White undercoat

[A Luna]

Hi there (also an opportunity to say Hi-I\'m-new),

I\'m new to these forums but not very much in the world of painting. However, I really can\'t seem to understand why a white undercoat is so good and why so many people use it.

So why should I use it? ???

I have primed some miniatures with a white basecoat but I always keep seeing a little white on some places where I can\'t get with my brush or i forgot to basecoat that and now I can\'t paint it because I might paint on some other places and I\'ll have to touch those up again.

To cut the bullcrap, could anyone tell me if there is a \'smart-painting-method\' for painting with a white basecoat?

Thanks

 

[Sauce Devil]

So long as the primer is all over the miniature it doesn\'t matter if the metal is visible underneath. Spray very lightly, just enough to give the paint something to stick to.

 

[freakinacage]

sauce is right, spray lightly so you don\'t mask the details. i still use too much. 2 thin coats are better than a thick one

i personally use grey primer as it\'s easy to build up light and dark colours on top. also, i use automotive primer as it\'s cheaper, smoother and stronger (bear in mind gw spray stuff is an undercoat, not a primer and does not adhere the paint to the model as well as a proper primer will)

 

[Dragonsreach]

Chris (generulpoleaxe) mentioned a technique to getting an even Primer coverage. Mount the mini on a stick (or something similar) and twirl it in your fingers while spraying it with primer. Much better and smoother coverage, less \"Missage\".


Oh yes latex/nitrile gloves are a must doing this.

 

[Aliengod3]

White undercoat is good for creating certain atmospheres with your mini. If you want something dark and brooding go with black or grey. If you want something a bit lighter in color go with white. White also helps a mini look more luminous which is very characterful.

 

[Mr Scream]

Although most of it has already been said ill give my view.

I use white if the mini im painting is going to be bright/use lots of color or I want to shade using color rather than just going from dark to light. You can create more effects with white.

Grey is good for realistic tones/colors and is similar to white without the brightness.

A black undercoat gives me a cleaner crisper finish that I like on sci fi minis.

To spray I hold the mini and rotate it as already stated.

You will find that your choice of undercoat changes as your technique develops. Try them all.

 

[mickc22]

Originally posted by Dragonsreach
Chris (generulpoleaxe) mentioned a technique to getting an even Primer coverage. Mount the mini on a stick (or something similar) and twirl it in your fingers while spraying it with primer. Much better and smoother coverage, less \"Missage\".


Oh yes latex/nitrile gloves are a must doing this.

I of course had to gadgetify this technique. I bought an old record turntable from a charity shop for a fiver, mount the mini on a spray lid with double sided, set it to its lowest RPM, turn on and spray
I\'ve got it sitting in an old cardboard box as a mini spray booth

You don\'t have to use white, in fact a grey primer is best as it allows you to see the details better. You can always paint an area white first if you need to brighten up a color
A black primer isn\'t that bad either, especially if you have the foundation paints, they\'ll go over black and give you a good base, and at least you won\'t have any little white specks shouting out \"yoo hoo! here I am, can you see me? Yoo Hoo! Yoo Hoo!!\"

 

[mattsterbenz]

Once you go black, you don\'t go back!

-Matt

 

[chrispasseno]

I prime with two light coats of white gesso, using my airbrush.

Gesso has an awesome ability to shrink as it dries, which pulls it into the nooks and crannies. No loss of detail. It also leaves a nice \'tooth\' for paint to adhere to.

The only downside, if you call it that, is that you have to let it sit for 24 hrs after priming for it to completely set rock hard.

 

[DaRat]

It\'s easier for me to see details with white primer. And, as someone already said, the colors are brighter.

If I want to get shadows in all of the recesses, I\'ll wash the figure with brown magic wash.

 

[TAB Studio]

I paint on prime white with diluted brush-on Vallejo, then lightly glaze a wash to see detail.
For myself, white is the best base to develop colors and the areas I want dark I darken with glaze or washes. From what I am told black does not have to be stark solid to be registered by the eye as such.
Each has their own stroke though and you really do have to find what you enjoy eventually.

 

[freakinacage]

Originally posted by mattsterbenz
Once you go black, you don\'t go back!

-Matt

i did

 

[donga666]

Originally posted by freakinacage

Originally posted by mattsterbenz
Once you go black, you don\'t go back!

-Matt

i did

Used black for the best part of ten years, rarely, if ever use it now!

Grey or white. Black for scenery.

Auto primer, cheap and tough with fine surface.

 

[alextheartist]

grey, then white from above

 

[A Luna]

Heya thanks for the replies.

I\'m still wondering how you should paint a miniature if you sprayed it white?
Do you start with the biggest parts like I normally do? Or just the deepest parts?

Any hints and tips about that highly appreciated. Btw, as I said in my first post, I keep on seeing little white places (when I finished painting a miniature) because my brush couldnt come there. I always have to basecoat the complete part when I paint it?

 

[mattsterbenz]

Originally posted by A Luna
Heya thanks for the replies.

I\'m still wondering how you should paint a miniature if you sprayed it white?
Do you start with the biggest parts like I normally do? Or just the deepest parts?

Any hints and tips about that highly appreciated. Btw, as I said in my first post, I keep on seeing little white places (when I finished painting a miniature) because my brush couldnt come there. I always have to basecoat the complete part when I paint it?

A good rule of thumb is to paint \"from the inside, out.\" Paint the deepest areas first, that way you don\'t mess up other areas if you are trying to paint in small crevices.

If you are going to paint over white, I\'d echo what a couple others said and apply a thin wash over the whole model. That will darken the crevices for you, so you don\'t have the problem of white spots showing up in cracks. It will also help define the details better.

This is why I really like black primer. If you miss a spot, it\'s black and looks like a painted shadow. Painting over white takes longer because you have to be very careful about your basecoat being complete.

-Matt

 

[A Luna]

Thanks Matt

I like black basecoats more too.