Slitherine

I know a few guys here already use this but I have to add my tuppenceworth too.

I bought a couple of pots of Winsor & Newton Black and White Gesso primer and this morning did a few 15mm figures with it.

I am so impressed with it`s flat and matt properties that I have to extol it`s virtues here. Firstly it will cost next to nothing to prime your figures as all the paint goes on the figure and not into the atmosphere.

I used it straight from the pot and although it scared me to see the thickness it actually all dried out better than any spraycan.
It rules out buying coloured primers as you can mix it with any acrylic paint to get any colour primer you want.

It takes a little longer to dry out and you will probably find that you have missed a few spots so have to redo them, I think probably due to air bubbles in the original application.

I have already thrown out my spraycans. No more Black fingers and waiting for a good day with no wind. OK, I have yet to paint on it but I just know it is going to be good. The detail left visible is astounding and surely going to be easier to see to paint. I would maybe add that you don`t want to go handling your figures prior to painting but if you use painting sprues as I do that won`t be a problem anyway.

Ace isn't it!!! Has excellent tooth too so painting over black is far easier than with spray primer.

Spartacus wrote: It takes a little longer to dry out and you will probably find that you have missed a few spots so have to redo them, I think probably due to air bubbles in the original application.

Gaps may be due to traces of mould separation chemicals, hot water, fairly strong detergent and a good brush (some have good results with dishwashers).

You could use old style fantasy undercoat: white with an ink wash of near black ink (very dark purple, very dark brown or Paynes Grey).

The other reason for gaps is (I'm reliably told on the TMP discussion boards) that gesso shrinks as it dries. I've got a pot of black and of white which will last me for years probably, and I can't see myself going back to spray primer cans again either.

philbagnall wrote:The other reason for gaps is (I'm reliably told on the TMP discussion boards) that gesso shrinks as it dries. I've got a pot of black and of white which will last me for years probably, and I can't see myself going back to spray primer cans again either.

Gaps are more likely to be due to residue from the mould separation chemicals, fingerprints etc.. painted on primers are more susceptible to this than sprays. Dishwashers are really good at cleaning new figs [and you get brownie points for filling, emptying it ]

If you don't like plain white or black undercoat, you can use white and an acrylic ink wash of dark purple, dark brown, paynes grey or similar near black colours. You then dry brush acrylics over it to get fairly rich colours.

Presume this is the W&N Galeria stuff at about £10 a litre? Had contemplated trying this but seen mixed reviews dependant on where you look. Always been a bit dubious as I'd hate the stuff to come off!