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Vallejo Model Color through an airbrush?

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  • Member since
    June 2009
  • From: Metepec, Mexico
Vallejo Model Color through an airbrush?
Posted by Electric Blues on Thursday, September 22, 2011 11:05 AM

I realize Vallejo has a Model Air line but I don't have any of those. I do however have many bottles of Model Color that I like to spray through my airbrush. How do I thin them for that?

Thanks!

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Western North Carolina
Posted by Tojo72 on Thursday, September 22, 2011 11:35 AM

the best would be Vallejo Model Color Thinner,you can also used distilled water,but stay away from alcohol,dries to fast ,clogs brush

  • Member since
    September 2010
  • From: DFW, Texas
Posted by NervousEnergy on Thursday, September 22, 2011 12:45 PM

He may chime in himself, but I remember Doogs posting that he had great success with Vallejo Model Color thinned 50% with Future.  Future tends to make a pretty good thinner for any acrylic, since it's made up of clear acrylic resins.  

Even though I've got a large selection of VMA, from a simple cost perspective the Model Color line is better, as you get a lot more paint out of an identically priced bottle.  The Future adds some to the cost but not much.  The VMA also has some issues... some of them still require thinning, and they dry very, very fast when sprayed right out of the bottle, causing tip dry issues.  I can't remember where I found the advice, and it may have been on Vallejo's site itself, but swabbing out the airbrush tip with a wet cotton swab every 60 seconds of spraying kept spatter from tip dry to a minimum.

The color lines of VMA are great, and the bottles convenient, but overall I've had a much more pleasant time in my limited spraying experience since coming back to the hobby with standard MM or Polyscale paints thinned with either Future or Golden Airbrush medium.  I've had the best time of all spraying with Mr Color and Mr Leveling Thinner, but that requires I heavily ventilate my office/hobby room and wear the darth vader organic vapor mask.  

  • Member since
    June 2009
  • From: Metepec, Mexico
Posted by Electric Blues on Thursday, September 22, 2011 12:52 PM

Thanks Anthony.

 

I've heard of some guys using Windex as well. Is this correct? Also, won't using water cause adhesion problems?

  • Member since
    March 2010
  • From: Democratic Peoples Republic of Illinois
Posted by Hercmech on Thursday, September 22, 2011 12:53 PM

I have used future to great sucess and I have used the following mix as well:

Disclaimer...this is not my creation but I can't remember who came up with it.

2 parts Distilled water, 1 part Liquitex, and 2 drops of future.


13151015

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Edmonton, Alberta
Posted by Griffin on Thursday, September 22, 2011 4:07 PM

Electric Blues
Thanks Anthony.

I've heard of some guys using Windex as well. Is this correct? Also, won't using water cause adhesion problems?

I'm just starting out but I'm following DoogATX's advice. I thin my Vallejo Model paints with Testor's Universal Acrylic Thinner. DoogATX uses Future and I probably will too on the model bodies but for interior detailing, etc. (where I want a flat finish at least) I'll continue with the Testors.

I've read (again from DoogATX) that Windex can be used but the ammonia in it can attack the paint so it may do more harm than good. I save the Windex for cleaning my AB.

  • Member since
    June 2009
  • From: Metepec, Mexico
Posted by Electric Blues on Thursday, September 22, 2011 4:13 PM

Thanks all for your replies. Good info!

  • Member since
    May 2004
  • From: Dallas
Posted by KINGTHAD on Thursday, September 22, 2011 4:28 PM

I have never had a problem using distilled water or for that mater windex as thinner you should be fine.

I have been doing it this way for years but do what works for you.

Thad

  • Member since
    June 2009
  • From: Metepec, Mexico
Posted by Electric Blues on Thursday, September 22, 2011 6:44 PM

KINGTHAD

I have never had a problem using distilled water or for that mater windex as thinner you should be fine.

I have been doing it this way for years but do what works for you.

Thad

Thanks

I think I'll be experimenting with a few things on some stock plastic and see what works for me.

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