Pendraken Miniatures Forum

Wider Wargaming => Painting & Modelling => Topic started by: Last Hussar on 08 December 2018, 07:10:32 AM

Title: Undercoating in cold weather.
Post by: Last Hussar on 08 December 2018, 07:10:32 AM
Now I can't spray undercoat, what do I do? What paint for brush undercoat, as acrylics don't work very well?
Title: Re: Undercoating in cold weather.
Post by: Norm on 08 December 2018, 07:56:33 AM
Hammerite do a special 'metals' brush on primer, it is brown and designed to deal with slippery surface such as lead. If you look at the third picture down on the below link, there is a photo of the tin  product.  It is one of those odour products.

Once dry, I use black vallejo primer, which is designed for airbrushes, so is very thin and ideal for brushing on and giving a thorough coating.

I use this because it is effective and because I want to minimise solvent fums etc.

LINK

https://commanders.simdif.com/gaming-table_2.html
Title: Re: Undercoating in cold weather.
Post by: Last Hussar on 08 December 2018, 08:05:40 AM
Going to look for special metal primer. Thanks.

Now if only there was something we could do with 'special' forum user...
Title: Re: Undercoating in cold weather.
Post by: Leman on 08 December 2018, 08:36:15 AM
Thanks Norm. I remember Martin mentioning something about this over lunch in Warrington a while ago, but had forgotten exactly what the paint was called.
Title: Re: Undercoating in cold weather.
Post by: Steve J on 08 December 2018, 09:45:39 AM
I've primed in our garage at around 6-10 degrees with no problems, using Army Painter black primer. I just keep the spray can and figures in the house and then pop to the garage to spray. No problems so far...
Title: Re: Undercoating in cold weather.
Post by: fred. on 08 December 2018, 09:53:55 AM
Last winter I switch to brush on primers. I have been using pebeo studio black gesso - which despite going on thickly dries to a nice thin coat. And Vallejo grey primer (this is a very light grey nearish to white, not a mid-grey)

Title: Re: Undercoating in cold weather.
Post by: petercooman on 08 December 2018, 10:09:26 AM
I use a variety of brush on paints, mainly house paints from the DIY store.

Levis tester tubes are actually pretty good value and last a while, and are dead matt!
Title: Re: Undercoating in cold weather.
Post by: SV52 on 08 December 2018, 10:13:16 AM
Quote from: Steve J on 08 December 2018, 09:45:39 AM
I've primed in our garage at around 6-10 degrees with no problems, using Army Painter black primer. I just keep the spray can and figures in the house and then pop to the garage to spray. No problems so far...

Same here, using Halfords' white undercoat.  If only one or two they get brushed indoors.
Title: Re: Undercoating in cold weather.
Post by: Orcs on 08 December 2018, 10:44:05 AM
Quote from: Last Hussar on 08 December 2018, 07:10:32 AM
Now I can't spray undercoat, what do I do? What paint for brush undercoat, as acrylics don't work very well?

I have never had a problem priming in acrylic, have used black, white and the Vallejo Primer.
Title: Re: Undercoating in cold weather.
Post by: mmcv on 08 December 2018, 11:08:33 AM
Quote from: fred. on 08 December 2018, 09:53:55 AM
I have been using pebeo studio black gesso - which despite going on thickly dries to a nice thin coat.

I second the black gesso, its easy to blob on with a biggish brush and shrinks into the details as it dries, so even though it's a bit more monotonous and time consuming than spraying, it's easy to do in front of the TV without worrying too much about the details. Provides a nice surface to paint on and comes in white and grey too if that's your preference.
Title: Re: Undercoating in cold weather.
Post by: Womble67 on 08 December 2018, 12:24:13 PM
I use Plastikote

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Plastikote-B5W-Enamel-Paint-Bottle/dp/B003KJ0BL6/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_60_t_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=2PNWEKPJMK3578AS4QKN (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Plastikote-B5W-Enamel-Paint-Bottle/dp/B003KJ0BL6/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_60_t_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=2PNWEKPJMK3578AS4QKN)

Take care

Andy
Title: Re: Undercoating in cold weather.
Post by: Nick the Lemming on 08 December 2018, 01:15:18 PM
I've used gesso for years now, available in white, grey, or black, depending on what you normally prefer. 
Title: Re: Undercoating in cold weather.
Post by: steve_holmes_11 on 09 January 2019, 11:23:46 AM
A friend who makes aircraft models mentioned that an airbrush is the answer in cold conditions.
Title: Re: Undercoating in cold weather.
Post by: Noktu on 12 January 2019, 01:14:42 PM
I've sprayed with Citadel Corax White can in -5 celsius with little to no problems. But the weather has to be calm. And all you need to do is be fast, miniatures out - spray - miniatures back in to dry.
Title: Re: Undercoating in cold weather.
Post by: FierceKitty on 12 January 2019, 11:55:48 PM
I hope this isn't too much of a deviation, but why does black undercoat sometimes bloom through and wreck a paint job? It seems a hazard with certain colours in particular; scarlet and orange seem vulnerable.
Title: Re: Undercoating in cold weather.
Post by: Last Hussar on 13 January 2019, 12:22:58 AM
"Not to much of a deviation"?
On this Forum?  ;D ;D ;D

It is a vaild point, it is about undercoating. 

Can't help you though, I don't use black, as it stops me seeing the details. Also painting Prussians, I can't tell what I've already done.
Title: Re: Undercoating in cold weather.
Post by: Shecky on 13 January 2019, 04:11:03 AM
Quote from: FierceKitty on 12 January 2019, 11:55:48 PM
I hope this isn't too much of a deviation, but why does black undercoat sometimes bloom through and wreck a paint job? It seems a hazard with certain colours in particular; scarlet and orange seem vulnerable.

It has something to do with the pigments.  I recently learned the way to fix this is to paint the area grey or tan first.  I've picked up a number of great painting techniques on the Tabletop Minions YouTube site. It tends to favor 40k which I don't play but I do find the content interesting and useful.

https://youtu.be/gLbd4_RSwU8
Title: Re: Undercoating in cold weather.
Post by: FierceKitty on 13 January 2019, 04:49:06 AM
I've found a white undercoat on the bright areas works. But it's obviously extra labour, and so a horror to my soul.
Title: Re: Undercoating in cold weather.
Post by: Noktu on 13 January 2019, 07:51:55 AM
Quote from: FierceKitty on 12 January 2019, 11:55:48 PM
I hope this isn't too much of a deviation, but why does black undercoat sometimes bloom through and wreck a paint job? It seems a hazard with certain colours in particular; scarlet and orange seem vulnerable.

From my understanding lighter colours are transparent, when darker ones are opaque. For that reason I use a white/gray undercoat. But that also means you'll have to put more time to painting to get everything covered.
Title: Re: Undercoating in cold weather.
Post by: Ben Waterhouse on 13 January 2019, 10:39:37 AM
Quote from: FierceKitty on 12 January 2019, 11:55:48 PM
I hope this isn't too much of a deviation, but why does black undercoat sometimes bloom through and wreck a paint job? It seems a hazard with certain colours in particular; scarlet and orange seem vulnerable.

Use brown, keeps figures bright in 10mm.
Title: Re: Undercoating in cold weather.
Post by: Last Hussar on 13 January 2019, 01:58:09 PM
I usually use grey.
Black eats light so can't see detail, and hard to cover.
White reflects too much mm light, so hides detail.