Primer

By Anthony Karl Erdelji

Primer, contrary to what some people think, is not paint. Primer on a microscopic scale is made up of tiny rough particles that grip the surface of the figure and in turn help the paint to grip the primer. Primer not of give use a smooth surface to work on, but reduces the chances of the paint chipping when subject to wear and tear.

Primer is best applied from a spray can or air brush. Brushing primer is not effective for getting a smooth coat. I've tried many different brand of primer over the years and have found very little difference between them. Craft primer does the same job and expensive name brand primers. Currently I use Krylon sandable primer available at most auto parts stores for $3.50 a can.

Your final choice is to what color of primer to use. Your main choices are white or black. Personally, I always use white primer. Colors show up cleaner and brighter over a white surface. Black primer should only be used if you're planning on painting at least 90% of the figure black. Color over a black come out dull and transparent colors like reds, yellow, and whites will take several coats to completely cover a black surface. 

Coat d'arms makes a number of colored primers that are very useful for painting figures that are mainly one color like many types of space marines, Skaven, or horses. They take care of both the primering and basecoating on one step. Since Coat d'arms makes the primer in house instead of buying it from an outside company and sticking their own label on the can, the color in the can is a perfect match for the color in the bottle of the same name. This make touching up any chips on the figure extremely easy.

Primer On Plastic

Before you go and primer your plastic troops, there is one thing you should really know. Many spray primers EAT PLASTIC!!! Its not really the primer that will eat your plastic figures, but the toxic chemical propellants in the can that may give your figures a lovely melted surface. To prevent your plastic figures from being destroyed it is helpful to use a plastic friendly primer. Coat d'arms primer works well on plastic. So does the Games Workshop primer available in the U.K. There may be more plastic friendly primers, but I don't know of any personally. 

To avoid damage when priming plastic speed is the key. Spraying in quick layers gives the propellants less time to eat your miniatures. Place the figure face down in a shallow cardboard box or over some newspaper. Spray plastic figures at a short distance, about six inches or less. Remembering to start and stop spraying off the miniature, spray on ONE coat, moving the can as fast as your arm allows. Do not go back and forth with the can! Just one pass is enough. Let the primer dry a few seconds and repeat with a second coat, again spraying just one coat. Three or four coats should be enough for any figure. Wait about a half hour, then flip the figure over and repeat the same procedure on the other side.