Skipping the basecoat?

[Chrispy]

One alternative is to use matte sealer as a clear primer, or- (And this may be a bit costly) they make clear gesso for artists, to which you could add any color. However, gesso has a lot more texture, so you'd have to thin it down.

As for GW's paintgun.. I knew when I saw the magazine add it was an inefficient single action. Paasche has a whole set with small compressor for ~$180 with all the bells and whistles. Single action and dual action is like night and day. You can also use the airbrush for the "zenethial" lighting base coat effect.

 

[ced1106]

Hmm. I thought the GW way was to start with a black primer? What, exactly, do you mean by basecoat?

I thought the conventional way was first black or white primer, then any undercoat, then basecoat, then shades, then highlights.

I don't do this when speed-painting evil minions, of course. Then, it's white primer, brown wash, then glaze. The thinness of the glaze allows the white primer to help highlight the edges. More layers of glaze on non-highlight areas become basecoat.

But whatever paints the miniature is the way to use! Check out all the different ways people make bases!