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What's with all the hate for GW black primer?


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I used to always use GW's Chaos Black Primer. Then, for a few bucks less, I bought the P3 Black Primer. I still have three cans of the P3 and consider myself out of primer if I have no GW Chaos Black around.

 

To me, the P3 makes the models look cartoonish and kind of fuzzy. They're not actually fuzzy, but they sure do look like it from afar.

It has been my main primer for awhile now, after trying out P3 and a couple other brands (including auto primers) and it seems to have the best coverage.

 

However I recently tried priming using Vallejo Primer through my air brush I except for Forge World stuff (as the resin needs can primer that will actually bond with it) I can't see myself going back. It goes on incredibly thin and smooth, dries within a few minutes, doesn't stink up the house, and the conditions outside don't matter. Models do take slightly longer to prime, but the time saved with drying more than makes up for that.

 

On a side note I think I'm going to try out the Corax White for some of my resin though, just to see how it does.

The only complaints I heard about black spray paint from GW was when they quit making the actual primer and started selling Chaos Black, which was not a primer. I used to buy the GW stuff (before I wised up and bought cheaper alternatives) and hadn't realized they discontinued the primer and bought a can of the Chaos Black, and it was not suitable at all as an undercoat.

I know my experiences were with the old Chaos Black. This had a bad habit to get odd results depending on temperature and go on in very differing shades of not-quite-black, pooling heavily and spitting a dusty Matt texture in worst cases(including my own fault due to use).

 

I've had better results with my airbrush. Even far better results since I bought some Vallejo primer with their flow improver. So smooth and easy to apply.

I know my experiences were with the old Chaos Black. This had a bad habit to get odd results depending on temperature and go on in very differing shades of not-quite-black, pooling heavily and spitting a dusty Matt texture in worst cases(including my own fault due to use).

 

I've had better results with my airbrush. Even far better results since I bought some Vallejo primer with their flow improver. So smooth and easy to apply.

 

I had bad results priming w/ spray cans.  I switched to airbrush priming and I love it.  Right now I'm using vallejo white primer and some of their thinning medium.  I'll have to look into this 'flow improver'.

Aye worth it, running approx ten drops grey primer to two or three flow. Runs free and smooth, but without thinners that nice primer can begin to dry up in your airbrush after long periods, so does require monitoring and cleaning more often during sessions.

 

Read about flow improver ages back, just never tried any until recently.

Here's MY personal gripe with GW sprays and such…

I've been painting a very long time. Over that period of time, GW has changed their paint line several times. Through each change, it seems to me that GW is not actually manufacturing the sprays, but re-branding another company's spray. That isn't necessarily a bad product, but over the years, I've desired a bit more consistency. If I go to the auto parts store and buy Dupli-Color primer, I'm fairly certain that it's still going to be the same stuff that I bought 2 years ago. That doesn't seem to be the case with GW. I want a consistent product each time I purchase it, especially when it has a premium price attached to it.

Here's MY personal gripe with GW sprays and such…

 

I've been painting a very long time. Over that period of time, GW has changed their paint line several times. Through each change, it seems to me that GW is not actually manufacturing the sprays, but re-branding another company's spray. That isn't necessarily a bad product, but over the years, I've desired a bit more consistency. If I go to the auto parts store and buy Dupli-Color primer, I'm fairly certain that it's still going to be the same stuff that I bought 2 years ago. That doesn't seem to be the case with GW. I want a consistent product each time I purchase it, especially when it has a premium price attached to it.

Especially with paint, where even if the quality is consistent, the colour may still change.

I dunno, I like GW Black Primer...

Edit - I also like GW plastic glue, and GW clippers, etc. but I guess some people don't like them because they can find cheaper or they just hate GW as a large corporation, etc.

Um, or it could just be that alternatives to the GW stuff are usually both better and cheaper? Not to mention more consistent over the years? rolleyes.gif

Some of us do care about buying best-quality materiel, whether it costs a bit more, the same, or less - and in my experience the GW stuff has been invariably poor value for money for at least 15 years now... Plenty of folks disagree with that assessment though, which is why the GW stuff still sells. No need to bash either way if everyone's happy with their choice.

Here's MY personal gripe with GW sprays and such…

I've been painting a very long time. Over that period of time, GW has changed their paint line several times. Through each change, it seems to me that GW is not actually manufacturing the sprays, but re-branding another company's spray. That isn't necessarily a bad product, but over the years, I've desired a bit more consistency. If I go to the auto parts store and buy Dupli-Color primer, I'm fairly certain that it's still going to be the same stuff that I bought 2 years ago. That doesn't seem to be the case with GW. I want a consistent product each time I purchase it, especially when it has a premium price attached to it.

Exactly this, and I understand that it further varys depending on where you are in the world too (as I think GW tries to source sprays somewhat "locally" if possible).

Here in the UK, I have always found Halfords primers to be the best and most reliable. These are what the GW studio uses (or used to use), despite advertising thier own brand. And even though I don't think they name Halfords directly anymore, FW have always advised using non-GW automotive spray primers on their products.

This is because it's not just about cost vs coverage: the formulation matters, and these are sprays designed to give good results outdoors on bare metal; however, the GW primers aren't really designed to that spec. That's why getting a good finish from automotive primers is nearly always easier and more consistent in my experience, and why they bond better to the model (i.e., they don't rub or scuff off as easily - although things like spear tips and such will always be an issue). It's worth noting that they generally have more solvent too, and so can take a full 24 hours to cure completely and "shrink" fully onto the model.

I've only had one mess up with GW black primer. And I think thats because I left the can in the cold garage or I sprayed too much. I would still use it if Army painter didn't sell the same thing at a better price.

 

I wasn't aware that there was hate for GW black.

  • 2 weeks later...

Chaos Black is good, but at the price point? I only buy it when I need something on short notice, as my gaming store is closer than a proper supply store. 

Otherwise, Krylon or Rustoleum provides much the same quality, a much lower price, and a wider range in colours. 

I still use it, but then there's not much left in the can and when it's done I shall switch to the stuff from Halfords.

Not because I hate GW sprays, but because the halfords grey and white primers are excellent, cheap, and come in bigger cans than the GW stuff, so it only seems logical to try their black one too.

Use krylon flat color, it is just as good if not better. People fool themselves if they think the GW stuff is somehow "formulated" better or some such nonsense. I have been painting for 20 years and I always use krylon and it has never done me wrong

The GW sprays are not primers but matt paint. They're also one of the most expensive available for the can size. Although Tamiya are also expensive but are actually a primer so work much better.

 

Currently I'm using Halfords primer though. Price and quality wise it's really worth it.

  • 4 weeks later...

I never use anything else on miniatures. Even if I plan to undercoat white or another colour, my minis get a coat of Chaos Black first. It's never given me any trouble so I prefer not to change.

 

I use Army Painter bone to speed up painting my Undead army, but I've had a lot of rough finish problems. I tried their white and black and relegated them to scenery duty.  I would try a Krylon product if they were easy to get in the UK, as I've used their varnishes before and liked them.  I know a few people who use Halfords auto sprays, I'm not overly impressed, and as I work in the surface finishing industry I can tell you that a paint optimised to work on a mild steel car body is not necessarily that good on a tin or tin alloy casting.

 

When I get on to scenery projects etc I'll be using cheaper paint, don't worry!

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