Using Color Primer from The Army Painter

The Army Painter is a small enterprise in Denmark, spearheaded by two guys to been heavily involved in the industry: Bo Penstoft (who worked for 10 years for Games Workshop – the last 6 years as their Northern European Head of Marketing) and Jonas Faering (a former Games Workshops ’Eavy Metal team master painter.)

This company makes a ton of hobby supplies. Brushes, static grass, glue, tools, Quick shade, etc. It’s also kinda cool that they are a couple of Danish guys who made good, and I like to support my fellow vikings whenever possible.

Anyway, since I’ve just started work on a full company of Ultramarines, a must-have is something to get the painting done quickly. I picked up some of their Navy Blue to give it a go. According to them, it is an “ingenious combination of Primer and Colour Spray in one”, negating the need for two different cans of paint (or in my case, one can of Citadel primer and a dozen or so pots of Ultramarines Blue).

Anyway, here are my experiences:

This was one messy, messy f’n spray. I have used Citadel stuff for years and have always had the paint go directly where I wanted it with almost no overspray. With The Army Painter color primer – the area that I usually paint in was covered with blue. It was in the air, in my nose (and certainly lungs) – just about Every. Farking. Where. Unless I’m airbrushing, I have never had the need to wear a mask to spray. Where I do it is very ventilated, and Citadel paint hasn’t ever given me a reason to be at MOPP Level 4.

According to the video tutorials on their website, you need to spray it in a totally different manner than what most people have learned. Essentially, they want you to get closer and to not  use short bursts, but spray with a continual stream. I feel this is incorrect for painting troops with this product, and will only result in wasted paint. I used the paint for one squad of Marines as instructed, then another squad the same way I always have. Other than saving some paint – there was absolutely no difference whatsoever – so I’m going to call bunk on that recommendation.

The spray does dry very quickly. I was able to do front-and-back spraying, then return in 20 minutes to do sides-and-top, and then in another 20 to do bottom. Of course, it should sit for 12 hours or so before it is completely dry – but the models are able to be handled in a fraction of that time.

Their recommended “shake-time” of 1 minute isn’t enough. Shake the living hell out of that can for at least 3 minutes – because the first few sprays come out very, very thick if you don’t.

Having used The Army Painter’s Navy Blue and seen a friend’s Blood Angels done in their Dragon Red – the colors are beautiful. Having been without Citadel Ultramarines Blue in a spray can for – well – ever, this stuff is a dream come true. It’s a rich, deep color that is going to look fantastic on the tabletop.

And just how much paint did I get for my money? One full can of Color Primer (for $15 US) was enough for 58 regular Space Marines, 10 Terminators, and 1 Dreadnought.

And yes – that $15 is the exact same price that a can of Citadel paint costs, so it is overpriced. But on the other hand, you can’t find this color anywhere else in a spray – so for me it was worth it.

Anyway – if you need specific colors that you can’t get at a hardware store, you may want to give The Army Painter color primer a shot.