Tutorial - Folk Art Glass and Tile medium as a brush on primer

by Slorak ~ January 2nd, 2009
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Years ago i learned about clear priming from a yahoo painting group. I use it along with conventional spray primer but I must say that when done correctly I really like the folk art brush on primer. Its biggest benefit is that it dries very tight to the model and does not obscure details.

Before I get into the step by steps let me give you a work of caution:

Do not pre-mix your solution 50/50 with water. I did this initially and found that as the bottle got to the end there wasn’t a true 50/50 mix of water and this caused the glass and tile medium to crack and create a crackle effect. I did try running it through an airbrush as a primer but caution there as well. I found in areas that didn’t get good coverage it crackled a bit as well. Otherwise if you want speed you can try running it through an airbrush.

Step 1

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On your paint pallete pour an equal amount of the Folk Art Glass and Tile medium and water. It should be as close to a 50/50 mix as you can.

Step 2

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Add a drop or 2 of black ink. You can add more especially if you want a dark primed figure. I have achieved a nearly black prime after adding more black ink. This is to taste so experiment. Another thing you can do is apply a second coat after it dries to achieve a darker color.

Step 3

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Mix the ink and the glass and tile medium together until it is well blended. Then taking a good sized brush go ahead and apply it to the model. You are trying to acheive a nice coverage but don’t really want it to pool. It can dry fairly quickly to the touch so it is easy to apply a second layer or finish priming a figure if you are holding them.

It is important that you wait at least 24 hours though 72 hours is recommended on the label for the Glass and Tile Medium to fully cure. I have painted as early as 24 hours and haven’t had any problems but will generally wait the full 72 hours before painting if I can just to ensure a proper bond.

Primed figures

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As you can see in the pictures - it covers well and you can definitely tell what is primed and what isn’t. It doesn’t obscure details, and leaves the recesses dark. If you choose to add more ink you can get a nearly black prime so for those that like to keep things dark (especially) where you can’t reach as well with a paint brush) this method should work well for you. If you prime several in batches you should be able to keep enough available figures to allow yourself to wait the full 72 hours for the primer to cure.

Work in Progress updates

by Slorak ~ December 16th, 2008
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I have been busy lately. Last month I joined a Tale of Painters friendly competition at the Los Angeles Battle Bunker in Westminster. We agreed to build a 1500 point 40k army over the course of 5 months with the first due date the beginning of January. So far I have assembled 20 Chaos Space Marines and am slowly putting together 5 possessed Chaos Space marines.

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At the same time I have been putting together some objective markers for a Secret Santa project for Librarium Online. I am doing d3+3 sewer rat (city of death) markers and d3+3 booby traps… I was in the mood to create some markers and play with plasticard so my person got lucky! :)

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I should be finished with the traps and sewer counters tonight and hope to get them in the mail this week. I have mostly finished the bases for the CSM’s and have them basecoated black (they will basically be Black Legion) and hope to get them mounted onto the bases by this weekend.

Still alive!

by Slorak ~ November 19th, 2008

It has been quite some time since my last update. I took several weeks off from painting and in that time I picked up an XBOX 360 and Fallout 3. Not a good combination… :)

At any rate I met up with another Librarium Online member that is local and we are doing a Tale of Painters (from White Dwarf) style of friendly competition. Over the next 4/5 months we will be putting together a 1500 point army and enjoy some games… I haven’t had the chance to play 5th edition yet and I only have a little experience with the other editions but I am very excited.

I am going to be putting together a Chaos Space Marine army. So far I have a 10 strong unit of Chaos Space marines that are based, primed and have their base coats applied. I will try to get some pictures up shortly. I am building a second unit of 10 now and hope to have them ready to paint sometime next week.

The beginning of January will be the first official meet with the start of our army so I need to stay dilligent with my painting… Haven’t quite worked out a list yet but have lots of choices right now… :)

I think for my Secret Santa project I will put together a collection of Objective Markers for my person. I am thinking that it would be a bit more personable and more useful that a single figure. I am hoping I can put enough together quick enough and that will look real nice.