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How Primer Color Changes Your Model's Paint Job

Sprue Goo

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Primer color matters. A LOT. It can be the difference between a dull paint job or a vibrant model. In this video, I'll show you how different primer colors—black, gray, white, brown, red oxide, green, pink, and more—affect the paint you spray over them, and show you how to choose the right primer for the look you're after.

We'll also look at why primer matters, how it can help with shading and weathering, and why pink primer might actually be your secret weapon ... for certain colors.

#scalemodel #paintingtutorial #airbrush #figurepainting #minipainting

0:00 - intro
0:35 - Primer color experiment
2:13 - Black primer
3:46 - Brown primer
4:19 - Paints & gear used
5:01 - Red oxide primer
5:44 - Light gray primer
7:53 - White primer
8:25 - Green primer
9:54 - Pink primer
10:27 - Best primer for metallic paints
10:45 - Primer rules
11:25 - Why you NEED primer
12:47 - Primer cheat sheet

20 Comments

@spruegoo Creator 1 month ago Pinned

What's your preferred primer type and color?

@dinosuarman13 1 month ago

Then there's me using a grey rattle can primer😂😂

@DogfaceSquirrel 1 month ago

Back when I painted portraits, I'd base the flesh with a sage green or pewter blue, depending on the skin tone, before I layered on the "typical" flesh tones. I kept it up when I started painting figurines and miniatures. It makes a difference.

And for a lot of US military vehicles (tanks, artillery, weapons platforms and aircraft), lime green basecoats are the way to go, hahahaha!

@wow1371 1 month ago

I can attest to the greatness of Gaahleri's Kaleido line.

It is genuinely amazing how they made such a great product in their first attempt.

And it works phenomenal with hand brushing too.

Just amazing stuff

@ralocl 1 month ago

This is something I've been fighting over so much time with my ~~so attached to splachop~~ hobby friends, when the primer step has so many options!

Thanks for making this 👏👏

@JS.436 1 month ago

A really good evaluation - thanks!

@duanebarr3471 1 month ago

Today was a good day.
Anytime you learn something new is a good day. Thanks for the education!

@tomhalpin2403 1 month ago (edited)

Excellent advice, thank you 😊 I've always varied my primers, but usually just white, black or grey, occasionally tan/ rusty red for undrrside of desert vehicles.

@KevinoftheCosmos 1 month ago

The Kaleido Colorworks paints are awesome. Especially when you consider the price. It's roughly 50-60% cheaper than what I'd typically spend on other brands. AND they throw in a bottle of cleaner and thinner...which is wild.

@alfredagain 1 month ago

Man, I wish I had your eye for artistic/realistic detail.

@SubjectNate 1 month ago

Dark purple primer, Proacryl.

@BLAZE084 1 month ago

A japanese model builder once said that pink makes for the best yellow.

@tomseiler5541 1 month ago

Great video, really thought-provoking! Thanks!

@Nyarlathotep-x6l 1 month ago

I paint canvases and use a similair method with colored gesso when painting. Ive been able to apply that technique to my hobby models I make.

@scottbuildsthemall5124 1 month ago

Great work on this video! I was introduced to Stynylrez primers by the President of Badger at one of the IPMS-USA Nationals, and that remains my favorite. I started black basing a few years ago and for 1/35 and smaller figures I like using an off-white highlighter either mixed myself or using Tamiya Insignia White. I have picked up the Mahogany primer you showed, but I have not put it to use, the same with a pink primer. With over five decades of modeling, old habits are hard to break, and often I don't use a primer, but there are definitely times where they are beneficial.

@Poopster4U 1 month ago

Black is great for an initial coat but it takes a lot of coats of paint to overcome that black. So I like to add a gray on top the black.

@Ccarnage8 1 month ago (edited)

Going to blow your mind. The "Olive Green" of WW2 vehicles.. it's actually yellow and black is why a lot of people can't figure that color out.

@TheDude0377 3 weeks ago (edited)

Don't underestimate pink as a military color, from SAS desert cam to a contender for the Dutch army uniform camo pattern 😄 I agree with light grey as a good general primer, I learned this after using it by necessity and later talking to experienced painters who confirmed it.
I used olive green primer with a heavy grey zenethol for stone walls, gives a moldy/mossy look.

@EiSeOoNiinJust 1 month ago

Oh cool, nice experiment and idea TO experiment

@FranzvonderAlm-u5i 1 month ago

Amazing never saw the difference so brutally obvious than in this video. Funny thing is indeed that none of the colours feels or looks wrong. Just different shades, see often in Uniforms. Field Grey is not always „Field Grey“ or „Uniform Green“. Cheers!