Vallejo Paint help!

Luft,

I use the same thing. I don't really feel the need to buy both products so I just get the regular acrylics. I don't use water except for cleaning, but I mostly use the Testor's Acrylics thinner in the blue bottle .... as it works with Model Master acrylics as well. I'm pretty much strictly an acrylics user ... but I'm starting to dab in oils a little.

But yeah, acrylics is the way to go in my book.

Check out my just completed OIF figure ... strictly acrylics!

When spraying Vallejo paints trough the airbrush, I've always used water.. It works excellent!  You could check my Panzer I build in the armour section...  That's Vallejo airbrushing, thinned with water..

And I airbrush their regular "model colour" and "game colour"...  Altough it says on the side, "Do not spraypaint"    But really, haven't had any troubles..

Hope it helps! 

I really gotta try that stuff...

Huxy wrote:

When spraying Vallejo paints trough the airbrush, I've always used water.. It works excellent!  You could check my Panzer I build in the armour section...  That's Vallejo airbrushing, thinned with water.. And I airbrush their regular "model colour" and "game colour"...  Altough it says on the side, "Do not spraypaint"    But really, haven't had any troubles.. Hope it helps!

When I've airbrushed the Model Color paints, I've just used distilled (well, demineralised) water. It works well, provided you don't over-thin as it will bead up and not adhere.

Vallejo paints seem to be only marginally compatible with alcohols, or completely incompatible depending on the type used. Ethyl (denatured) alcohol tends to make it flocculate (clump together in stucky lumps resembling cottage cheese). It seems to be less of an issue with Tamiya acrylic thinner, but I have heard of some incompatibility issues there too You can still clean it up using alcohol though. As a thinner, I'd suggest either Vallejo's own thinner or distilled water. Tap water may contain dissolved minerals which you don't want accumulating in your airbrush.

And I airbrush their regular "model colour" and "game colour"...  Altough it says on the side, "Do not spraypaint"    But really, haven't had any troubles..

I believe this is a safety precaution, rather than an issue with the ability of the paint to be airbrushed.

Interesting reading here which is really applicable to any paint product, not strictly their own: http://www.portaldemodelismo.com/vallejo/seguridad/seguridad_gb.htm 

The Testors thinner that I have says that it's specifically for Vallejo and MM acrylics. I stay with something that says it's compatable.

Thank Hux, for the heads up on the thinning with the water. I just never got around to trying it, but it's good to know that it works. I find that the acrylics clean up a little better with the thinner rather than just using water.

Veeery interesting: I never thought of using the "model colour" line with an air-brush. Guess I'll have to give it a try.

As for thining demineralized water works best for me; I tried Vallejo's thinner (it works but costs) and alcohol (makes flocks: no good).
Depending on what I'm doing the ratio changes from 1:1 to 3:2 water on paint (talking about "model air" range of colors).

Huxy wrote:

Hans? Where have you been? Not tried Vallejo yet?   Please, tell me you have atleast tried Citadel paints..

Tamiya, Testor's, Testor's Model Master, Grumbacher oils... That's it...

Hm...  Well, I recommend you to try both the citadel and vallejo paints...

But I got to admit.. I haven't tried Testors myself yet... I've heard they are some of the best! So when I finaly get around ordering something from USA, I'd add some Testors acrylic..  But what's the different between Testor's and Testor's MM??

But what's the different between Testor's and Testor's MM??

Testor's is the original paint from that company, comes in 1/4 oz. square bottles... MM is more closely matched to FS numbers..