Priming your models

Primer is a thin first coat that goes on before any paint. Paint doesn't grip bare plastic well: it beads up, goes on patchy and rubs off where you hold the model. Primer gives it something to hold on to, and a single even colour to paint over.

How to spray it

1. 01

   Step 1

   Pick your day and your spot

   Spray outdoors, on a dry, mild day. Cold or damp air is the usual reason primer goes wrong (see below). Stand the models on a box or a bit of card, with plenty of space around them.

2. 02

   Step 2

   Shake the can properly

   Shake it for a good minute or two, until the ball inside rattles freely.

3. 03

   Step 3

   Short, sweeping bursts

   Hold the can about 15 to 20cm from the models. Start spraying to one side, sweep across the models and stop past them, in short bursts. Then turn the models and do the other sides, and from above.

4. 04

   Step 4

   Thin coats

   A thin coat that leaves a little plastic showing is better than one heavy coat that drowns the detail. Let it dry for a few minutes and go over any bare patches with a second light pass.

White, black or grey?

• White makes colours on top look bright and clean, and it's the one to use under one-coat paints like Speedpaint, which rely on a light colour underneath to look right.
• Black gives darker, moodier colours and hides any spots you miss, but bright colours need several coats over it.
• Grey sits in between, and is a forgiving middle ground.

I use Citadel's White Scar spray, because I paint my Stormcast with Speedpaint Markers over a light primer.