Just one quick question.
When airbrushing, what is best? Using Vallejo Model Color thinned with water or using Model Air straight from the bottle.

// Torbjörn

Hi

I contacted Vallejo in order to clearify if model color is suitable for airbrushing. They replied that model color is not suited for airbrushing, due to the high viscocity of model color. To obtain a suitable viscosity, the model color has to be diluted to an extent that leads to a solution of which water/thinner is the main part.

So I guess only model air is suited for airbrushing!

I wholeheartedly disagree with the above statement. I have been airbrushing vallejo Model Color for about a year now, and, even though it is a bit temperamental, the results are outstanding! here is a pic of artwork I painted on my brother's Harley using nothing but Vallejo Model Color.



and my T-34



Mike Kirchoff

Well I'm refering to the answer I got from Vallejo.

But I see you have succeded in airbrushing with model color.

It's a quite impressive piece of work.

I think Drumthumper has skills beyond mine by a long way!!!
I have used both for airbrushing and find modelair very easy. However, modelcolour is terrific for brush painting. Really good coverage.
In the end it's what you are comfortable with.
Cheers.
Tony

I, too, have found Model Color to be airbrushable when properly thinned. I don't have a lot of experience with it, but so far so good.
Here's something a bit different, though. Like many, I sort of balk at buying two different paints for different purposes. Over the holidays, I was doing a quick build of a little braille kit as a stocking stuffer and I was playing around with some Model Air. I wanted to handbrush the kit and the color that intrigued me the most was the Vallejo OD, but I only had it in Model Air. What the heck, I said, I'll just squirt some out into my little bottle cap (great use for those plastic caps!) and slap some on with my brush. As it turned out, the stuff went on beautifully! With the primer, the Model Air brushed on great! Two thin coats was all it took. I've not tried brushing other colors, but I was amazed at how will the olive drab went on. Anyone else try to brush Model Air? Just curious.

Thanks for your help. Thinning it with plain water or with destilled, any difference?

I also used to airbrush the Model Color... I was a fan of the "old formula" matt cote. The only problem is that the Valleyo Model Color have a vinyl base and overspraiyng Tamya on them I spoiled the underlying paintwork...
Ciao
Fabio

I also have never had a problem using the model color through an airbrush.I thinned it with plain water.

I must admit that I have had good results on the whole from spraying model air thinned with plain water and their own thinner, although it took a little time to get the ratios right for the paint and air pressure. I do tend to use Model Air quite alot probably from idleness as I can shake, pour and go.
Whatever you decide there is no doubt that Vallejo paints are certainly economical in their use, which saves money for more paints and kits.

John

I have always used Humbrol paints when brushpainting and Tamiya or Gunze when airbrushing and I must say that I don´t find using Humbrol economical. I don´t think that I have ever emptied a Humbrol paint-tin. They´re always getting dry, no matter how much I clean the jar and the lid.

Replacing my Humbrolpaints with Vallejo is one of the best thing I´ve ever done in my modellingcareer.

I haven´t used them for airbrushing yet, I still have same Tamiyapaints left, but that day will come.... :-) :-)