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First i'd like to thank the people responding to my posts. And i'd also like to apologize if im getting on anyone's nerves, I just want to make sure i understand how to do this miniature painting thing. Now if i can ask one more question about this tamiya primer its the stuff for "metal and plastic." i want for painting warhammer 40k non metal miniatures right? Also which color to use generally? I mean i've seen arguments towards using white, black or grey but i guess i'm a little lost. I mean with a tau soldier's pallete im thinking of for primer i was thinking of either grey or white primer. Because i'd like to do a flat black color for the body suit, and gloss black for the foot claw nails.

krylon super matte (or something like that) primer is easy to find at hardware stores and the like, and will do the trick nicely. for primer:

white if you're going for bright or want to do a lot of washes

black if you want something more forgiving or are doing a lot of drybrushing for texture

grey if you're washing down to black

everything else if you're going to have a dominant color on a lot of guys, otherwise I stay clear.

I'm not sure why you want a bright primer, sounds like you're going for a very dark look.

Yea i think its my bad habbit of overanalyzing coming into play again.

IMO, you should start out with black. I say that for only one reason; as SC pointed out, it's more forgiving.

While you're trying to learn colors, layering, shading, drybrushing, washes, etc., you WILL miss things. If you don't get your brush into a crevasse quite deeply enough, and it's primed black, that crevasse won't stand out like it would if you primed white.

Once you get better you can experiment with other colors. Heck, my favorite primer is a brown auto primer!

Eric

@MagikalMemories
Is this the stuff you're talking about?
Krylon Industrial 5-Ball 00609 Ultra-Flat Black Matte Alkyd Enamel Paint - 16 oz Aerosol Can - K01602
or is this oil based paint?

JohnBlackhawk wrote:@MagikalMemories
Is this the stuff you're talking about?
Krylon Industrial 5-Ball 00609 Ultra-Flat Black Matte Alkyd Enamel Paint - 16 oz Aerosol Can - K01602
or is this oil based paint?

No. That's spray paint. You want black PRIMER. It's important that you get PRIMER and not PAINT. Primer will hold your brushed on paint a TON better than spray paint.

Any black primer would do fine, as long as you use a good technique to prime with (the old "stay a foot away, use small sweeping sprays, don't overload the primer on the model or it will run"). Go to an auto store. Tell them, "I need your least expensive black primer that is NOT an expanding primer."
You might also find it at craft stores, like Michael's, Hobby Lobby, etc. You could also get GW or another "gaming" brand, but those are typically more expensive (FAAAAAR more, in the case of GW).

Eric

I use spray paint. I use Walmart or me Depots flat white or flat black spray paint.
If you strip paint, it seems to come off better.
It's cheaper, like $1 a can, and I've never had a problem painting over it.
Look at all the models I've submitted to the painting contest. All were primered with the same brand of paint.

I used to use Rustoleum and Krylon brands when models were mostly metal, but I've found it's too think and sometimes hides detail.

YMMV.

Like kturock, I have FOREVER been using $0.99 Home Despot or Wally World black, white or grey spray paint as primer and have NEVER had any issues.