Watered down ModelAir Paint

starwarsdude

I buy Vallejo ModelAir paint on Amazon. Different times I got bottles of unsealed white paint and I find it much thinner than the typical model air. Does consistency vary or do scammers sell thinned paint?

 

I got 71.270 White.

 

The top is easy to remove, just bend it over a bit, then with a fingernail in the opening just lift it off the bottle. I use a small metal stirring paddle, just wide enough to pass through the bottles neck. You'll feel the resistance of the thicker material settled at the bottom, as you start to stir the ingredients. Once the thick material is stirred off the bottom, then a good shaking will finish the blending.

Another way is to get some small stainless nuts, insert them into the bottle by removing the top, then shake away. That was my way of doing it when when I used Model Air. But do not use BB's or such, they will just block the small nozzle.

Hope that will git 'er done for you.

Patrick

starwarsdude

Does consistency vary or do scammers sell thinned paint?

For what it's worth, this is not something ever ever heard of or read about. Even though I suppose it could be possible, doing that would be a lot of trouble for little gain, I'd think. Plus, I've never had a single problem with Amazon or any of thier 3rd party sellers (again, fwiw)

I suspect Patrick has the right idea.

starwarsdude

I don't see how they'd modify the paint unless they have a very fine funnel to put it back in the bottle.

The dropper top pops right off. A sideways push does it. Then it snaps back in.

To properly stir, you need to take the dropper off.

Though I completely agree with Patrick, I gotta be honest and say I've done this maybe twice in the thousands of times I've used Vallejo out of the bottle over a 6 yr period. I'm always afraid the removable dropper will not be secure after too many off/on cycles.

Frankly, I'd suggest following Patrick's advise instead of my worrying that the top will fall off. Sooner or later, I'm going to give proper stirring an honest go.

Valljo paints regardless of model air any other label have to be stirred. They are dense in pigment and great paints when stirred, but the pigment settles to the bottom and needs to be agitated back in. A simple shake ususally isn't enough, especially white and yellow, they are very pigment intensive and need to be well mixed. I have never had a top wear out from removals. It is great paint, just mix well.

modelmaker66

I have never had a top wear out from removals.

That's good to know. Thank you.

Maybe this could shed a bit more light, on the subject of paint ingredient mixing. Over the several times I used Model Air, I first tried just rolling the bottle between hands, as Valley Joe instructs. Hey, they make it, they should know, thinks I.

I experienced very assorted results with the different colors, not very consistent at all. Then I inserted the tiny stainless nuts and shook away, better results, but not reliably consistent. So, after a single malt and some earthy cussing, I pried off the caps/nozzles and used the little Tamiya metal stirring paddle in the bottles, that I had already shaken and inserted the stainless nuts in.

I could feel the stiff ingredients with the paddle, pulling it out to see showed a very thick glob of unblended, settled material from the bottom of the bottle. After ensuring I had scraped everything loose from the bottom, I re-inserted the nuts and shook away. All of the bottles then gave consistent spray results, behaving as intended.

For anyone interested in trying, take a fresh bottle of Model Air and roll it between hands, shake the snot out of it, then place a drop on some plastic or glass. Then remove the nozzle, stir the bottom and see what you drag up on the stick. Being sure you completely got the stuff off the bottom, then shake the bottle well, place another drop beside the first one and compare.

I feel fairly sure the inconsistency problems reported by modelers, is likely from incomplete blending of the ingredients. FWIW, I very much liked the finish I got with Model Air, but didn't like the "rubbery" feel of it, and really didn't like the ridiculously long drying time.

Give it a try, I'd like to know your results. Over.

Patrick