What color primer do you use?

[HyveMynd]

I'm just wondering what color primer/undercoat people prefer. I have always used black until now, when I decided to use grey on my Cryx battlebox force. My Pirate Queen Skarre was the first model I've ever done in grey. I thought it would allow me to shade down and highlight up (since the grey is a midtone), rather than just highlight up, as I've always done with black. However, I've not found that to be the case at all. What I HAVE found is that the grey undercoat looks pretty bad when you miss a spot or it's in a recess that you can't reach. The black always just looked like a shadow when you couldn't reach it, which looked just fine.

So what I'm wondering is, what color do all of you use to prime your models, and if you *DO* use something other than black (like white or grey), what do you do about the recesses of the model? Thanks.

[phulcrum]

Black.

(char limit)

[Valander]

I usually do black (either Reaper Master Series brush-on or gesso), but occasionally will do white (gesso) if I know I'm going to do a lot of light colors.

[CMikeHardy]

I agree... I, as a matter of course, always prime in black. It establishes my black lining and, while tougher to work with on the warmer colors (red, white, yellow, ect), is more forgiving when it comes to base coating.
I notice you're in Japan, so, I really wouldn't be able to recommend a particular brand to you... I honestly don't know what's available to you. Warstore has the Army Painter brand- which is really good, if expensive. And, there's always GW, although I can't vouch on the quality of their new Chaos Black (I stopped using it several years ago).
Best of luck to you!

[Darque]

depending on the model and what color and style i want to paint it in I'll use either black OR white. The white is particularly good when i'm doing hide like Gators/Farrow or something with heavy washes.

[Steam Pants]

Floquil Grey.

My favorite. I never use black unless the majority of the paint scheme is very dark in value. For medium values (or even slightly darker than medium) I start with grey.

[ButcherOfKhardov]

I use more white primer these days. Spray, followed by hand primer to fill in any recess that was missed. Once dry depending on the primary colours of the figure I use washes to line/shade the undercoat, this removes most of the problems of seeing white/grey primer underneath base colours.

BoK

[althai]

For me, it depends what model I'm painting. But usually these days it's either straight white, or black/white zenithal (i.e. start by priming black, then spray white from directly above). Getting a solid base coat over black primer is a pain in the neck, whereas the white/black zenithal thing has all the advantages of black primer in terms of black in the shadows, but you don't need to worry about a solid base coat as much, since a little transparency usually just gives you a head start on shading and highlighting.

[Poet]

I prefer white, but I'm currently using Grey cause I found a cheap can of grey duplicolor primer, which is usually pretty expensive here.
Almost every model I paint is washed at one stage or another, the wash creeps into the recesses and shades it if I can't reach it with a brush.

[KamenRiderNecro]

I usually prime in black, for reasons being that it makes a good base coat for many models that have black clothing/armor. As someone else here said, it is also easy to touch up since black is more forgiving. Unlike many here, I actually don't use a "proper" primer; I use Valspar Odds N' Ends black enamel spray paint! Works well for me in that it goes on very smoothly and it doesn't obscure detail at all, surprisingly enough. Once it's dry, it works and how!

[Jackie Paper]

Normally I prime white. Though for faster things I'll prime a base color for the figure and work from there.

[CheesyRobMan]

I primed my Cygnar guys in white in order to achieve a really vibrant bright blue colour. Worked for Styker too despite most of him being grey/metallic in the end.

[Ogrob]

I always undercoat with white, then basecoat in a very light color, followed by heavy shading.

[Supermonkey]

depends on what im painting.

If im doing my white retribution then they get a gray undercoat that i can slowly build up to a crisp clean white. (If i did them in black i would be crazy by now.)

for my Khador then get a black undercoat.

[PG_Greywolf]

Standard flat black spray paint. I actually use the cheap stuff that is made for and sold through Wal-mart. Its actually a better quality than some of the hobby specific paints I have tried.

[PG_Agamemnon]

Montana Gold-White. I have used other whites but this one soooo beautiful and smooth.

[CG]

White or grey depending on the quantity of white on the finished model. I got sick and tired of putting coat after coat of white paint on black primer to get coverage. Things are better now with p3 paints. Those whites saved my Menoth army!