Undercoat or not?

[Dannoc]

I have always undercoated, be it black, white or grey.
I've prepped a load of pp's British AWI infantry and thought I'd give a couple of figures a wash with GW nuln oil and wow did it bring out the details.
My eye sight is not what it used to be and even with glasses and an illuminated magnifier I can't see this much detail.
So what am I'm thinking - undercoat or not? Does anyone else leave off the undercoat?
Thanks guys.

[Colonel Kilgore]

Dannoc,

I would suggest one should always prime (having washed the castings following cleaning to remove swarf and grease, of course), as I believe that it helps the paint adhere better and thus last longer..

Some may prime and then undercoat.

I do like the look of the casting with a wash (and I always use a wash of some kind after the base colours, as I'm too clumsy to shade properly and it brings out the sculpting very well).

You may wish to consider a light coat of white primer followed by your Nuln Oil wash before you start painting proper, to get the best of both worlds?

I am interested in hearing what others think.

Simon

[John Watson]

I've always undercoated in white, as my eyes lose the detail if I use black. As I am about to start a new project (PBI partisans) I will try the white undercoat followed by a contrast wash and see how I get on. Due to my aversion to black and my excessive stock of other wash shades though I will use a brown or green. I'll let you know the results in a couple of weeks.
John

[Leslie BT]

Always prime my bare metal and plastic.

The paint formulated as primer is to provide a key for the undercoat and top coat.

If I forget an odd figure and try to paint with out priming then the metal will show through on some edges.

[Lluis of Minairons]

Yes I always do prime my miniatures -usually light grey, although not always.

Lluís

[EssexWargamer]

I always prime my figures in a grey tone, and then go for the Nuln Oil wash afterwards.
That way I can see the details on the figure clearly, and the base colours go on smoothly.

[Dannoc]

Thanks - I've gone with the grey primer (which i've used before) and followed it up with the black wash. Detail still looks good.

[martin goddard]

I usually undercoat in dark or mid brown.
This can give a more gentle contrast than black or white.
After doing the undercoat i find I usually need to go over and find the bits I missed.
When paint is fresh it looks shiny. When it has dried the missed bits show up better. I hold the figures upside down to spot the missed bits.


martin

[pbeccas (Paul)]

If you don't prime, the acrylic paint will start to wear off after handling your figures.  Even if you give them a good varnish. 

[Spartacus]

Always use some sort of base coat. I used to use white but for the last few years I have used black as I find any missed parts later would usually be in the shaded area anyway. I too have old eyes but this works for me. Oh and yes--wash off any mould release or greasy bits before priming and leave to dry thoroughly.
Then after that I totally ruin the figure by attemting to paint it.

[Norm]

Always prime, with a dedicated primer and allow time to cure.

I prime black and then dry brush white, which brings all of the highlights out and helps keep colours brigher.

When done, I do a thinned wash and then spot with some highlights.

For metals I gloss varnish and then mat varnish.

[Spartacus]

Always prime, with a dedicated primer and allow time to cure.

I prime black and then dry brush white, which brings all of the highlights out and helps keep colours brigher.

Thats sounds like a plan, never tried it!👌

[martin goddard]

The mould release agent used  is talcum equivalent.
I have used graphite in the past for specific master moulding, but never on production castings..
Grease cannot be used on a rubber mould because rubber hates grease.
Try putting 3 in 1 oil into a rubber condom (don't really try that).

A wash will move away any talc though.


martin

[Colonel Kilgore]

Ah - so it's talc - I wondered why your figures always smelt so nice

Simon

[Andoreth]

Norm,

I've never tried your "prime in black and then dry brush white" method, it sounds interesting and I think I may try it. My usual technique is almost the reverse with a white primer and then a black or dark brown wash to bring out the detail. My only recent innovation is that I have started using Halford's car primer for plastics with my plastic and resin figures.