Vallejo Surface Primer

[Splurch]

I've been using Vallejo's Primer for a bit now and thinks it's absolutely fantastic through an airbrush. I've had great success with Black and a few other colors. That being said, their White primer seems really thin in comparison and just doesn't go on right. I've tried hitting it from different distances and adjusting the pressure but it just ends up not adhering properly, pooling or being grainy, with pooling/destroying details being the biggest issue. I don't have any problems remotely like this with their other primers.

For anyone familiar, any tips on using their white primer? I prefer priming in white but moved away from spray cans. Anyone have a good alternative brand that goes well through an airbrush?

 

[boubi]

I always prime coat in Black then hit it with white. You can give it a try!

 

[Zab]

badger has some great ones they just released, good through the AB and just brushed on.

 

[MAXXxxx]

Weird, I never had problem with the white through the AB. Behaved exactly as the black.

Also like boubi I mostly (with some exceptions) prime black then white, but as I said, even priming with white only I had no problems with it.

 

[Splurch]

I'll give the black then white a try. Looking into the new Badger primers now as well and they look pretty solid, seem to be sold out everywhere though. As for it behaving differently, the bottle I've been using is a few months old and I've been using it off and on. Got a second bottle today just to see if it was a bad batch or something and its the same consistency. The white just seems to be much thinner then the other colors.

 

[Zab]

andrea and scale 75 both carry primers too but i've never tried them

 

[RuneBrush]

I know I'm a little late to this thread, but try the Vallejo light grey primer, it's as good as the black (though the dark grey is even better).

 

[Canny]

I know I'm a little late to this thread, but try the Vallejo light grey primer, it's as good as the black (though the dark grey is even better).

Thats what I use too.(Vallejo light grey primer)

 

[golemmartin]

I'm not a great fan of any white airbrush primer. I know u have moved away from spray cans but have you ever used tamiya fine surface primer (white) we at Golem Painting studio use it and its great.

 

[Splurch]

I haven't used Tamiya's spray, but I used to use Duplicolor White (and black), and it's fantastic as a primer. I just moved away from sprays in general to avoid having to spray outside/reduce costs.

 

[golemmartin]

Yep definitely not cheap using spray can primer. I've used a few white surface primers through an airbrush and sorry to say the vallejo one is best of a bad bunch.
If I have to I will use the light grey one instead of white, its less grainy and not that far of white anyway.
Let me know if you have any success finding any better ones.

 

[Splurch]

So I finally got ahold of Badger's Stynylrez primers and gave them a try (got the White/Black/Grey 4oz 3 pack). Horribly name aside, they are pretty decent. Compared to Vallejo they are a lot thicker and as a result seem a bit more temperamental about getting a smooth coat. They are also a little easier to scratch off, if I go after a mini with my fingernail the Stynylrez comes off easier then the Vallejo does. For Resin/Plastic the difference is minor, they both take a lot to take off. For metal the Stynylrez is much easier to scratch off, even with curing for a week, although it does seem strong enough that it will be fine once painted/sealed.

As for the main purpose of getting the Stynylrez, the White has great coverage. All 3 of the primers have the same thick consistency, so you need a good sized airbrush to push them through easily. While I won't be replacing Vallejo with the Stynylrez I may start using the Stynylrez white when I want to white prime because the Vallejo's just pales in comparison.