"John OFM - what primer now?" Topic

I was using the last can of my black, matte finish primer from Walmart as I had a good day to prime some figures. I have had this last can for over a year. Walmart does not carry the flat black and white primers anymore. I think they are no longer made.

These were the best primers I have ever used. The cost was fantastically low. Under a dollar each. I started using them long ago when John recommended them. I need to find new primer, so I have come to ask John. What primer do you use now?

Thanks,

Matthew

I've been using this one lately with great results:

link

I have used the Rust-Oleum primers, as well. The double coverage they brag about worries me that the primer will be too thick on the figures, but so far it only gets too thick when I spray too much on the figure, myself. I also use Krylon with the same results. Army Painter is much more expensive and I have mixed results. I tried it because it comes in such a variety of colors that I can use for the color of the primary part of the figure I am painting to save time painting. I am not an artist.

Wow that is Target? My store does not stock this. Price looks good for the primer too.

I use the Rust-oleum White primer from Walmart, and our store still carries it. I've been using it for years and it works for me. I use white because it brings out the color I am using better. Krylon is also good and I have used that also.

I paint on my primer by hand. I like it better.

It's probably Target mail order only. I get mine at the local hardware store. I like it.

Dollar general has a flat black that retails for $1.35 USD

I was a big user of Walmart Flat White & Black too. Right now, I am back to Krylon white primer.

Damon.

Rust-Oleum x2 +1

Rustymusket – I have been tempted myself to try out the combo primer/basecoat and I too was concerned that it might be too thick and cover detail on SYW 15mm figures. After your comment I may reconsider. It is usually the least expensive.
For the rest of us I think it best that to remember that inflation is taking its toll, the day of "under a dollar" is long past.

I'm not happy with what I've been using, so can't honestly give a recommendation.
The only real flat I use are Krylon or Rustoleum camouflage paints.
Too often white primers or "flat" aren't really flat, ant paint will pool up on it.

So, I'm still searching.

The problem as I see it is that ordinary commercial primers weren't meant for the fine detail we need. In most instances, Walmart flats were inferior as paints, but perfect for priming figures. Happy accident. Perhaps that's why Walmart stopped stocking it.

I've been screwed by "hobby primers" for years. They're way overpriced, and invariably run out halfway through and just start spitting colored grit. Unless you intend to use them up all at once, they will turn bad on you.

I prime with an airbrush

"Store Brand" flat white from Home Depot or Ace seem to work for me

Brush-on thinned gesso in white or black?

Interesting. I'd been considering writing in to ask about this, since my spray on Krylon white primer left a slightly shiny surface, and the first coat of paint didn't cover well, with the paint pooling up on it, like John says, and leaving me worrying that it will easily come off in a year.

Grelber

Regarding the concerns about the Rustoleum/Krylon "2x coverage" primers + paint products.

I've used the black, white, and gray and they all work spectacularly well as spray primers. The gray is darn near as good as GW's Mechanicus Standard Grey spray primer and at 1/4 the cost. Same goes for the black, every bit as good as GW's Chaos Black. The white is comparable to GW's Coraxx White, it's just slightly brighter and more white as opposed to GW's which is on the light grayer side.

That 2x stuff doesn't mean it covers doubly thickly when you spray it. It's just formulated to lay down what amounts to a primer coat mixed with the base color coat all in one pass, black or white.

If you follow the same rules of spraying past the object and spraying at the right distance, it works great.

When I can't spray I use Tamiya Nato Black or Flat White as brush on primers. They dry quickly with good coverage but also a nice thin coat. You almost can't put it on too thick.

Just a side note to my previous post.

One thing you do have to watch out for with the Rustoleum Paint + primers is the actual finish. The ones that are labeled as just actual pure primers are all fine, black, gray or white.

The 2x paint + primers however, you need to be careful with the satin or gloss ones. I tried some of the satin colors and they didn't cure properly on styrene plastic. They were sticky and it never went away so I had to strip them.

Stick with the FLAT paint + primers or with just the actual "2x primers" in the black, white, or gray.

Also, the labeling can be a bit confusing with this line. The primers are called "2x" but are plain primer, apparently formulated to give extra priming power for lack of a better way to put it.

The "2x paint + primers" are meant to be a primer coat AND also the actual color you want the object to be colored in all in one shot. Those come in flat, satin, or gloss. The satin and gloss are geared towards things like outdoor plastic patio furniture, etc. and not designed necessarily for styrene plastic hence the possible curing issues.

I WAS able to successfully prime some minis. with one of the satin ones, but it took weeks before it actually dried to the point where it wasn't sticky. Even then it was still slightly tacky, but I was able to paint over it and seal it.

I alway use automotive primer. Cost more, but worth it.

Very flat coat, tight fit, and very thin.

For vehicles I prime with the hobby primers closest in color to the final color. For figures for the last 40 years I have always used Humbrol Matt Black enamel, slightly thinned out and brushed on, the thin coat I use doesn't obscure any detail on even my 15mm figures.

@VonBlucher,

I need to try using an enamel brush on paint for primer, I've always meant to but never did. I would imagine being enamel it gives the model a pretty solid, tough and strong primer coat.

Krylon primer can be a little semi-gloss.

Use Krylon Ultra Flat Primer. It comes in White and Black.

Like it says on the can, Ultra Flat!

In general, I use Rustoleum or Krylon flat white primer, which I usually buy at Home Depot. They work well for me as primer on 25-28 mm metal miniatures, plastic shampoo bottles, and hard plastic soap dishes (and on the various greeblies attached to the latter two subjects).

I have had very good results with gray automotive primer on plastic shampoo bottles, but haven't yet tried it anywhere else. I liked it so much, in fact, that I decided that would be the base color of those vehicles (spaceships made from sunscreen bottles).

Army Painter primer white was generally good on everything when I was using it. Good enough that I used up the whole can.

Liquitex Acrylic Gesso, standard (White), Gray or Black. Do not thin for brush-on, it will go on thick but shrink as it cures revealing all detail. If you thin, it will cure spotty and you'll have to touch up.

For spraying, thin 1:1 with Liquitex Airbrush Media and airbrush it. I usually do very a thin coat so the metal shows through; if I want an even color coat, I spray again with the Gesso, or switch to a colored base coat of Liquitex Soft Body color thinned 1:1 with Liquitex Airbrush media.

Let Gesso dry at least overnight. You can overcoat when touch dry but it will be delicate; if you're gentle and don't break through the cured surface it will work great, but it takes less care when the Gesso has fully cured.

All brush on primers have either collected into the details as it was painted on with a brush. I have tried Gesso and Vallejo with no lunch. I have sprayed through an airbrush the Vallejo primer and that works ok, but it is a hassle to get everything out, set up the paint booth and then take it down and clean. I am using the Rustolium. It does okay, with just a small shine. Painting Austrians uses a lot of white.

Thank you all for your comments and suggestions.

Matthew

Liquitex Acrylic Gesso

This. A bottle will last you hundreds (maybe a thousand? ;-) minis. I can brush it on while watching TV, no need to spray, way less wastage (how much spray primer never gets on what you are spraying?), and it doesn't stink… ;-)

Having no easy place to spray anything, and in Canada where it is either minus a billion degrees or humid like the rain forest, I almost always use straight Liquitex Gesso, brushed on, and touched up lightly a day or so later.

It is thick and ugly going on, and requires more brush work than you'd think, but obscures nothing, dries totally flat, and takes all manner of hobby paint like a charm. Compared to many products, it is also stupid cheap and lasts forever.

I use grey, as a rule, but black and white also, depending on the purpose.

I too miss the old Walmart flats but gone is gone where Corporate Amerika is concerned. Thanks for the Dollar Sore tip.

Lowes $.99 USD cent flat black spray paint. Seems pretty identical to the thin walmart stuff I used to use.

Project Source Flat Black Spray Paint (NET WT. 10-oz)
Item #282254Model #410.0063001.076

Get a grip. I believe that the paint was dropped by Walmart because for any other reason than priming miniatures, it was a lousy paint. I work IN a Walmart, but not FOR Walmart. I asked and that is what I was told. You can still get the $.99 USD gloss, by the way. Flat was simply inferior. Not some kind of a plot.
"Corporate Amerika" ? Seriously? It was pulling a lousy product.

Meself, use "Rust-Oleum Clean Metal Primer". from Home Depot, UPC 0 20066 77808 8 A very light gray / off-white

I have a couple of cardboard 'trays' I made up. Set out one trayful. Shakeup can, two-second 'woosh'. rotate 90 deg, woosh, rotate and woosh, rotate and woosh. Set aside to dry, repeat with tray #2

While tray 2 be drying, turn figures on tray 1 over, repeat. Then turn over tray 2 and woosh, woosh, woosh, woosh

But if what you're doing works for you, forward !

I use grey Gesso, brush it on and call it a day.

Sometimes I brush it on twice… just to make sure.

Makes Herself "think" I am watching the television with her, while I am "really" doing hobby stuff.

Eric

She's not fooled, Eric.