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AFV Painting & Weathering
Answers to questions about the right paint scheme or tips for the right effect.
Hosted by Darren Baker, Matthew Toms
Thinning Vallejo Paint
Robbd01
#323
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Arizona, United States
Joined: February 13, 2013
KitMaker: 791 posts
Armorama: 344 posts
Posted: Thursday, September 26, 2013 - 12:15 PM UTC

Quoted Text

I believe that I've finally killed my Iwata HP-c plus !! I do not see any visible obstructions in the AB or the nozzle yet nothing (not even water) is being sprayed out. All I get is air and bubbles from the fluid receptacle. Will need to contact Iwata to see where to go from here. (maybe even buy a cheap AB .. this one is turning into a money pit)


I feel your pain Hermann. I ran into a similar issue with Humbrol Acrylic paints - my post https://archive.kitmaker.net/forums/211888

I clogged my ole reliable Model Master 3000 (now the Aztek A470). What I do is use a Ultra-Sonic Cleaner (Jewelry cleaners) with some water and whatever thinning cleaning agent in a glass bottle (don't want to fill the whole cleaner with thinner). I dissemble, toss in the jar and hit the 4min timer and let it do the work. I included a pic using that good ole evil lacquer thinner. In the end I got all that gunky un-thin-able Humbrol acrylic paint out of my airbrush.




Cheers



PS - Enamel rules
viper29_ca
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New Brunswick, Canada
Joined: October 18, 2002
KitMaker: 2,247 posts
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Posted: Saturday, September 28, 2013 - 03:43 AM UTC
Proper tool, proper job/result.

Buy a bottle of the new re-formulated Vallejo Thinner. 3 parts thinner, 1 part paint, and your troubles will be over.

Vallejo listened to the modelers and re-did their thinner, it is now called Airbrush Thinner, but can be used with any of their paints.

I use it in my Harder & Steenbeck Infinity with the .15mm needle and it never clogs, but you have to get the thinning ratio down. Min. of 3 parts thinner to 1 part paint. And go from there.

Of course with the Model Air being pre-thinnned, don't have to thin it much if at all depending on what you are doing.
plastickjunkie
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Florida, United States
Joined: December 31, 2009
KitMaker: 399 posts
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Posted: Wednesday, October 02, 2013 - 01:54 AM UTC
you can also try out some Flow Improver. Windsor & Newton makes one and it helps to spray out the paint a bit smoother.
Removed by original poster on 10/02/13 - 19:03:27 (GMT).
SSGToms
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Connecticut, United States
Joined: April 02, 2005
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Posted: Wednesday, October 02, 2013 - 07:05 AM UTC

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guys, when i airbrush my vallejos mixed with distilled water i get effect like when you clean your windows with that spray bottle... lots of tiny drops... did i thinned it too much or could something else be wrong?

Go to any art suppy store and get a bottle of Liquitex Flow Aide. Add this to your mix and it will improve paint flow, break the surface tension of the paint and help it self level.
chumpo
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Joined: August 30, 2010
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Posted: Wednesday, October 02, 2013 - 08:36 AM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

guys, when i airbrush my vallejos mixed with distilled water i get effect like when you clean your windows with that spray bottle... lots of tiny drops... did i thinned it too much or could something else be wrong?

Go to any art suppy store and get a bottle of Liquitex Flow Aide. Add this to your mix and it will improve paint flow, break the surface tension of the paint and help it self level.

Golden makes an acrylic flow release same thing different brand . Just be very conservative with mixing it . Mix it with the thinner before adding it to the paint .
easyco69
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Ontario, Canada
Joined: November 03, 2012
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Posted: Friday, October 04, 2013 - 12:34 AM UTC
lifecolor thinner works really good thinning vallego for airbrushing.
chumpo
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United States
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KitMaker: 749 posts
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Posted: Friday, October 04, 2013 - 12:21 PM UTC

Quoted Text

lifecolor thinner works really good thinning vallego for airbrushing.

I've he are that some where just never tried it . So it does work ?
Phael_minis
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France
Joined: January 14, 2013
KitMaker: 208 posts
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Posted: Friday, October 04, 2013 - 04:56 PM UTC
I've been using liquitex flow aid on my Vallejo paint for a few days. It has changed my life, the paint comes out in very thin and perfect lines as it never did before. I was on my way to change my airbrush (harder and steinbeck evolution) and the paint was the problem.
I hope it helps
viper29_ca
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New Brunswick, Canada
Joined: October 18, 2002
KitMaker: 2,247 posts
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Posted: Saturday, October 05, 2013 - 03:13 AM UTC
Just buy Vallejo's Airbrush Thinner, has retarder built in.

Just don't get why people don't use the product designed to work with the paint, instead they cobble together something else, and play trial and error for months, and then blame the paint, the airbrush, or whatever else.

Use the right tool for the job, and it will work 99.9% of the time.

Simple formula.........

If you are using Model Color, Panzer Aces or Game color and you want to airbrush it:

3 parts Vallejo AB Thinner to 1 part paint.

If you are using Model Air:

Should be good to go out of the bottle, but Vallejo recommends 5 parts paint to 1-2 parts Vallejo AB Thinner. The thinner cuts the surface tension of the paint so it lays down smoother, as well the thinner has a retarder built into it, so it helps with reducing tip dry.
Phael_minis
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France
Joined: January 14, 2013
KitMaker: 208 posts
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Posted: Saturday, October 05, 2013 - 04:09 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Should be good to go out of the bottle, but Vallejo recommends 5 parts paint to 1-2 parts Vallejo AB Thinner. The thinner cuts the surface tension of the paint so it lays down smoother, as well the thinner has a retarder built into it, so it helps with reducing tip dry.

It's what I did and there allways were little drops around the painting line. With flower aid, it just seems perfect...
Or maybe it's a placebo effect,I have better results because I 'm supposed to by using this
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