Is primer that important?

[Ritual]

Calling it \"the best primer out there\" is using pretty big words. Unless GW have changed the formula recently, I don\'t think the sprays (we\'re talking Skull White and Chaos Black here, right?) even are proper primers. And they certainly aren\'t the best I\'ve tried, especially not the Skull White. If you weigh in the price in the comparison they come pretty far down the list, IMO.

 

[Einion]

Originally posted by Sauce Devil
According to pro-painter Amy Brehm:

\"...Although, if you are lucky enough to live in europe, the uk games workshop primer is the best primer out there.\"

Warning, warning: opinion alert!

Einion

 

[DarkStar]

Originally posted by Ritual
Calling it \"the best primer out there\" is using pretty big words. Unless GW have changed the formula recently, I don\'t think the sprays (we\'re talking Skull White and Chaos Black here, right?) even are proper primers. And they certainly aren\'t the best I\'ve tried, especially not the Skull White. If you weigh in the price in the comparison they come pretty far down the list, IMO.

Citadel does make proper primers though. I don\'t have a can \"on me\" at the moment so I can\'t give you the exact name but I\'ve definately used a few cans. The white primer is exceptional and I would recommend it highly. Although expensive it really is a quality product. I live in the states as well and used to buy it at my local game store. Consistently great stuff for plastics or metal.

Awhile back I switched over to spraying vallejo primer through an airbrush though so haven\'t used a batch of Citadel in a couple of years.

I\'ll see if I can get a link for the product I\'m speaking of. Here it is, top left corner: http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/catalog/armySubUnitCats.jsp?catId=cat190010&rootCatGameStyle=

 

[Ritual]

That one hasn\'t been available here for years. I remember the cans (used to use them), but the current stuff is not the same.

 

[Eryops]

Originally posted by Desertmerc
Thanks for all the quick replies! I have tried painting a couple of models without primer, and I noticed that the paint would just not stick to the model. One quick question, when I am painting a face, should I base coat the face, or leave the primer alone and use the primer as a base?

I didn\'t see it mentioned yet, but remember to clean any new mini with dish soap and a toothbrush, as there can be some oily resin from the casting process left over. If you don\'t remove it, it will cause your paint to rub off regardless of whether you primed or not.

 

[Shawn R. L.]

One thing I\'ve been playing with is soaking resin in vinegar to slightly (microscopically) etch the surface so as to make the primer adhere even better. Might give it a go on metal too.

Rust Oleum has been a good primer for me. Medium gray.

 

[Dragonsreach]

Originally posted by Desertmerc
One quick question, when I am painting a face, should I base coat the face, or leave the primer alone and use the primer as a base?

Only just seen this, so heres my contribution. (Posh for twopennyworth)
There is no hard and fast rule about painting faces, with one exception thin paints. So paint as you are most comfortable painting.
I\'ve recommended GW\'s foundation paints out of practical use and for reasonable results Tallarn Flesh will give you a good basecoat over either Black or White Primer.
My personal preference is to use Vallejo Model Colour Brown Sand as my Base colour for Flesh tones adding either Ivory as the highlighting colour and tones of Purple (GW Liche Purple & Brown Sand mix) for shadows.
Yesterday I did a figure over black primer using Vallejo Sunny Skintone and to be honest I\'m not impressed as it turned somewhat Yellowo?) and took a lot of work to return it to a more \"Caucasian\" skin tone.

It\'s this figure, being returned to a Friend.

 

[mickc22]

I quite like Salmon Rose as a flesh base