Vallejo vs Tamiya

i have personally used tamiya paints but i have recently switched to vallejo from other stuff and have never looked back, they have a big enuff range of colors for me and with my airbrush you don't have to thin them plus they hand paint just a well

Never used Tamiya but I swithched from ModelMasters acrylic to Vallejo Model Air and am really happy with their airbrush ability. (with a little flow improver) I bought their 16 count Basic, allied forces and allied axis sets. I will add when the need arises by buying in either 16 or 8 ct. sets. Seems alot cheaper that way. I know they are coming out with more colors. Check out their website. (I was not reimbursed for this endorsement)

Are you using the Model Air line of paints?

I think you may have the color selection issue backwards. Vallejo has significantly more color selection than Tamiya.

Tamiya sprays great and if there were more color selection, it might be my primary acrylic. Tamiya hand brushes poorly.

Vallejo sprays fine once you learn how to do it, and it hand brushes great and is self-leveling. Vallejo isn't terribly durable and I think a clear coat is a must if you intend to ever touch your model again after it is painted. Tamiya, IMO, dries to a harder and more durable finish.

They are both fine products, IMO. I prefer Vallejo but you may not.

If you use the Vallejo Model Air line, you don't really have to thin it at all. I would suggest you use Vallejo's own flow improver, though, to reduce if not eliminate dry tip. I wouldn't recommend spraying Vallejo Model Color at all until you have more experience. It's very thick and formulated for brushing.

Have fun whichever route you go. You can try them both, you know!

Tamiya is much easier to use and shoot,but the color range is limited,on the other Vallejo has unlimited colors,but is difficult to airbrush.While not an expert,by using their thinner and retarder,I have gotten use to it,somewhat.

I thin Tamiya with their lacquer thinner,and as I said I thin Vallejo with their thinner and flow improver.

Yes I use VJ Model Air. I agree with everything Greg says.

DasBeav

Yes I use VJ Model Air. I agree with everything Greg says.

 

Well, thanks, Beav.

It's a real treat to have a post acknowledged on this forum every now and then.. It doesn't happen much, except in the GB threads.  You sort of made my night.

Tamiya color range is limited as few has already mentioned. Vallejo does have their range as well. My acrylic preference is Model Master. It's not all that terrible as some say (and I respect those who don't like it) as long as you know how to thin it properly.

I'm not limited to just Model Master acrylics but I also have their enamel line as well. I also have Pollyscale, Aeromaster, Lifecolor acrylics. I'm seriously looking into Mission Model acrylics and Drooling Bulldog (for my WW1 subjects)

Well after really comparing the two you are right.

I must have had it stuck in my head that my lhs has more Tamiya than VMA.

Is there an easy to understand paint equivelant chart out there?

Thanks.

Go here: 

www.paint4models.com

Download their conversion chart.

Thanks. That will help.

STL DALE

I must have had it stuck in my head that my lhs has more Tamiya than VMA.

That makes absolute sense, that would lead you to believe that Tamiya has more colors, indeed.

So which VMA colors are correct for a P-40 Flying Tigers paint scheme?

Thanks.

You are welcome, Greg....And 100 percent correct about ABing VJ Model Air and Color.

Vallejo has a boxed set of paints. These are the links.

http://www.acrylicosvallejo.com/en_US/us-army-air-corps-colors-(cbi)-pacific-theater-wwii/family/17/173

http://www.acrylicosvallejo.com/en_US/model-air/family/17

Just a side note, but Tamiya retarder is a huge improvement for hand brushing their paint. A few drops of the stuff to a small amount of paint say a 1 to 3 or 2 to 3 ratio of retarder to paint and the stuff handbrushes as well as any enamel.... lots of time to work with the stuff with no skin forming and all the headaches one normally associates with hand brushing Tamiya acrylics.