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Questions about Vallejo Paints.

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  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: Colorado
Questions about Vallejo Paints.
Posted by TacoBuff on Monday, July 13, 2009 1:22 PM

So, I'm gonna bite the bullet. After putting off using them for years, I've decided that tamiya paints aren't gonna cut it for what I want to do with my figure painting skills.  colorado miniatures has an inexpensive starter set that I'll be investing in as soon as I get some answers.

Thinner: I've read some where that just water works, is this true?

Any quirks with the paint? for instance, tamiya has a tendency to clump, and MM goes on thick.

Finally, I'm painting alot of Roman Legionaires lately (I'll post pics as soon as I take them), which colors would be beneficial to have in my supply for these color schemes? reds, obviously, but there might be a few that I wouldn't have thought of, that you guys would've.

Thanks, Sam

  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: East TX
Posted by modelchasm on Monday, July 13, 2009 1:31 PM

Taco, you are now my best friend .... I use only Vallejo ... well, and MM acrylics.

I use water to clean up and yes, it works really well. To thin for airbrushing and for use with brushes, I think with Testors acrylic thinner. it says that its only for Testors, MM, pactra, and poly scale acrylics, but I've never had a problem using it w/ Vallejo. I thin to the consistency of milk and I've never had a problem with it. For airbrushing you might for a little thicker, but that's just to keep the paint from running. Also, if you hold the AB too far away, the paint will partially dry before it hits the figure.

As with anything new, just practice a bit before going all out.

 

"If you're not scratching, you're not trying!"  -Scott

  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: Colorado
Posted by TacoBuff on Monday, July 13, 2009 1:43 PM

Big Smile [:D]Thanks Modelchasm, always good to know I've got friends everywhere i go!

I don't think i'll be using them for AB-ing, as my AB and I don't quite agree with each other. I prefer the feel of just a plain old B.  Should I thin the paint a little for use with a brush as well?

I'll deffinately pick up some MM thinner, tho tamiya thinner may work as well, as MM thins pretty well with it.  I like the even coverage of MM, so I might get some more of those as well, as they are more readily availiable to me at my LHS.

Mic
  • Member since
    June 2009
  • From: AusTx, Live Music Capitol of the World
Posted by Mic on Monday, July 13, 2009 2:03 PM

Hey Tacobuff...

yeah, thin yer Vallejos. Like mentioned, the consistency of milk should do it. Go for thinner paint, and lay on multiple coats. You can usually go right over the first coat, by the time you've worked your way around the figure. 

They say that distilled or purified water is the best for thinning, rather than tap water, but I've used both with no issues However, if I have diswtilled water on hand, I will use it. Lack of chemicals, maybe?

Be sure to shake your Vallejos really, really well before using. 

Hope this helps.

 

Steve M.

On the workbench: every tool, paint, brush, glue I own

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Massachusetts
Posted by ajlafleche on Monday, July 13, 2009 2:34 PM

With Vallejo, more than any other paint,you should follow the manufacturer's instructions for thinning: distilled water. How great is it that they don't repackage some other chemcal and try to sell it to you as THE thinner for their paint! At a couple dollars a gallon, it's the best bargain inthe hobby and you buy it at grocery or CVS type stores. I put some in a cleaned condiment container from take out and cover it when not in use. I have a few eye droppers to transfer it to the paint. For clean up, I use tap water.

You'll want several flesh tones. My base is beige red with their games like dark fleshtone as my primary shading agent. I use sunny skintone, dark flesh and one other shade as additives for the mid tones and pale flesh for highlights.

As mentioned, when you first use them or after they've been sitting a while, they really need to be shaken vigorously, banged against the heel of your hand, shaken some more then really shaken.

Old fashioned washes really don't work with these, you will need to learn to apply the thinned paint in very thin layers to get shadows and highlights.

Check out their website and click on "Model color" for a good tutrial on thier use.

Specific colors for Romans? Can't help you there.

Remember, if the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.

  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: Colorado
Posted by TacoBuff on Monday, July 13, 2009 3:00 PM
Thanks for the feed back AJ!  The starter pack comes with two flesh tones, but I'll be sure to lot at some more.  And that tutorial was great, I'm book marking that one.
  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: East TX
Posted by modelchasm on Monday, July 13, 2009 4:40 PM

aj and mic are dead on. Thanks for helping to fill in my gaps.

"If you're not scratching, you're not trying!"  -Scott

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: clinton twp, michigan
Posted by camo junkie on Monday, July 13, 2009 5:46 PM

ah you guys and your water colors...why dont you guys grow up and use real paints! do ya drink watered downed beer??? Laugh [(-D] c'mon get with the program!!

***disclaimer*** not all comments made are meant to be mean spirited...some are actually just meant in fun!!! Big Smile [:D]

"An idea is only as good as the person who thought of it...and only as brilliant as the person who makes it!!"
  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: East TX
Posted by modelchasm on Monday, July 13, 2009 5:55 PM

ARRRrrrrrr!!!! Pirate [oX)]!!!! You be out numbered here ya scurvy-camo! Ye must walk the acrylic plank!!! Blindfold [X-)]

... Camo, don't be a hater b/c acylic paints make our figs look better!

(oh, this is going to be a good thread....)

"If you're not scratching, you're not trying!"  -Scott

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: clinton twp, michigan
Posted by camo junkie on Monday, July 13, 2009 6:07 PM
 modelchasm wrote:

ARRRrrrrrr!!!! Pirate [oX)]!!!! You be out numbered here ya scurvy-camo! Ye must walk the acrylic plank!!! Blindfold [X-)]

i'll walk it but dont think im gonna paint with it! Mischief [:-,] we can discuss this at length...but ya wont make me believe ya get better results!!! Yuck [yuck] Big Smile [:D]

"An idea is only as good as the person who thought of it...and only as brilliant as the person who makes it!!"
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Sunny Florida
Posted by renarts on Monday, July 13, 2009 7:23 PM
Vallejo paint must be shaken alot. When you think you've shaken it enough, shake it some more. The high pigment content of the paint is at its best when it is thoroughly mixed.

Mixes of 4:1 6:1 and 8:1 (water:paint) are not unheard of and this paint can be layered for nice effects.

If you are going to be doing Romans, you'll want white or linen colored for under tunics, red for some, a brown or madder color for braies, darker purples and blues, yellow, various leather colors and some metallic for armor and bronze fittings etc. That being said, a color wheel will come in handy to help you mix up colors for any you are lacking. As your paint collection grows so will your knowledge that with 5 or 6 paint colors, you can make pretty much any color that Vallejo produces. Everything else is convenience.
Mike "Imagination is the dye that colors our lives" Marcus Aurellius A good friend will come and bail you out of jail...but, a true friend will be sitting next to you saying, "Damn...that was fun!"
  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: East TX
Posted by modelchasm on Tuesday, July 14, 2009 12:27 PM

Many have mentioned it, but I'll just reinforce it ...

Vallejo paints are really meant to be layered for suttle shading, lighting, etc. This is something that you'll really have to get used to. When painting flesh tones, its not unheard of to have to apply 2-3 coats of the base coat, however, I usually just go for 2 and then go into shading and highlighting.

As stated above, I also use the MM acrylics as well. I treat these just about the same the Vallejo paints. Just Vallejo has to be shaken A LOT more. But, I thin them all the same.

But that's just me.....

"If you're not scratching, you're not trying!"  -Scott

Mic
  • Member since
    June 2009
  • From: AusTx, Live Music Capitol of the World
Posted by Mic on Wednesday, July 15, 2009 2:40 PM

Another good thing about Vallejos, that I can't say for some other brands, is that I've never encountered any paint "lifting" when applying layers. After a few moments, you can go right over layers. Saves so much time.

Or did I already sat that?

 

Steve M.

On the workbench: every tool, paint, brush, glue I own

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: clinton twp, michigan
Posted by camo junkie on Wednesday, July 15, 2009 2:57 PM
i dont know mic...i started out using them and they would "lift" alot on me. one of the primary reasons i gave them up...however...im not here to say my paints are better than yours! Yuck [yuck] Laugh [(-D]
"An idea is only as good as the person who thought of it...and only as brilliant as the person who makes it!!"
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Massachusetts
Posted by ajlafleche on Wednesday, July 15, 2009 2:59 PM
 Mic wrote:

Another good thing about Vallejos, that I can't say for some other brands, is that I've never encountered any paint "lifting" when applying layers. After a few moments, you can go right over layers. Saves so much time.

Have to agree with this. As soon as the sheen from the moisture dissipates, you're ready to add another coat. In cold conditions, I've held the figure in front of a space heater to speed up the drying time.

Remember, if the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: Sydney, Australia
Posted by Phil_H on Wednesday, July 15, 2009 11:43 PM
 ajlafleche wrote:
 Mic wrote:

Another good thing about Vallejos, that I can't say for some other brands, is that I've never encountered any paint "lifting" when applying layers. After a few moments, you can go right over layers. Saves so much time.

Have to agree with this. As soon as the sheen from the moisture dissipates, you're ready to add another coat. In cold conditions, I've held the figure in front of a space heater to speed up the drying time.

My (limited) experience is the same. As soon as the previous layer appears dry, it can be overcoated withoug lifting. I will add that I thin using demineralised water -  a more aggresssive thinner may yield different results.

I'll also add that if you're not using "artist" grade brushes, make the investment - it will be well worth it. "Dollar store" type brushes, eg. the "6 for $2.00" type simply don't cut it, especially with these paints.

  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: East TX
Posted by modelchasm on Thursday, July 16, 2009 6:56 AM

 camo junkie wrote:
i dont know mic...i started out using them and they would "lift" alot on me. one of the primary reasons i gave them up...however...im not here to say my paints are better than yours! Yuck [yuck] Laugh [(-D]

... WHAT!?! .... yes you are! ... terd! Big Smile [:D]

j/k ....

"If you're not scratching, you're not trying!"  -Scott

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: clinton twp, michigan
Posted by camo junkie on Thursday, July 16, 2009 7:04 AM
Laugh [(-D]
"An idea is only as good as the person who thought of it...and only as brilliant as the person who makes it!!"
  • Member since
    April 2006
  • From: Navan, Ontario
Posted by Jagdwolf on Thursday, July 16, 2009 10:49 AM
 camo junkie wrote:

ah you guys and your water colors...why dont you guys grow up and use real paints! do ya drink watered downed beer??? Laugh [(-D] c'mon get with the program!!

Camo, you do realize that your American beer is watered down compared to ours. Mischief [:-,]

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: clinton twp, michigan
Posted by camo junkie on Thursday, July 16, 2009 11:29 AM
yeah...i realize that but that's only for government control...the government dont control your paintbrush!! Mischief [:-,]Mischief [:-,]
"An idea is only as good as the person who thought of it...and only as brilliant as the person who makes it!!"
  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Oregon
Posted by falschimjager on Thursday, July 16, 2009 7:08 PM

 camo junkie wrote:
yeah...i realize that but that's only for government control...the government dont control your paintbrush!! Mischief [:-,]Mischief [:-,]

 

Or do they......?

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: clinton twp, michigan
Posted by camo junkie on Thursday, July 16, 2009 8:10 PM
well, i was getting some radio signals from space from mine but...Wink [;)]
"An idea is only as good as the person who thought of it...and only as brilliant as the person who makes it!!"
  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: Colorado
Posted by TacoBuff on Thursday, July 16, 2009 10:05 PM

that's good to hear that the paint doesn't lift, as I sometimes struggle with that.  Thanks for all the feed back everybody.

My brushes don't get space radio signals (at least not that I know of, but who can tell what they do in their off hours), but sometimes I think my dog is from space. anybody else think that?

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Oregon
Posted by falschimjager on Friday, July 24, 2009 10:44 AM
My cat is definetally an alien, he's so wierd.
  • Member since
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  • From: Iowa
Posted by Hans von Hammer on Friday, July 24, 2009 6:47 PM

  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: Katy, TX
Posted by jthurston on Thursday, July 30, 2009 1:05 PM

 camo junkie wrote:
yeah...i realize that but that's only for government control...the government dont control your paintbrush!! Mischief [:-,]Mischief [:-,]

 

Shhhh....

  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: Katy, TX
Posted by jthurston on Thursday, July 30, 2009 1:12 PM

So, what you guys are saying is...you have to shake Vallejo paints?

OK, seriously...I prefer Vallejo acryllics, although I also use MM and Tamiya acryllics sometimes. Heck, I even use the old MM enamels once in a while. I've even been using more and more oils lately, but that wasn't the question...

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