The Loose Association of Wargamers

Recommendations for brush-on black primer for metal figures ?

I usually use humbrol and need some new so wondered what else was good ?

Airbrush primers (Vallejo and badger) don’t seem to adhere well.
Special metals primer (the white stuff) is quite thick and claggy.
Gesso is gritty.

I’ve heard good things about the Vallejo brush on primers, though I haven’t tried them. I seem to think it’s different to the air primer.

I've been using the Vallejo brush on primer for a couple of years and it's very good, as long as it's well shaken first.

I assume the supposed advantage of a specifically formulated primer as opposed to an undercoat if black paint is better adherence, then?

garyp wrote: ↑Tue Dec 25, 2018 5:16 pm I've been using the Vallejo brush on primer for a couple of years and it's very good, as long as it's well shaken first.

I've always used this for plastic and find its great but I use diluted humbrol enamel for metal - always have

I just use ordinary Vallejo.

You might want to try Mr Metal primer, my understanding is that it's a proper etching primer. It goes on clear though. I've not used it and although I've heard of mixed results it might be worth trying. Some modellers dip their brass etch parts into it and presumably let the excess drip off.

The problem with a lot of products targeted at modellers is that they aren't designed for wargame figures that generally have to tolerate a lot of handling, unlike a display model and so aren't very hard wearing. These days I do a seasonal production process for example, I only spray etch primer in the summer months to build up stock for winter painting.

Conversely I've found the Vallejo primers to be next to useless, they just rub off.

Not a primer as such, but I've used acrylic gesso for a while now. It comes in white or black and sticks really well to metal or plastic providing a very matt surface to paint on.
(The added plus is that you could go for old style non acrylic gesso which really annoys vegans as it's made from boiled down rabbits)

I use Hycote grey primer from Amazon. It’s a spray, not brush on, but covers the figure well and seems very durable

Or......you could just use bog standard Vallejo.

I know, I'm a scanky gypo.