Vallejo Question(s)

Hi and welcome to the forum, Sedona.

Because I switched to acyrlics (for my primary paints anyway) about 3 years ago, and Vallejo has become my brand of choice, thought I'd chime in with a couple thoughts.

Most of the reported Vallejo problems I've read boil down to folks playing Mr Wizard and mixing Vallejo with one household product or another, presumably to save a buck or because of lack of local availability of the branded products, as you mentioned (both are perfectly valid reasons and I am NOT throwing stones at those who choose to do so)

Most of the negative stuff you've read is probably folks using alcohol to thin and clean. Don't do that. Vallejo isn't Tamiya and it's not alcohol based. It'll make a gummy mess out of your airbush. That's what I think you've been reading about.

If you simply must use a generic product, and you don't want to try the Createx being tossed about above, try maybe Windex. I cleaned and thinned with it for a while, having fallen prey to stuff I had read online (not necessarily here, mind you). I'm not recommending it, just saying if you gotta try something....

FWIW, I use 2 products in conjuction with my Vallejo Air and Vallejo Model Color:

1. Vallejo Airbrush Thinner (not thinner medium) for thinning both model air and model color in airbrush

2. Iwata Medea Acrylic cleaner (because I bought a big bottle of it years ago). Vallejo and Createx work great, too.

Hope this somehow helps, I'd just hate to see you get discouraged with Vallejo before you give a fair go, and I'm just afraid if you start mixing stuff, that's what is going to happen.

hogfanfs

Gentleman,

I let the paint cure for almost 24 hours. I just tested the adhesion with Tamiya tape. Nothing peeled from the vinyl. So far looks good to me. 

 

Thats great news. So I guess I'm good to go with Createx cleaner. I dont plan on using right away, but when my Vallejo thinner runs out, it looks like I have a good spare on hand.

As in the type of saline. used for eyes/contacts? I'd never heard of using it before

Ive been using this stuff to clean inbetween colors for a long time, never had it crossed my mind to use it as thinner... Thanks for this insight. I will try it and post my results!

This is good to know.

I just shot my second model using Vallejo paint and love it.  For a number of years I have shot artist acrylics through a double action AB thinning with .9% saline solution.  I tried it with the Vallejo flats and it worked fine.  Don't know about gloss or metallics yet. 

Gentleman,

I let the paint cure for almost 24 hours. I just tested the adhesion with Tamiya tape. Nothing peeled from the vinyl. So far looks good to me. 

hogfanfs

Gentleman,

Quick update. I thinned the Vallejo primer with the Createx airbrush cleaner. It worked very well, no gooing. Sprayed very well, but I did thin it a bit too much. My fault being a novice with acrylics. Next test is to see how well it adhered after it cures for 24 hours. 

Will update you later this weekend.

 

Thats very good new.

Gentleman,

I use 20% liquitex flow aid with distilled water making up the remaining 80% as a thinner, much cheaper, and comparable results to Vallejo proprietary thinner. 

Bruce

No mate, I use Halfords primer (a UK auto spares company) for all of my builds. I would give it a try on a test kit if I were you, the Created seems pretty benign on the paints I've used it in.

I'd be interested to know how you both get on with it.

SpursN17

Yep it was me who suggested the Createx cleaner. I'm still using it and still not had any problems, no issues at all with adhesion. Works fine for Lifecolor as well, Xtracolor, and Tamiya. As with all Vallejo make sure the surface is primed first and it'll be OK.

 

Great, I think I will give it a go.

SpursN17

Yep it was me who suggested the Createx cleaner. I'm still using it and still not had any problems, no issues at all with adhesion. Works fine for Lifecolor as well, Xtracolor, and Tamiya. As with all Vallejo make sure the surface is primed first and it'll be OK.

 

Spurs,

Have you used the Createx with Vallejo Primers? That is what I plan to do tonight. I'm priming vinyl and I need to apply an acrylic primer before any other paint.

I shoot Vallejo using their own thinner, just like you. It works and I would have no incentive to change.

My concern using a cleaner or anything else unknown would be changing the adhesion or other properties of the paint.

OTOH, if the Createx works and reduces dry-tip as reported, I can see why you would want to try it.

hogfanfs

have the same Airbrush cleaners as you do (The badger and the Createx) I will be shooting some Vallejo primer thinned with the Createx tomorrow. This will be my first attempt. I will let you know the results.

Please keep me posted, it would be appreciated.

Thanks for all the replys guys. I normally just use the Vallejo thinner, but I have a couple of full 4oz. bottles of cleaner I never plan to use, so I thought I would try to at least verify the Createx cleaner. It would save me a few bucks over the course of a couple months.

Spiralcity,

Here is the thread you were talking about:

http://cs.finescale.com/fsm/tools_techniques_and_reference_materials/f/18/t/169009.aspx

And here is the particular post about the Createx:

SpursN17

 I've been using Createx Airbrush Cleaner to thin Vallejo paints (both ModelAir and ModelColor), it thins out really nicely and seems to stop tip dry a bit as well.

It seems a strange thing to use to thin paint but it really is a good thinner. I've also used it succesfully in Tamiya, Lifecolor, and Xtracolor Acrylic (as a Brit it does my head in when colour is spelt without a 'U'! :-) ) paints and it sprays nice and smooth.

The reason that Vallejo gums up when anything like alcohol is added is that it's a vinyl based paint. I also know this as I experimented with a lot of different potions to thin Vallejo and spent most of my time digging gummed up paint from my AB. Now I've found the Createx AB Cleaner I won't use anything else.

 

I have the same Airbrush cleaners as you do (The badger and the Createx) I will be shooting some Vallejo primer thinned with the Createx tomorrow. This will be my first attempt. I will let you know the results. But, I have used both for cleaning the airbrush and my mixing bottles and the paint did not gum up.

Hope this will help!

Short answer... Yes Vallejo will gum up using alcohol based cleaners/thinners.