3 days ago i painted a M1 panther using Valllejo acrylics. This was the first time in my long building carrer I have used acrylics for painting an entire model. I thinned it about 75% paint to 25% distilled H20. The model was clean but I did not use a primer coat as I never usually do. 2days after painting the paint was coming off just by coincindental contact with a finger nail etc...almost like the way a lotto scratch ticket rubs off. Is this normal with acrylics because of the lack of bite in the paint. When I give it a clear flat coat will it be sealed. By the way, I thinned the Vallejo because it was not the air type it was the regular type. The paint was applied using a testos dual action air brush with the compresor set as I always have it set. Thanks for any help.

Anthony, I posted a similar question recently from the priming aspect and by and large, the consensus was that acrylics work better with priming. I use acrylics and I've noticed similar results over non-primed surfaces. I didn't see this as much when I brush painted, but it's much more prevalant now that I've moved onto an airbrush.

- Frank

Defiantely wash the surface to be painted well and prime it. I use Vallejo and Tamiya all the time, and without that crucial step, especially with the Vallejo, you can have problems.

Sean

Thanks Frank. I am begining to suspet the primer issue myself. I assume that it should be a non acrylic primer, right? If not it would defeat the purpose I think.?

Anthony - here's a link to my priming question thread: https://armorama.kitmaker.net/forums/82531#684962

You'll see a bunch of different options, but Tamiya Surface primer comes up often as a popular choice. I'm leaning towards that or some of the Tamiya spray paints as they're an acrylic lacquer and have been tough as nails for me.

- Frank

Thanks for the help Frank!

Hi Anthony,

To be honest I don't think this is a To-Prime-or-Not-To-Prime issue. I suspect this is related to the paint you used.

You mentioned you used the Acrylicos Vallejo Model Color paints as opposed to the AV Model Air paints. The Model Color range is best suited to brush painting, whereas the Model Air is specifically designed for airbrush use.

I have used both of these ranges in the manner they were designed to be used and have not yet (touch wood ) had these problems you mention.

Rudi

p.s. for the record I do prime

Hello Antony, I always use "foundation white" from Vallejo acrylics and I've never had this problem. I spray it thinned down with water, and the following layers (basic colors), olive green for example, I thin down with methylated spirit (it's a blue liquid, it fastens the drying). The foundation white won't mix with the spirit (my expirience) but does with water.
Succes and greetings from a Guy in Belgium !

Thanks to you all!

Hi Anthony,

I have been airbrushing for a while but just recently used it on my models.
So far I have been having excellent results with the Vallejo Model Air range. This is how I have been doing it:

I wash the model, use surgical gloves after that to touch the model and then I use a 60-40 mix of vallejo model air grey primer (097) and Vallejo model air thinner (71061) to do the first coat. This goes on extremely thin but it covers very well.

I let this first coat dry for a day then start with the actual color coat. For that I use vallejo model air color of choice in roughly the following ratio: 60% paint, 30% thinner and 10% vallejo model air gloss (058).

Results have been very good and the finish dries up but is not glossy.

-Adding the gloss varnish helps smoothing out the paint and prevents clogging up the needle when using fine to very fine airbrushes.
Using the original Vallejo thinner also helps in flow characteristics and it will give a better end-coat. (I did try different kinds of thinning to include distilled water, iso-propyl alcohol and other more exotic mixes)

I also experimented with adding a very small amount (less than 10%) of Vallejo Model Color (not "Air") Drying Retarder (70597), that also works fine but I could not notice a significant difference in spraying.

I noticed one important thing when comparing Vallejo to Tamiya and that is that the Vallejo piant covers a lot better resulting in using a lot less paint and getting thinner layers. The down-side of this is that the initial layers are more susceptible to damage and scratches (I tried this on test objects).
Using layers of Vallejo over Tamiya and vice-versa also works like a charm.

All in all I can say that I am quite happy with these Vallejo paints, Tamiya is a good second for me. I recently started on spraying enamels but have not had good results yet (must practice - too little time)

A bit lengthy answer but I hope this helps you out,

Greetings, Marc



I have planned to try other thinner mixes but have not yet found the time to do so.

Thanks Guys!!

i use to have the same problem to Anthony.
i know wat u going thru, but look on the bright side.
its more healther than thinner base.