The Ship Model Forum

I recently had need to use the good old primer on a model.The primer I use is the "RUSTEOLEUM" brand.Why? Well, now they have a nozzle that will spray in any position and the dispersal is excellent. I must remind you though,using any spray. Make sure that you shake the living bejaysus out of the spray can.This applies to any can spray. This too, when spraying with any brand of can spray keep a container of slightly warmer than room tamp water handy. Put the can in there after shaking it well,then, take it out and shake it furiosly again.This ALWAYS results in better coverage with less paint and a smoother finish when dry.This goes for primer too! I hope this helps anyone who chooses to use other than model paints , and them too. commodore4

I buy most of my modeling paints from hardware stores. I buy Krylon, Valspar and Rustoleum in 12 oz rattle cans for less than the price of the 3oz Testor's cans. The volume and coverage is better, and finishes are better. Not quite the same color selection available but, as an example, Krylon's "Classic Gray" and "Cherry Red" make for very dazzling hull colors for your typical grey/red warship. I even used Rustoleum's "Lobster Red" for the deck colors on my Trumpeter Sovremenny Russian Destroyer, and it is as close as anything I have seen anywhere else!

Those are all gloss finishes, but you can always dull coat them after they have set, or find semi gloss or satin in the larger 12oz cans

Then I don't want any of that.

Nah, it smells like old school paint, not lacquer.

I have used their El Cheapo flat black on my PE masts with good results. As for the smell I don't find it bad. But according to the boss who can smell a sparrow pass gas at 100 yds it stinks. So I use it outside to keep peace.

Mr. Surfacer 500, I hope!

From doing Warhammer 40k stuff i can tell ya that wally world primer is on par with most top brand modeling paints. Be warned though. you can get a bad can that tends to have a messed up nossel.

What does it smell like?

Ok, I would have never believed it- but I bought a can of El Cheapo Walmart brand grey primer for $1.12, and tried it on some metal miniatures. Now, I cannot attest to the long-term adhesion of this primer, but as it stands right now- it looks like (color-wise) and feels like (texture-wise) Tamiya Grey Primer.

For a little over a buck a can.