What is the thin ratio of vallejo paints using their thinner?
first attempt paint too thick added a lil more too thin is there a happy medium to this stuff?
this is my first usage of this product
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Vallejo mixing ratios
plstktnkr2
Joined: October 10, 2002
KitMaker: 352 posts
Armorama: 309 posts
Posted: Wednesday, November 16, 2011 - 06:35 PM UTC
SgtRam
Contributing Writer
#197
Joined: March 06, 2011
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Posted: Wednesday, November 16, 2011 - 11:56 PM UTC
Are you talking about Vallejo Air? Most of the Vallejo Air I can shoot right from the bottle, depending on what I am painting, I may add a drop or two of Vallejo thinner. If you are talking the regular Vallejo, I am not sure. I have read it is not an ideal candidate for airbrushing due to the courser pigment in it, but I have heard of people doing it.
hetzer44
Joined: December 21, 2005
KitMaker: 241 posts
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Posted: Thursday, November 17, 2011 - 12:15 AM UTC
Rick,
For the Vallejo Model Air, I could never paint straight from the bottle, but had to add a drop or two to the AB cup and the results were very good, though my experience is that Model Air layers are very thin, so you will need a few coats. If you are refering to Model Color (White Cap) line, for hand brushing, I've always used one drop of distilled water or their thinner to one drop of paint. Recently, I thinned some Model Color out for airbrushing and after the paint was well shaken, I added 2-3 drops of distilled water per single drop of paint. For me, that ratio worked out well when I was spraying with an Iwata HP at 15 psi. Sorry for getting long-winded there.
For the Vallejo Model Air, I could never paint straight from the bottle, but had to add a drop or two to the AB cup and the results were very good, though my experience is that Model Air layers are very thin, so you will need a few coats. If you are refering to Model Color (White Cap) line, for hand brushing, I've always used one drop of distilled water or their thinner to one drop of paint. Recently, I thinned some Model Color out for airbrushing and after the paint was well shaken, I added 2-3 drops of distilled water per single drop of paint. For me, that ratio worked out well when I was spraying with an Iwata HP at 15 psi. Sorry for getting long-winded there.
plstktnkr2
Joined: October 10, 2002
KitMaker: 352 posts
Armorama: 309 posts
Posted: Thursday, November 17, 2011 - 01:48 AM UTC
Thanks guys that helps I am using vallejo Model air through an Iwata Neo@ 15psi
viper29_ca
Joined: October 18, 2002
KitMaker: 2,247 posts
Armorama: 1,138 posts
Posted: Thursday, November 17, 2011 - 04:34 AM UTC
Same pigment in the Model Color, that is in the Model Air, and in either case the pigment is much finer than what you will find in most other hobby paints.
Model Air is simply just pre-thinned for convenience, drop it in the airbrush and go.
For Model Color, there is no steady and fast rule to thinning it for airbrushing, colors like your whites, beiges etc., will take less to thin than your reds, blues and blacks, simply because it takes more pigment to create the rich colors.
I have no problem using Vallejo's own thinner and thinning model color to shoot through the airbrush, some colors it is 60% thinner, other colors it could be as much as 80-90% thinner, just depends on the color, and the saturation of the pigment.
Model Air is simply just pre-thinned for convenience, drop it in the airbrush and go.
For Model Color, there is no steady and fast rule to thinning it for airbrushing, colors like your whites, beiges etc., will take less to thin than your reds, blues and blacks, simply because it takes more pigment to create the rich colors.
I have no problem using Vallejo's own thinner and thinning model color to shoot through the airbrush, some colors it is 60% thinner, other colors it could be as much as 80-90% thinner, just depends on the color, and the saturation of the pigment.
SSGToms
Joined: April 02, 2005
KitMaker: 3,608 posts
Armorama: 3,092 posts
Posted: Friday, November 18, 2011 - 05:23 PM UTC
Scott is right on here. Vallejo are the finest paints on the market. Model Air paints rarely require thinning, but if so only a drop or two of thinner. Liquitex Flo-Aid and Slo-Dri also work excellently in Vallejo paints. Vallejo also makes their own drying retarder.
ejasonk
Joined: October 14, 2007
KitMaker: 314 posts
Armorama: 226 posts
Posted: Friday, November 18, 2011 - 11:29 PM UTC
I get Model Color best thinned with normal ethyl alcohol from gas station or any market.Its Cheap,you get a lot and you get it everywhere.
Some people say they use some drops of water,but i've never had good results with water. Alcohol evaporate directly and the color doesn´t make ugly drops on the model.
But: don´t use alcohol with Model Air colors (with Model Color only!),seems like the thinner in this colors reacts with alcohol and the color gets clumpy. How thin you need the color to be is up to you and your airbrush and pressure.
Vallejo Colors are great and easy to use,but the Model Air colors are a bit too thick directly from the bottle. This is my experience. If you spray big surfaces they are ok,but if you need soft edges,they are a bit grainy. The best colors for me are Gunze,i have a little RLM-set and this colors are amazing smooth,but hard to get in markets.
Some people say they use some drops of water,but i've never had good results with water. Alcohol evaporate directly and the color doesn´t make ugly drops on the model.
But: don´t use alcohol with Model Air colors (with Model Color only!),seems like the thinner in this colors reacts with alcohol and the color gets clumpy. How thin you need the color to be is up to you and your airbrush and pressure.
Vallejo Colors are great and easy to use,but the Model Air colors are a bit too thick directly from the bottle. This is my experience. If you spray big surfaces they are ok,but if you need soft edges,they are a bit grainy. The best colors for me are Gunze,i have a little RLM-set and this colors are amazing smooth,but hard to get in markets.
Spiderfrommars
Joined: July 13, 2010
KitMaker: 3,845 posts
Armorama: 3,543 posts
Posted: Saturday, November 19, 2011 - 12:03 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Scott is right on here. Vallejo are the finest paints on the market. Model Air paints rarely require thinning, but if so only a drop or two of thinner. Liquitex Flo-Aid and Slo-Dri also work excellently in Vallejo paints. Vallejo also makes their own drying retarder.
That's it, I agree
imatanker
Joined: February 11, 2011
KitMaker: 1,654 posts
Armorama: 1,565 posts
Posted: Saturday, November 19, 2011 - 12:05 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Matt,so here's the question,When you use the Liquitex flow-aid,do you use it right out of the bottle,or reduce it like it says (1 part flo aid to 20 parts water) and then use it Scott is right on here. Vallejo are the finest paints on the market. Model Air paints rarely require thinning, but if so only a drop or two of thinner. Liquitex Flo-Aid and Slo-Dri also work excellently in Vallejo paints. Vallejo also makes their own drying retarder.
Jeff
SSGToms
Joined: April 02, 2005
KitMaker: 3,608 posts
Armorama: 3,092 posts
Posted: Saturday, November 19, 2011 - 02:20 AM UTC
Most times I use a drop or two from the bottle.
imatanker
Joined: February 11, 2011
KitMaker: 1,654 posts
Armorama: 1,565 posts
Posted: Saturday, November 19, 2011 - 02:53 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Thanks Matt,that's what I needed to know Most times I use a drop or two from the bottle.
Jeffviper29_ca
Joined: October 18, 2002
KitMaker: 2,247 posts
Armorama: 1,138 posts
Posted: Saturday, November 19, 2011 - 04:45 AM UTC
Quoted Text
I get Model Color best thinned with normal ethyl alcohol from gas station or any market.Its Cheap,you get a lot and you get it everywhere.
Some people say they use some drops of water,but i've never had good results with water. Alcohol evaporate directly and the color doesn´t make ugly drops on the model.
But: don´t use alcohol with Model Air colors (with Model Color only!),seems like the thinner in this colors reacts with alcohol and the color gets clumpy. How thin you need the color to be is up to you and your airbrush and pressure.
Vallejo Colors are great and easy to use,but the Model Air colors are a bit too thick directly from the bottle. This is my experience. If you spray big surfaces they are ok,but if you need soft edges,they are a bit grainy. The best colors for me are Gunze,i have a little RLM-set and this colors are amazing smooth,but hard to get in markets.
I would advise against using alcohol of any kind to thin any of the Vallejo Paints, Model Color, Model Air, Game Color, etc. etc. Vallejo paints are not alcohol based like Tamiya or other acrylics, but a polymer resin base. Either Vallejo's own thinner, or distilled water should be used when thinning for airbrushing. Alcohol will actually curdle/gel the mixture, something that isn't fun trying to remove from your airbrush, ask me how I know!
imatanker
Joined: February 11, 2011
KitMaker: 1,654 posts
Armorama: 1,565 posts
Posted: Saturday, November 19, 2011 - 02:18 PM UTC
I just got some Vallejo paints this week for the first time.I have never used them before,but was inpressed at how smooth they are.I was just messing around with them reducing them with water.That worked pretty well.Then i got brave and tried some white board cleaner.That seemed to work really well! I'm still in the testing phase but the paint did not clump,flowed great while brushing and did not dry too quickly. Although the paint I got was not the model air I assume the two are made out of the same stuff and maybe white board cleaner will work for both.Jeff ............. P.S. Test at your own risk
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