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Model Color vs Model Air

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  • Member since
    December 2019
  • From: Florida, USA
Model Color vs Model Air
Posted by Niko on Wednesday, January 22, 2020 10:55 PM

Hello Eveyone,

I am looking to pick up some more Vallejo paints for airbrushing and am stuck between the Model Air and Model Color lines. As far as I see from posts online, Model Air is formulated for airbrushing and is better, however I feel that I'm just buying a bunch of thinner with the paint for the same price as Model Color.

I am very new to airbrushing and I want to get the best results while saving some money.

If I thin Vallejo Model Color in the airbrush to the consistency of Model Air, would it have the same quality?

Thank you

"The farther back you look, the farther forward you are likely to see." - Winston Churchill

IN PRODUCTION:

Trumpeter KV-2 1940 1/72

Tamiya Flakpanzer IV Wirbelwind 1/48

 

  • Member since
    April 2004
  • From: UK
Posted by Jon_a_its on Thursday, January 23, 2020 4:03 AM

Niko

If I thin Vallejo Model Color in the airbrush to the consistency of Model Air, would it have the same quality?

Thank you

Not Quite....

They are formulated slightly differently.

Model AIR (Black Top) are airbrushable, although I still find I need to thin them slightly with their thinners & retarders.

Model Colour (white Top) are designed for brushing, you 'can' thin them for airbrushing, BUT Vallejo are 'twitchy' and you need a lot of experiments with thinners & retarders.

They will also colour-shift lighter, and are more fragile, in that they will rub off more easily.

If you haven't already bought your paint, see if you can get hold of AMMO acrylics by MIG, (yellow top) a lot easier to handle, & does the UK armour colours I need, and are a lot more durable.

 

East Mids Model Club 32nd Annual Show 2nd April 2023

 http://www.eastmidsmodelclub.co.uk/

Don't feed the CM!

 

  • Member since
    December 2019
  • From: Florida, USA
Posted by Niko on Thursday, January 23, 2020 7:17 AM

Jon_a_its

 

If you haven't already bought your paint, see if you can get hold of AMMO acrylics by MIG, (yellow top) a lot easier to handle, & does the UK armour colours I need, and are a lot more durable. 

Thank you Jon, I haven't bought my paint yet, but I'm plannign on picking up some Model Air from Free Time Hobbies. They are having a sale and the paints are discounted to $1.39 a bottle! I'll take a look at MIG, but its priced at $3.39 on ScaleHobbyist. Huh?

"The farther back you look, the farther forward you are likely to see." - Winston Churchill

IN PRODUCTION:

Trumpeter KV-2 1940 1/72

Tamiya Flakpanzer IV Wirbelwind 1/48

 

  • Member since
    May 2013
  • From: Indiana, USA
Posted by Greg on Thursday, January 23, 2020 10:31 AM

I agree with Jon.

I airbrush Model Color only when I have to (color not available in Model Air line or I don't have the correct Model Air color or whatever), but as Jon said the process is finicky at best and he is also spot on in suggesting that you mess up the intented chemistry of the paint when overthinning Model Color.

I suppose the latter is arguable, but is my opinion nonetheless.

That was the long opinion;  My short opinion is stick to Model Air for airbrushig whenever possible.

  • Member since
    April 2006
  • From: ON, Canada
Posted by jgeratic on Thursday, January 23, 2020 12:03 PM

Supposedly the pigments in the Model Air series are a finer grade.  Yes you will save initially if you buy separate thinner and do your own mixing.  Over the long run though, that saving will diminish, and may cost more due to the process of zeroing in on a correct ratio for spraying.  If you are new to airbrushing,  then it would be advantageous to use the Air series.  

If you do choose Model Air, specifically the boxed sets, be aware they changed many colours to improve accuracy.  So avoid the boxes that have the clear plastic on the front.

 

regards,

Jack

  • Member since
    May 2013
  • From: Indiana, USA
Posted by Greg on Thursday, January 23, 2020 2:55 PM

jgeratic
.....they changed many colours to improve accuracy. So avoid the boxes that have the clear plastic on the front.

Well that's great. All of my sets have the clear plastic on the front. Crying

  • Member since
    April 2006
  • From: ON, Canada
Posted by jgeratic on Thursday, January 23, 2020 6:22 PM

Greg, I feel ya as I've got 32 paint bottles (from two boxes), most of which have been re-released with a new stock number and sometimes even name description.  Should stress these were Aircraft sets with the black top bottles.  

You are probably fine with the other sets, aka Model Color,  that have the white bottle caps.   You can always check the numbers, if it's still listed then it's unlikely to have changed.

regards,

Jack

  • Member since
    April 2004
  • From: UK
Posted by Jon_a_its on Friday, January 24, 2020 3:52 AM

Niko

 Thank you Jon, I haven't bought my paint yet, but I'm plannign on picking up some Model Air from Free Time Hobbies. They are having a sale and the paints are discounted to $1.39 a bottle! I'll take a look at MIG, but its priced at $3.39 on ScaleHobbyist. Huh?

 

 
Spend the extra $2 & save $10 of grief!

The AMMO/MIG yellow tops are (IMHO) have a huge range, and sets, better to spray, handle and don't rub off!

As with all acrylics, prep is everything, your target needs to be clean, well keyed (600/800 grit or 00000 wire wool), dust free, yadda-yadda.

I also prefer Badger StyNylRes black, satin black or sand primers, top notch, covers very well & does what it says on the tin.

Vallejo do POLYUERETHANE primers, which, in some circumstances, don't stick, peels easily, and is fragile to handle. They do NOT rework well, sanding, filling, etc, as above!
 

East Mids Model Club 32nd Annual Show 2nd April 2023

 http://www.eastmidsmodelclub.co.uk/

Don't feed the CM!

 

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