Priming Techniques!!

[Kisifer]

Hello all,
I was interested in the techniques that you are using for priming your figures prior the main painting. Maybe priming doesn't not require any special techniques, but it would be interesting to see what primers people use, the holders for the primed parts etc etc.
My favorite priming way is by brush and white enamel color especially for 54mm and 75mm figures. For 90mm and above i used to do it by brush, but i'm thinking to start using a spray primer. I believe that by using a brush you get more comfortable with the details of the figure and you can "study" it while priming.
Lets hear your opinions and techniques

 

[Guy]

I have to agree with the figures having their own "feel" and I like to brush my primer on. I use Floquil R9 light gray primer as the primer shrinks when it dries therefore not losing any detail. For larger figures such as 90mm horses and large scale bust, I use the same Floquil R9 in a spray can. I drill the bottom of the feet of most figures and attach them to a work base. There is an older thread on the forum that shows different types of tools we have all devised to help in figure painting. I shall have to look back in the aechives to find it. Would be interesting to see it.

 

[michelange]

Hello Kisifer!
Your post it's most interests for me, because I use a Citadel White primer, but I am not satisfied . I seek also other products more powerful.

 

[Jim Patrick]

I use Tamiya's primers. White and gray. All depending on how rich I want the colors to be. I put this on in about 3-4 light "dustings". That is to say I use really light coats.

Jim Patrick

 

[thegoodsgt]

I airbrush a coat of Floquil gray primer.

 

[D.Lesko]

I spray Floquil's grey primer from their railroad paints through an airbrush set on low PSI. I like this because i have more control over the paint application then i would through a spray can. I dont brush paint primer because i cannot seem to do it without leaving brushmarks....

 

[slaj]

It used to be Citadel white primer for me and i still think it's the bst but I can't find it anymore. So I'm using tamiya.Always in spray cans.

Stephen Mallia

 

[Kisifer]

Hmmm we have Bruno saying that he didn't like Citadel and Stephen who thinks it's the best. Hehehehe I see lots of people are going for spray cans. Maybe i will need to make a start with those.

 

[KeithP]

This question is like asking what kind of car you prefer.

Many have different techniques.

For smaller figs, I like Val Foundation White.

For larger, I like both the Floquil RR White and Gray.

Keith

 

[Alex M.]

I used to use the Floquil grey but it seems to have dried up in Toronto, so for the last year or so i've been using the Humbrol grey primer.

Works well for me...

-Alex

 

[mikec55]

Kisifer,

I'm not sure if there's a Greek equivalent or not but I use good ol' Krylon spray primer. 2 or 3 very light coats & I'm good to go. It's available in any hardware store or Kmart/walmart type place. My sister's a nurse so getting a few pairs of hemostats wasn't a problem. I've recently started pinning my figures so with hemostats & Krylon, priming is a breeze.

Mike

 

[Einion]

I used to brush on enamels for priming but I changed to automotive spray primers (acrylic type) many years ago. I resisted switching because I used to do a lot of models that would have required masking for the metal parts (I prefer to polish kit metal to represent steel) but a proper primer is a lot tougher than enamels and less likely to rub off with any handling so it finally convinced me and I haven't looked back.

Automotive primers are easy to find and cheap too, much less expensive than hobby primers. I always take the time to warm the can in hand-hot water for a few minutes before spraying as you get a much smoother finish.

I pin most of my kits together and I use short lengths of paperclip wire usually, these double as handles to hold pieces during painting in pin-vices because I like to paint in subassemblies as much as possible.

Einion

 

[Tin man]

Whatever spray primer you use ask your wife for the nozzle off her next empty can of hair spray. It gives a much smoother coat. If you can't wait for her to finish the can borrow the nozzle any way and tell her she looks great with panzer grey high lights.

 

[Hullebullen]

Citadel (white) primer...it's ok in my opinion. Haven't really tried any other methods...