Hello!

I wanted to buy some Vallejo Model Air colours, for airbrush, but a friend of me warned me that they will not adhere to plastic (his own experience with Vallejo Model Air), as they are acryllic paints. So I will need a primer coat first.

Did you have simmilar experiences with Vallejo Model Air? Is it really necessarily to have a primer coat first? Or will these acryllic paints adhere with no problem on plastic as well, without any prior primering?

Thank you in advance.

Hello,

Vallejo Air does adhere to plastic without priming. However the surface must be completely free of grease and it is a good idea to sand the surface lightly with fine sandpaper to improve adhesion.

Additionally Vallejo Air is very sensitive to the right distance/pressure ratio, so experiment first to get the ideal setting and distance from the surface. I have found that around 1,2bar you can spray large surfaces from about 15-18cm distance with a 0,3 nozzle with nice results. From closer the paint runs, and from farther the paint dries before it reaches the surface and does not adhere. I apply one drop of white Vallejo thinner to 6 drops of paint usually, thinner improves the atomization and flow of the paint.

If you keep above in mind you can get a very good surface that can be even masked with BluTac. I personally am accustomed to the behaviour of Vallejo air and actually like it very much. However if you find it is not worth the hassle you can use other brands easier.

Greetings,

For the best results and adhesion, use a primer with the model air. It is a must with the model color line otherwise the paint is fragile. BTW Vallejo makes an excellent primer in white, black and gray you shoot right from the bottle at around 30 psi. I know that seems like a high pressure but I got that from the Vallejo site and used it with great results myself.

Cbreeze

What Charles & Gabor said!

Vallejo is fragile & is sensitive, but I now use their Polyurathane white grey or black primers in large bottles.

DITO. Vallejo Model Air paints are excelent and will give you great results in a wide range of colors. I always use a primer but...........if you want to go without primer, I have been told that you can place the model in a sink and spray with windex to remove the mold release agent from the plastic. I have not tried this myself but the information came from a reliable source. If you realy do not want to use a primer, it may be worth it to take a piece from a new kit and try cleaning with windex and test painting just to see how well it works.

For the best results with any of the Vallejo range you need to use an etch type primer and as far as i know there are no Acrylic etch primers available, so its back to the old cellulose primers.

Vallejo primer is good but like their paints it needs a very clean grease and finger oil free surface or else it too may easily lift.

Vallejo actually say that a primer is only necessary when painting metal parts.

On the odd occasion I have sprayed Vallejo paints without any primer I have not noticed any contra issues.

Paul

I'm using Vallejo Model Air on my latest project. It's going to require a lot of heavy masking so I did a test first. I cleaned a piece of Evergreen sheet styrene with Windex, rinsed with water, and let dry. I then airbrushed Vallejo Model Air 71041 Tank Brown on the bare styrene, no primer. Coverage and opacity are excellent and it sprays easily. I let it dry 48 hours and it completely and repeatedly passes the thumbnail test. Unless you are vigorously and intentionally trying to scrape it off with a sharp edge it adheres perfectly. You just need to have nice clean styrene.

Well Matthew thanks a lot indeed
I was looking for an acrilyc paint which could replace the primer, cause i'm always worried about the "details drowning hazard"
I was undecided beetween Tamiya paints and Valleyo air. I knew that Tamiya paints were effective on plastic surfaces, but to be honest i hoped that also Valleyo products would work, 'cause they are most useful (no dilution needed). So now I'll trust in you....and i'm going to clean my T55 Tamiya ....maniacally


cheers