#Problems with Vallejo Hobby Paint Primer (spray can)

13 messages · Page 1 of 1 (latest)

rustic jewel
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Hi,
I’m new to the hobby and I wanted to paint my first bust, but I’m having a really hard time with priming.
After priming, the paint never seems to stick to the figure – instead, it just pools up as if the paint were too thin (which it isn’t).

I’m using the Vallejo Hobby Paint Primer (28011 – spray can) in grey. Here’s what I’ve tried so far:

Cleaning the model several times with warm water, dish soap, and a soft brush before priming

  • Shaking the can for 1 to 3 minutes

  • Spraying from different distances (20–40 cm)

  • Trying different temperatures (16°–25°C). Humidity wasn't high either.

  • Applying different numbers of coats, from 2 up to 4+ thin layers

  • Waiting between 5 and 30 minutes between coats

At this point, I’m not really sure what else to do besides just adding more layers.
Is there some trick to using spray cans properly, and is there a way to tell when a model is sufficiently primed?

Because of this I started using the brush on primer from Gamemaster but especially with big smooth surfaces it`s a pain in the a** to apply :/

outer sage
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hrm, you say big smooth surfaces. Sometimes the surface is too smooth and they need to be roughed a little bit with some 1000 grit sandpaper. If you hold it up to the light and it is shiny, then it is probably too smooth.

This is the usual video we use for priming with rattle can, maybe there is something you are not doing?

It is always possible you have a bad can though.

rustic jewel
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Hi,
yeah, I already watched the video. The only thing I haven’t tried yet is sanding the whole model, but all my busts are resin-printed and definitely quite shiny. ^^
Do you know if sanding is actually a normal step for resin models/busts? Most tutorials don’t specifically mention it, which I find a bit confusing

normal light
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Sanding before primer isn't a required step.

Sounds like you may have a bad can.

Does the brush on primer you bought work better?

smoky kettle
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One question springs to mind: what paints are you using? If it is something like Speedpaints, that would be normal behaviour.

rustic jewel
rustic jewel
normal light
# rustic jewel Yeah brush on primer works

Ok I would say you prob got a bad can perhaps.

Switch to brush on and maybe try a different rattlecan if you’re set on that priming method.

Just to be clear does the primer itself pool on the model, or the paint on the primer?

rustic jewel
# normal light Ok I would say you prob got a bad can perhaps. Switch to brush on and maybe tr...

Tbh, I’m not really committed to this method and will switch to an airbrush soon, but I didn’t want to waste the spray can. ^^

The problem is that the paint pools on top of the primer. To rule out overly thin paint (Liquitex seems super thin <.<), I always test my mixtures on paper and on a scrap miniature before applying them. Don’t get me wrong—after like 500 layers I can eventually get a basecoat down, but painting on that basecoat is a nightmare and it still doesn’t fix the pooling issue.

Thanks for your help guys, really appreciate it

normal light
rustic jewel
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Makes sense. Do you have any experience with the ProAcryl Primers?

normal light
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No, I have heard they're only so-so.

I use VMS now which I really like.

But I also have a Rustoleum Rattlecan, and a brush-on Vallejo as alternatives.