Maya Ellison
Painting miniatures is a fun activity, but it can be tricky to get right. One of the most important steps in the painting process is priming the miniature. Priming is necessary to seal the model and prepare it for paint. It gives you an even base colour tone to start with and helps the paint adhere to the model. Without primer, paint will not stick well to the miniature, and you may find it challenging to get consistent colour across your miniature. Primer is especially important for plastic miniatures because the ultra-smooth surface of the plastic is too smooth for paint to adhere to. Primer also fills in any imperfections in the model, such as bubbles or cracks, creating a smooth surface for painting.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Importance of priming plastic miniatures | It is important to prime plastic miniatures before painting as it helps the paint adhere to the model, seals the model, and prepares it for paint. |
| Benefits of priming | Priming helps paint stick to the miniature, protects the durability of the paint, smooths out uneven textures, and provides an even color tone over the entire model. |
| Types of primers | Spray primer, brush-on primer, airbrush primer, and colour primer spray |
| Preparation | Determine if the miniature needs to be washed, build and attach the miniature to the base, and prime the miniature. |
| Techniques | Apply multiple thin layers of primer, use a flat or "matte" primer, and spray with short bursts of primer. |
| Brands | Army Painter, Maston, and Krylon |
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What You'll Learn
Priming helps paint adhere to plastic miniatures
Priming is an essential step in the painting process for plastic miniatures. It helps seal the model and prepares it for paint. A primer will provide a matte, non-reflective surface that adds "tooth" and helps paint adhere to the model.
The ultra-smooth surface of plastic miniatures is too smooth for paint to adhere to, especially if you are using acrylic paint. Without a primer, the paint will not stick well to the miniature, leading to peeling or flaking over time. Primer, on the other hand, bonds well with plastic and gives the miniature a surface that the paint can easily stick to.
A good primer application will also smooth out any surface imperfections such as bubbles, cracks, and other unwanted textures. It will also help you achieve a uniform surface, which will help you achieve even paint coverage. Without a primer, you may find it challenging to get consistent colour across your miniature.
Additionally, primed miniatures generally withstand handling better, reducing the risk of paint wear from regular use or display. Priming your plastic miniature will ensure the paint job is durable and will not easily chip off.
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Priming creates an even base colour
Priming is an important step in the painting process, as it helps seal the model and prepares it for paint. It provides a smooth base colour, which makes the painting process more enjoyable and helps you achieve a better-finished product.
A white or black primer is a good choice, as it will be easy to determine when you have applied enough. You can also use grey primer, especially if you plan to paint with thinned acrylic paint, as you will need to paint several coats over grey primer to get either bright or very dark colours. However, it can be more difficult to achieve a full dynamic range of bright and dark colours when painting over grey primer.
When priming, it is important to apply multiple thin layers, rather than a single thick layer, to prevent bubbles from forming in the primer coat and to reduce the chance of obscuring fine details. It is also important to prime in a well-lit area so you can easily see when the primer has eliminated any shine on the miniature.
Overall, priming is a crucial step in achieving an even base colour for your plastic miniatures and ensuring a high-quality paint job.
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Priming fills in surface imperfections
Priming is an essential step in the painting process for plastic miniatures. It helps seal the model and prepares it for paint by creating an even base colour tone. A primer will provide a matte, non-reflective surface that adds "tooth" and helps paint adhere to the model.
During the manufacturing of plastic miniatures, surface imperfections such as bubbles, cracks, and other unwanted textures may appear. These imperfections can be filled in with primer, which will smooth out the surface and make the painting process more enjoyable. Without primer, paint may not stick well to the miniature, leading to peeling or flaking over time.
It is important to note that not all primers are created equal. Some "primers" on the market are simply spray paint and do not contain actual priming agents. It is also important to consider the weather conditions when priming, as humidity can cause problems. Additionally, when using a brush-on primer, it is recommended to apply multiple thin layers rather than a single thick layer to reduce the chance of obscuring fine details and prevent bubbles from forming.
By priming your plastic miniatures, you will create the best conditions for your paint job and colours to last. It fills in surface imperfections, provides a smooth base for paint to adhere to, and helps protect the durability of the paint.
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Priming helps paint last longer
Priming is an essential step in the painting process, and it helps paint last longer in several ways. Firstly, it increases the paint's ability to adhere to the model. Primer is formulated to be more adhesive than standard paint, acting as a "glue" for the paint to hold onto. This is especially important for plastic miniatures because the ultra-smooth surface of the plastic makes it difficult for paint to adhere well. Without primer, paint can flake, chip, or peel off easily over time due to handling or transportation.
Additionally, priming helps create a uniform surface, smoothing out any uneven textures or imperfections that may be present on the plastic miniature. This not only makes the painting process easier and more enjoyable but also helps to prevent paint from building up and obscuring fine details. By creating a smooth, even base, priming ensures that paint adheres uniformly and that there is consistent colour coverage across the miniature.
Furthermore, priming helps paint last longer by providing a solid base colour to work from. A primer will give you a matte, non-reflective surface that adds "tooth" for the paint to grip onto. Light colours, in particular, benefit from a white primer as a base, as it is easier to cover with fewer coats than painting light colours over a darker primer. Similarly, dark paint covers white primer more easily than darker primer shades.
Finally, some primers may chemically react with plastic miniatures, bonding directly to the surface and making the paint extremely durable and almost impossible to remove. This further contributes to the longevity of the paint job. Therefore, by providing a better surface for paint to adhere to, creating a uniform base, and increasing durability, priming helps paint last longer on plastic miniatures.
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Priming is not always necessary
While priming is often considered an important step in the painting process, it is not always necessary, especially when dealing with plastic miniatures. Here are some reasons why you might choose to forgo priming:
Cost and Availability:
Primers designed specifically for miniatures can be expensive, and cheaper alternatives may not always be readily available. In such cases, it is possible to use regular spray paint as a base coat, which can be purchased at a local hardware store for a fraction of the cost.
Personal Preference and Technique:
Ultimately, the decision to prime or not comes down to personal preference and the specific task at hand. Some painters choose to skip priming altogether, while others may prefer to prime only certain types of miniatures or materials. Additionally, certain painting techniques, such as blackwash or preshading, can be used to prime miniatures without the need for a separate primer step.
Paint Adhesion:
One of the main purposes of primer is to improve paint adhesion and durability. However, if you are using a paint designed for plastic, such as the precursor paint line to the GW base paints, you may find that a primer is not necessary. These paints are formulated to adhere well to plastic without the need for a primer.
Surface Texture:
Another function of primer is to smooth out uneven surfaces and create a uniform base for painting. However, if your plastic miniature already has a smooth surface, you may find that a primer is unnecessary. Priming over an already smooth surface may obscure fine details and accumulate in cracks or crevices.
Color Considerations:
Priming is often recommended to achieve an even color tone over the entire model. However, this may be less important if you are painting with dark colors. Dark paint can cover over a white primer more easily, but when painting with light colors, a dark primer may require more layers of paint to achieve the desired result.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, priming is necessary as it helps the paint adhere to the model. It also establishes a base colour for your model, making it easier to paint.
Primer helps seal the model and prepare it for paint. It gives you a nice, even base colour tone to start with and adds a "tooth" to the surface, helping the paint adhere better.
You can use a brush-on primer or a spray primer. If you use a spray primer, make sure to do a few test sprays first and set up your work area with cardboard boxes or scrap paper to avoid overspray. If you use a brush-on primer, apply multiple thin layers rather than a single thick layer to prevent bubbles from forming in the primer coat.
Spray the primer in a well-lit area so you can easily see the light reflecting off the surface. Apply just enough primer to eliminate any shininess when dry.
