"Do You Use Gesso?" Topic

When painting wargaming models, do you use Gesso?

Yes, yes I do. Gray Liquitex gesso.

Yes almost exclusively. Although I may need to replace mine, had it a few years and now it seems to not take hold as well as it used to.

no use spray paint that is for palstics

Yes, unless I am painting plastics then spray.

I prefer spray primer, but if the weather is too humid or too cold to spray, then I use Liquitex gesso.

Yes, for soft plastic figures.

I tried it a month ago and was not impressed. The bucket has become a door stop. I prefer spray primer. I just spray a lot of stuff in advance on nice days. I may not have much painted, but I have a lot primed.

I used to but not any more.

Am going to try spray gesso on my next batch of soft plastics

Question – Is gesso flexible when dry?

TIA,
Dave

Always use and works fine on metal and plastics.

Yes. I switched a couple of years ago and never looked back.

Yes, for a few years now. Both metal and plastics.

Gesso?

When I didn't own an airbrush, yes. Now days very rarely.

I just use spray primer.

Yes, I use it as an undercoat for both 25/28mm and 15mm metal figures. My son has used it for both 28mm metal and plastic figures. Seems to work well if you let it dry and cure for at least 24 hours before putting paint on it. And we always brush it.

Jim

Just used it on a Shapeways 1/144 Black, Strong and Flexible model with great results. Really helped prepare the surface for painting – in this case as good or better than my typical coats of gloss coat followed by gray primer.

No.

Once. So no, not anymore.

Yep.

No.

Yep.. all the time.

Yes switched to exclusively Liquitex Gesso (white), Gray Gesso, Black Gesso, Clear Gesso. I brush on or when I need to spray I airbrush it. No fumes. Cleans up with water.

It is true it gets harder if allowed to cure at least overnight.

It is flexible. Its original use was for priming canvas after all.

Do not dilute. If you apply it full strength it shrinks as it cures and does not obscure detail. If you dilute it, as it shrinks there will be bare spots and you'll need to touch up.

Not anymore might use it again for soft plastic and some resins but spray cans the usual nowadays.

x42

No. Walmart flat black. 97 cents a can.

I use it all of the time.

Gess, gess I do.

Yes, on all sorts of models from 1/3000 metal to 1/72 plastic kits. Bought a £7.00 GBP bottle of acrylic white gesso 3 years ago, haven't used half of it yet. With smaller scale models, I tend to dilute it and use two thin coats. No problems seen with any of my models as yet, paint sticks well to the gesso. Used to use matte white car spray primer, but had to take trays of figures ourdoors to do it and the smell lingered for ages afterwards. With gesso I can do 1 or 20 figures anytime, not constrained by English weather and no complaints from SWMBO. about stinky fumes (although I have to make sure windows are opened in my study if using UHU, plastic cement or Araldite, all of which offend her sensitive nose)

I have done for several projects and will do for any additions to those armies. I used Liquitex grey.

I've largely switched to Vallejo surface primer now, run through the airbrush.

Yes, use it to prime all my figures. Use black gesso and then highlight it with white paint. Get the best of both worlds. Used to us spray paint to prime but too wasteful.

Curious why those who have said used to use gesso now say they do not?

For soft plastics and sometimes resins or difficult surfaces..

Yes.

I don't know what gesso is. Therefore I have not used it.

No problems seen with any of my models as yet, paint sticks well to the gesso.

I use it in the few instances I can't use a proper primer. The issue isn't how well paint adheres to the gesso, rather how well the gesso adheres to the surface. Sorry, but it's nowhere near as good as an oil based primer.

Curious why those who have said used to use gesso now say they do not?

Because an acrylic based chaulk suspension doesn't adhere to metal or plastic as well as a dedicated surface primer. Gesso is designed to prep porous surfaces, like canvas.

Spray a primer on a figure, and paint gesso on another. Wait 24 hours and then rub your finger on the surface. You'll see.

I still use gesso and it has some applications, especially during poor weather. But I can't pretend it's the same as a dedicated primer.

Yes, though I need to find a local source for Liquitex grey as my current bottle is nearing the end.

I tried Gesso once, but I found that if I painted it on thin, it did not work to prep the figure. If I painted it on thick, it obscured details. I stick with my cheap Walmart rattle cans for priming figures.

Gess, gess I do.

I gess not.

I make flags out of metal foil. I used gesso once as a primer base, painted the flag, and when I tried to add furls, the gesso cracked and took the paint with it. Never had that problem with spray primers.

No, but I want to try it, I gess.

Not often, but sometimes. I use Liquitex brush on.

Always Australian made artist paints

WWW.derivan.com.au

I used it for years, but found Vallejo and AK surface primers gave me a smoother, thinner base. I still use it on buildings and terrain. Sticking to the figures was never an issue for me.

White brush on gesso
Have also used it as paper whiteout

I've used it as post-apoc sidewalk texture, and sometimes as glue for basing!

Yes all the time. It's especially great during the winter months here in Oregon. I don't have to stand in my garage when it's cold to try a spray prime my figures.

Yes.

last time I used a spray primer I got fuzzy, lumpy results on 300 figures. They had to be washed and scrubbed in Pine Sol for hours and hours. I will NEVER use spray primer again.

Well this is an old thread but I'm going to bring it back to life.

"I got fuzzy, lumpy results on 300 figures."

Rollo the Cat, I have had that happen to me once. It was more like 40 figures. I believe the problem was caused by high humidity.

Like many other figure painters I've been reading about, I prefer to use spray primer, Krylon grey primer specifically purchased at a local Walmart.

I will only spray out in my garage because I really hate the fumes. The problem is, many, many days are less than ideal weather conditions (too humid, too cold, too hot) to guarantee me good results. I should point out that my garage isn't climate controlled.

So now that cold weather is approaching, I am considering painting indoors with Liquitex grey gesso. I have heard good things about this product, mainly from members of this forum. I plan to let the figures cure for several days before painting.

OK, dumb question here"

WHAT THE HELL IS GESSO?!?!?