Vallejo Acrylics

My paint stash is about 99% Vallejo now and I love them!!  they cover real smooth, lay down good on the body and are fairly impervious to masking, even more so with a primer underneath.  I have use Tamiya a little and after that MM for about a year but once I found the Vallejo I have slowly been moving my paint collection their way.

If you do a lot of WWII A/C www.greatmodels.com carries the Vallejo made, Color of Eagles branded "Aircraft colors" line which is the same quality.  they have all the UK, USA and German colors for most aircraft.

They also hand brush well too... it takes a few coats but there are no brush marks afterwards and it dries smooth! 

If you do get some to try I would prime with something like Krylon white primer from Wal Mart or the such... just until you get used to spraying them.  Maybe sure you cover in light coats progressively building up and you will be left with a nice paint job that blends together well.

good luck to ya if ya try them!!! 

-=edit=-

if you do get them here is a cross reference of Vallejo colors to standard names.  (.i.e Panzer Dark Yellow in common paint terms is named "Tank Yellow" in the Vallejo line)  this was done by the member here Darson, I just hosted it on my (ok this is the only page so far) webpage...

http://www.geocities.com/tho9900@verizon.net/Vallejo_Paint_Inventory.htm

Tom Thanks for the link to your site and to Darren for making the list.  I was looking for a xref of the various paint mfg to colors its great.

Cheers

Bear

another question can the paints be over coated with dullcoats and regular clear coats  i usally use a rattle can for clear coats

thx

Tom  Since i came back to modeling i've been amazed (mind boggeled) at the amount of paint in colors, types and manufacturers available and i'm experimenting with the various types to see which one works for me so a xref list is a great help.  I've found a LHS that has Vallejo paints and I'm looking forward to tying them out.  Thanks again.

Cheers

Bear

superbear wrote:

Tom  Since i came back to modeling i've been amazed (mind boggeled) at the amount of paint in colors, types and manufacturers available and i'm experimenting with the various types to see which one works for me so a xref list is a great help.  I've found a LHS that has Vallejo paints and I'm looking forward to tying them out.  Thanks again.   Cheers Bear

if you plan on airbrushing them either use distilled water OR my recommendation: even if you are just in the "let's try it out" mode is get the Vallejo branded thinner... it has a retarder and an adhesion additive (which smells a lot like Elmers if you ask me haha)... it's about $4 for a 30ml bottle but it lasts over a year for me... which is not a bad deal  (those eyedropper bottles work good at conserving paint!)

I would try black or one of their grays first as they cover good.. they brush on well leaving no brush marks and I would hate for you to try white or yellow first as they are poor coverers in ANY brand..  (although their yellow isn't that bad to me, except over black like in prop tips)

good luck to you and feel free to ask questions about them... I have been a convert for 2 yrs now!!!  I'm sure I've made lots of mistakes for yall to learn from! 

Just remember, light coats at first and it will go on like silk!

ssgkopp wrote:

another question can the paints be over coated with dullcoats and regular clear coats  i usally use a rattle can for clear coats   thx

I thought about it more and to answer the question more directly....  it will work fine with rattle can clears IF you let it cure at least 24-48 hours... anything less may cause bubbling...   (testors flat is a lacquer I think)

do you think i will be good using my aztec 470 DA with these

also arnt these alrdy pre thinned for airbrush   i mean the newer line

thx

ssgkopp wrote:

do you think i will be good using my aztec 470 DA with these also arnt these alrdy pre thinned for airbrush   i mean the newer line

I use an Iwata Eclipse with a .30 mm nozzle and they go on fine thinned 3:1 with the Vallejo Thinner. Get no gunk or anything building up as long as I don't leave it for too long. Cleaning it with Vallejo Airbrush Cleaner also works really well (isopropanol tends to make the paint gunk up a bit, so I prefer the branded cleaner).

Tom  Thanks for the tips.  I'll pick up a couple  in the gray and try them out I'm glad to hear they go on well with a brush also.  How easy does this paint clean up after an Airbrush session and what do you use to clean your AB, Thanks

Cheers

Bear 

Bear - plain old Windex does mighty fine.. I just tilt my brush over to pour out all the paint, spray the windex directly into the cup and let that run out as well, loosen any thick paint with a qtip wet with Windex and the spray a cup full through to fulsh the brush, followed by a little distilled water to get the windex out.

That's it!  possibly the easiest cleaning acrylics I have worked with yet...

just remember to shake them vigorously before use (yes, you're supposed to shake this paint haha) the first time also hit the bottom of the bottle against the bottom of your hand a few times now and then during shaking to loosen the pigment and help it mix better.  The first time I might shake for a goor minute or two to get all the pigment spread in...

Good luck!

Thanks again Tom so Vallejo is better shaken not stired  Sorry I could'nt help myself it's going to be a loooong day.

Cheers

Bear

superbear wrote:

Thanks again Tom so Vallejo is better shaken not stired  Sorry I could'nt help myself it's going to be a loooong day.   Cheers Bear

::groan::  haha I understand... it was a long one for me too... Vallejo isn't the only thing being shaken and stirred here tonight...    hmmm... "Vallejo on the rocks"... think I'm on to something!!

Sounds good Tom.  I'm going a bit OT however if you had to strip the paint of a build what would you use to remove Vallejo or is it not possible and my build would be toast?  I've looked around the forum and I have'nt found any ref on paint removal your input would be appreciated.

Cheers

Bear 

Fantastik (the orange oil one) Simple Green and Castrol Super Clean will all remove the paint if let to soak awhile.  the last two will usually even remove any primer you sprayed on before you painted with the Vallejo.

I just put it in a zip lock bag and spray in enough of whatever I am using to get it all over the plane then close the bag to keep it from evaporating.  sometimes if it is a stubborn spot I make sure the spot is immersed in the cleaner so it gets a healthy dose of it...

Thanks again Tom. So there is hope if I screw up that's good news.  I'll keep it in mind at my next painting disaster. Have a good weekend.

Cheers

Bear

tho9900 wrote:

superbear wrote: Tom  Since i came back to modeling i've been amazed (mind boggeled) at the amount of paint in colors, types and manufacturers available and i'm experimenting with the various types to see which one works for me so a xref list is a great help.  I've found a LHS that has Vallejo paints and I'm looking forward to tying them out.  Thanks again.   Cheers Bear if you plan on airbrushing them either use distilled water OR my recommendation: even if you are just in the "let's try it out" mode is get the Vallejo branded thinner... it has a retarder and an adhesion additive (which smells a lot like Elmers if you ask me haha)... it's about $4 for a 30ml bottle but it lasts over a year for me... which is not a bad deal  (those eyedropper bottles work good at conserving paint!) I would try black or one of their grays first as they cover good.. they brush on well leaving no brush marks and I would hate for you to try white or yellow first as they are poor coverers in ANY brand..  (although their yellow isn't that bad to me, except over black like in prop tips) good luck to you and feel free to ask questions about them... I have been a convert for 2 yrs now!!!  I'm sure I've made lots of mistakes for yall to learn from!  Just remember, light coats at first and it will go on like silk!

it works good Eddie... you have the same tip dry as with other acrylics but if you stay on top of it it really puts out. Just keep a qtip with windex or water nearby when painting to wipe the tip with every so often. You can read the other things about I have said previously and they will hold true using it with the 175.  I think you like the no-waste eye dropper style bottles, they stretch your paint dollar quite well.  Also I recommend using their thinner, they are already thin enough to airbrush, but the 'thinner' is more of a retarder/adhesion aid...

Good luck to you!!!  Oh... and a can of Krylon white primer ensures there's no pull up from masking... it adheres well enough not to pull up but especially at first I recommend it till you get used to it.  Remember, nice thin coats built up will give the model a very good finish!