush over the top, before sealing the minis.

I'm assuming the last step should help to keep the paint on the metal, if there is any concern of that, without the use of a primer first, so the issue of paint rubbing off should be a moot one. If I'm right, that means one less step in getting the minis painted and finished.

So, just curious to see if anyone else has done this with success?

I do this often when dealing with plastic. With metal however, I find the enamels I have (i.e. testors) will not wear as well. Really though, primer and regular spraypaint differ only in intent for final use. Something you would use as a spraypaint on metal models (after priming), might work perfectly well on plastic as a primer.

PS: I should also add I use Wal-mart valu-cheapo flat white spraypaint as a metal primer. Which sort of reinforces what I said above..

Damon.

So you're not going to prime them because you're going to prime them?

I tried not priming over 30 years ago. I repainted those guys about 20 years ago! If you are using a spray(gold for legionnaires, red for British) it is like priming, just not primer.
Just brushing paint on bare metal will eventually rub off, unless you use a really thick varnish.

I do it all the time for WWII figures. They have a sealer on the end result, so they've worn well.

An additional reason for priming metal minis, IMO, is that it makes it a lot easier to see the details and tell what is going on. I usually see lots new features once I prime them in some flat undercoat.

I never use anything called "primer". Instaed I use just plain Flat Black or White spray paint as an undercoat. WalMart $.99 USD is the best.
I have been going that route for years, hundreds, nay THOUSANDS! of figures, and no problems.

What I DID have lots of problems with was "hobby primers". I estimate that around 40% of them ewere spitting grit before the can was halfway gone, and at those prices, that ain't good. ALL brands of "hobby primer" sucked, as far as I am concerned.

I agree John, with the exception of brush on primers which I use. I liked the walmart flat black but it kills my sinuses so its all brush on for me.

I never prime my metal minis. I just slop paint on them and go with it.

Over 30 years I have only used cheap 99 cent or so flat black or flat white paint as a base coat for my figures. Walmart $ .99 is my go to product. Never have had a problem and never had to do a re-paint.

Guess it's still a prime coat, but I just do not like the heavier weight of those listed as primers, which tends to get thicker as the quality of the product increases. I think it takes away detail.

On metal I use the cheap wal amrt flat white as my primer for may yaers now without issue . Recently I found cheap walmart grey primer , same cost and seems to work as good or better .

I switched from white to black and now, recently to grey Wal Mart primer. I'm pretty happy with the grey… kinda the best of both worlds (black vs. white).

Thanks for all the input.

Shall have to several methods to see if it makes a difference.

My first figures were metal, I didn't prime them out of ignorance, and they wore bare spots during play. This was in the days of enamel model paints. So I learned my lesson. Always use primer.

None of the hobby primers over the years particularly impressed me with their quality, brush or spray. I did try hardware store sprays but frankly I got sick of managing all those rattle cans. And to be sure of quality, I figured artist paint supplies is the way to go. I use Liquitex acrylic Gesso nowadays as brush primer, and it turns out it sprays through an airbrush as well, so I can spray it too.

Has anybody else tried dipping in a wash as a primer substitute? I did and it seemed to work really well. Total, thin coverage. Paint sticks well and detail is not obscured. I got the idea from the auto industry's dipping car bodies, although their process is electrostatic (or was).

Looks ugly and does not highlight surface detail because the effect is somewhat mottled, almost like camouflage. But the paint adheres well, and as my Dad used to say, "Paint covers a multitude of sins."

I share the frustration of everyone who mentioned the grit that spritzes out of too many spray primer cans.