Question - Priming/Basecoat
- Thread starter 3eeve
- Start date
OK some priming rules I\'ve learned... for spray.
Swirl the can shaker ball thing around on the bottom and top of the can, AND shake it. For a minute.
When spraying mini\'s, I would spray from 6-10inches away.
Glide the spray over the miniature, holding down the nozzle before and after you pass the mini (ie. start spraying before you sweep over the mini, and stop spraying after you have passed over it)
Oh, and like, don\'t chip off the primer, and keep practiciing and make it smooth, and and and...
Swirl the can shaker ball thing around on the bottom and top of the can, AND shake it. For a minute.
When spraying mini\'s, I would spray from 6-10inches away.
Glide the spray over the miniature, holding down the nozzle before and after you pass the mini (ie. start spraying before you sweep over the mini, and stop spraying after you have passed over it)
Oh, and like, don\'t chip off the primer, and keep practiciing and make it smooth, and and and...
F
faulkns
Guest
Have to agree with above. But be aware all the nooks and crannies from different angles. Can sometimes pay to touch these up with brush primer as plastic detail not deep enough to risk usually.
Dettol does the job for me on plastics!
(Can\'t get enough of that sweet smell either!)
Dettol does the job for me on plastics!
(Can\'t get enough of that sweet smell either!)
airhead
Coffin Dodger / Keymaster
I usually make 4 or 5 passes across a mini - spray about level with the mini (can below the level of the table the minis set on). And the fifth pass across the top.
The areas that don\'t get painted: armpits, behind shields, etc. generally will not get handled either and I don\'t worry about them. If you are rubbing the paint off of the armpits, you have other problems than primer issues.
The areas that don\'t get painted: armpits, behind shields, etc. generally will not get handled either and I don\'t worry about them. If you are rubbing the paint off of the armpits, you have other problems than primer issues.
Cool, thanks everybody. Good to know.
Thanks! I\'ve been an on and off mini painter for the past few years. I remember the first models I painted - a unit of high elf sword masters. Then I got into Bretonnians for a little while. Now I\'m back and planning to paint up a forest guerilla theme for my Tau.
I like tabletop games, I like painting, and I have a steady hand so I\'ve always been drawn to minis. But I have no formal art background and I\'ve never spent enough time painting to actually learn anything. So I\'ve never doubted my schemes or color choices, but I have a lot to learn and I think my detail work leaves something to be desired.
Looking forward to finally getting some serious practice.
And welcome, 3eeve.
Thanks! I\'ve been an on and off mini painter for the past few years. I remember the first models I painted - a unit of high elf sword masters. Then I got into Bretonnians for a little while. Now I\'m back and planning to paint up a forest guerilla theme for my Tau.
I like tabletop games, I like painting, and I have a steady hand so I\'ve always been drawn to minis. But I have no formal art background and I\'ve never spent enough time painting to actually learn anything. So I\'ve never doubted my schemes or color choices, but I have a lot to learn and I think my detail work leaves something to be desired.
Looking forward to finally getting some serious practice.
Something I forgot to mention (or ask)
Is it good\\bad\\indifferent to spray with a can from various angles?
Typically, I lay my mini\'s down, so the can is parrallel to the floor. Should my can be upright whilst spriggitty sprayin?
yo ho ho, time to go to the basement and try it out!
Is it good\\bad\\indifferent to spray with a can from various angles?
Typically, I lay my mini\'s down, so the can is parrallel to the floor. Should my can be upright whilst spriggitty sprayin?
yo ho ho, time to go to the basement and try it out!
demonherald
New member
It\'s best where possible to keep the can upright keeps a more even flow of spray and stops dodgy drips buggering up your mini.
Always test spray on a bit of card or spare sprue detail before starting on your minis and check how it dries.
Can save a lot of heartache
Always test spray on a bit of card or spare sprue detail before starting on your minis and check how it dries.
Can save a lot of heartache
airhead
Coffin Dodger / Keymaster
Cans were designed to be sprayed while held upright. In addition, as you rotate the mini, you will be putting wet primer against the floor. I see nothing positive about this.
Get a small cardboard box and set it up in a card table if you need a spray booth. Don\'t put the mini all the way back against the box, but more toward the front edge.
MPJ
New member
Everyone has forgotten to mention the \'Primer Dance\'. Every time I use my spray primers while shaking the can I do the Primer Dance (think native americans stomping around a campfire) while chanting prayers to the Primer Gods.
It\'s funny \'cause I don\'t know him... Umm, oh wait it\'s me so... It\'s funny \'cause it\'s true!
TTFN, Michel
PS: It\'s really true, I do. Wifie thinks I\'m nuts but I\'ve been doing this since she was in diapers (got me a younger woman. ;p).
It\'s funny \'cause I don\'t know him... Umm, oh wait it\'s me so... It\'s funny \'cause it\'s true!
TTFN, Michel
PS: It\'s really true, I do. Wifie thinks I\'m nuts but I\'ve been doing this since she was in diapers (got me a younger woman. ;p).
MPJ
New member
Modderrhu brings up a question I\'ve been meaning to ask:
Does anyone prime with an airbrush? Assuming a yes (other than just Modderrhu) do you find it better than from a spray can and what primers have/do you use?
I\'ve got a couple good airbrushes, compressor, etc... And have been mulling around using them for priming minis. I\'m sure it would be a pain in the butt if you just primed one mini at a time but I generally prime many and leave them in that primed state for a while (years sometimes) before getting around to actually painting them.
Does anyone prime with an airbrush? Assuming a yes (other than just Modderrhu) do you find it better than from a spray can and what primers have/do you use?
I\'ve got a couple good airbrushes, compressor, etc... And have been mulling around using them for priming minis. I\'m sure it would be a pain in the butt if you just primed one mini at a time but I generally prime many and leave them in that primed state for a while (years sometimes) before getting around to actually painting them.
airhead
Coffin Dodger / Keymaster
I think most of the brush on primers (Vellajo, GW, Reaper, etc.) are pretty poor primers. The primer test shows the only thing worse than the brush on was the black paint. Now, if you were to run some Rustoleum or automotive primers through your airbrush, you might be on to something.
Cost of a can of Krylon primer: $5.00 (or less)
Minis primed per can: 75 (I just did this and there was paint left in the can)
Cost per mini = less than 7 cents per mini.
It is not worth me getting out my airbrushes and shooting minis with some nasty automotive primers and flushin with reducer to save a penny per mini.
Cost of a can of Krylon primer: $5.00 (or less)
Minis primed per can: 75 (I just did this and there was paint left in the can)
Cost per mini = less than 7 cents per mini.
It is not worth me getting out my airbrushes and shooting minis with some nasty automotive primers and flushin with reducer to save a penny per mini.
