Vallejo Air Runs&Drops

NO ALCOHOL FOR VALLEJO,

they work best with their thinner and I use their Airbrush Flow Improver 71.262

Sounds like you have added too much water to the Vallejo. What thinning ratio did you use? Water has a high surface tension, which is why it beads up. Vallejo's thinner (as well as most water-based thinners) has some sort of surfactant to lower the surface tension. As mentioned, flow improver will work too. I use an artist's brand of acrylic flow aid, can't remember which brand.

Another thing to consider is your surface preparation. Are you spraying on bare plastic or onto primer? I always use primer for acrylic paints. Bare plastic might be too smooth for some water-based paints, especially when it comes to adhesion. And as always, make sure your surface is clean.

Personally, I don't find that Vallejo Model Air needs to be thinned to be sprayed. It sprays straight from the bottle just fine.

If I'm not mistaken, isn't Vallejo Air can be used straight up out of the bottle? Vallejo Model Color has to be thinned but I do believe Model Air doesn't need to be thinned.

DO NOT use alcohol for thinning agent with Vallejo. Unless, of course you enjoy cleaning up a mess of gunk in your airbrush.

When I build aircraft models I use Vallejo Air paints mostly. Use only their thinner or the flow improver mentioned above. Model Master acrylic paint thinner can be used but be ready to clean the airbrush tip off alot. To me that's not a big deal as that paint lays down really good to me. As Tojo says though....ABSOLUTELY NO ALCOHOL/ WINDEX AS THINNER FOR THIS STUFF. You will regret it.

I do all my airbrushing by starting with a very light coating, to get some paint adhering to surface, then go back with heavier coats.  These are not really seperate sessions with the airbrush- maybe passes are a better term.  When I finish doing the whole assembly with that light pass, I can generally go back and start a heavier coat.  For a small piece, I just wait for maybe 15 -20 seconds- maybe with just an air blast, and then another heavier coat.  I do seem to get better adhesion that way.

Yes to all the above comments.....

I use Vallejo primarily, and agree you are adding too much water. Almost beyond a doubt.

My advice, your starting point should be straight up (unthinned), and go from there.

If you've read of folk using water to thin Vallejo, it's mostly for brush painting (I do that too). I tried using distilled water to thin Vallejo Air when getting started with poor results. Were I you, I'd follow the advice above and stick with Vallejo's own airbrush thinner and flow improver, period.

Also, if you are not used to using the little plastic dropper bottles, it is possible that your paint is not properly stirred/agitated and i suppose this could be adding to your woes. I do the 'roll the dropper bottle between my palms' trick to 'stir', and it has served me well.

Good luck on your quest, the product will work with some practice. Most of Vallejo woes I've read are new users mixing it with stuff they shouldn't be. Also, overthinning Model Air without realising it is ready to spray out of the bottle.

Keep us apprised, won't you please?

I completely agree with Greg, and everone else. Vallejo products are really very good. I have come to prefer them over everything else. BUT, they take getting used to. You can use model air straight out of the bottle, when proprly mixed. I find a couple drops of vallejo airbrush thinner helps. you shouldn't need more that a little bit. Make sure you are keeping a clean airbrush, Spray 15-25 psi usually and they should work great!

I've said this before, and I'll say it again. Createx air brush cleaner thins Vallejo (and other acrylics) great, seems to slow down tip dry as well.

It's handy to have in your stock as I haven't found a main stream (Vallejo, Tamiya, Life Color, Xtracrylix) acrylic model paint that reacts badly with it.