Quick answer
For most miniatures, start with a neutral Vallejo spray primer like Panzer Yellow or Silver — they provide a balanced base that works with acrylics and washes. Sun Yellow and Goblin Green are better for specific color schemes where you want the primer to double as a base coat.
Why primer color matters for miniatures
The color of your spray primer directly affects the final look of your paint job. A light primer keeps colors bright and clean, while a dark or metallic primer can add depth and shading from the start. Vallejo's spray primers are formulated to be highly pigmented and self-leveling, so they double as a base coat — saving you a step.
The trade-off: dark primers require more coats to cover, and metallic primers can obscure fine detail if applied too thickly. Choose based on your model's intended color scheme and your painting style.
Matching primer to your painting technique
If you use washes or contrast paints, a lighter primer (like Sun Yellow or Panzer Yellow) helps the wash flow and tint evenly. For zenithal highlighting, a metallic primer like Silver gives a natural metallic sheen under translucent layers. Matte finishes from Vallejo sprays also respect fine details, so you won't lose sculpted texture.
How to choose your Vallejo spray primer color
- For bright, clean colors: Choose Sun Yellow or Panzer Yellow. These light primers keep yellows, oranges, and warm tones vibrant without needing multiple base coats. Panzer Yellow is slightly more muted, great for historical or military models.
- For metallic or NMM schemes: Go with Silver. It provides a consistent metallic sheen under washes or contrast paints, and works well for robots, sci-fi armor, or any model where you want a shiny finish without hand-painting every metal area.
- For green or fantasy themes: Use Goblin Green. It's ideal for orcs, goblins, or any fantasy creature where green is the dominant color. The primer acts as a base coat, so you can skip a layer of green paint. Test on a spare sprue first — the green may shift the hue of subsequent colors.
Vallejo spray primer options at a glance
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Vallejo Spray: Sun Yellow: The Vallejo Hobby Paint Sprays are a perfect combination of base coat and highly pigmented color, developed for use on all metal, plastic and resin models and miniatures. Sun Yellow works as both primer and base coat for bright yellow or warm-tone schemes, reducing paint layers.
Vallejo Spray: Sun Yellow
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Vallejo Spray: Silver: The Vallejo Hobby Paint Sprays are a perfect combination of base coat and highly pigmented color, developed for use on all metal, plastic and resin models and miniatures. Silver gives a metallic base that speeds up painting armor, robots, or any model with a lot of metal surfaces.
Vallejo Spray: Silver
Which primer fits your project?
Best for
- Mini painters who want a primer that also serves as a base coat to save time
- Modelers working on a specific color scheme (yellow, metallic, or green) and want a consistent underlayer
Not ideal for
- Painters who prefer a neutral gray or black primer for maximum flexibility — consider a standard gray spray instead
- Projects that require a completely matte, non-reflective finish — metallic primers have a slight sheen