Vallejo Test.

[JR]

Following Andy's discussion on his thread about having trouble using Vallejo I had a search on U Tube

Armed with this I set to this morning to do some test of my own.
I used H&S ULTRA WITH A .4 NEEDLE
and the INFINITY WITH A .15
Paints were .

and


First thing was to clean each both AB's fully so no traces of old paint. Using a AS-186 Compresser set at 20 psi.
The magic ingredient and NO thinners .



Before the test I took a sheet of plastic card, washed it in washing up liquid and rinsed it in clean water and dried.

The tests began, first off Vallejo Model Air
I mixed approx 50 /50, and loaded up the Ultra with the .4 needle.



Ten changed to the .15 needle


No clogging at any time ! That should have read .15

Now the test for the Vallejo Model Colour, this one I thought would be the one to really test as its mainly used for brush work.

Starting with the .4 Ultra.


Then some lines. still .4



Finally the 1.5 needle in the INFINITY.


Again should have read .15
My thoughts were maybe I added slightly more more flow improver than I might have needed, next time I shall use 40 /60 .
The main thing is at no point did the tip dry out, or stop spraying, I even left the gun in between moving the card around and changing to the smaller tipped AB.
Normally I would use no more than a couple of drop of the improver per 10 drops of paint, and then use 5 to 6 drops of thinners, and it still might stop and gum up.

I would appreciate any of you guys having a go with out the thinners just the improver and see what results you get.
Certainly something I will do in future with a little play with the amounts. Hope other Vallejo users find it helpful .

John.

[adt70hk]

Hi John

I actually Vallejo's Airbrush & Weathering Techniques Book by Rob Ferreira (he's a brilliant modeler BTW). He's got some great advice in there so I will try and dig it out. I'll try and have a play too but it might be for a while.

My Brit SCC 15 is done using only Model Colour and obviously so have to thin it quite a bit. In normal size batches (up to about 5ml), I normally use 1 drop Vallejo flow improver, 1 drop W&N retarder and then the balance in thinner until it is at the right consistency. In large batches for bulk spraying probably normally add an extra drop or two of flow aid and retarder.

I use either a Tamiya Fine AB with a 0.2mm needle for finer work or a Revell Vario with a 0.7mm needle for large volume spraying and so far no issue with clogging and not much dry tip either.

HTH for the time being and thanks for your efforts.

ATB

Andrew

[Guest]

Certainly better results than I've ever got with it John. I can never get Model Air to spray well enough to get any kind of line, looks more like a Morse Code message! :smiling5:

Will give it a go myself and let you know how I get on, thanks.

[JR]

Hi John

I actually Vallejo's Airbrush & Weathering Techniques Book by Rob Ferreira (he's a brilliant modeler BTW). He's got some great advice in there so I will try and dig it out. I'll try and have a play too but it might be for a while.

My Brit SCC 15 is done using only Model Colour and obviously so have to thin it quite a bit. In normal size batches (up to about 5ml), I normally use 1 drop Vallejo flow improver, 1 drop W&N retarder and then the balance in thinner until it is at the right consistency. In large batches for bulk spraying probably normally add an extra drop or two of flow aid and retarder.

I use either a Tamiya Fine AB with a 0.2mm needle for finer work or a Revell Vario with a 0.7mm needle for large volume spraying and so far no issue with clogging and not my dry tip either.

HTH for the time being and thanks for your efforts.

ATB

Andrew

Thanks Andrew, it's great to share these tips.

Certainly better results than I've ever got with it John. I can never get Model Air to spray well enough to get any kind of line, looks more like a Morse Code message! :smiling5:

Will give it a go myself and let you know how I get on, thanks.

Well no doubt some one will say its wrong Andy, but hey it sprays, as I said just a matter now of perfecting that amount. Hope to see your results later, and it worked.

[adt70hk]

Certainly better results than I've ever got with it John. I can never get Model Air to spray well enough to get any kind of line, looks more like a Morse Code message! :smiling5:

Will give it a go myself and let you know how I get on, thanks.

Andy

I know Model air doesn't need much thinning and I KNOW the book I mentioned above gives the specific mix the author uses, so I'll have a look tonight.

I also know he normally recommends quite low pressure normally around 10-12 psi.

HTH

Andrew

[stillp]

Very interesting John. Did the paint dry hard with that much flow improver in it?
Pete

[JR]

Very interesting John. Did the paint dry hard with that much flow improver in it?
Pete

Not too bad Pete, it certainly took long enough where I had really laid it down .

[stillp]

I was worried about the drying time after I saw someone on youtube using glycerine as a flow improver. Glycerine doesn't evaporate or harden - I know, I used to use it as windscreen wash antifreeze, but it made a sticky mess of my car!

Pete

[colin m]

I persevered with Vallejo and an airbrush for quite some time, but was forever getting tip drying. Not all the time, but there was not pattern to it. I've changed to MRP for out side colours and love the stuff.

[JR]

I'm determined to get it to spray, it must work, been around long enough.

[Fernando N]

Nice tips John.

Ever since I first bought Vallejo Model air at the LHS I use it with Vallejo airbrush thinner.
Model air can go straight on at 30Psi and a 0.4 needle, although the finish can be a bit rough…

I usually thin it in a 10/3 ration (10 drops paint 3 drops thinner) for 0.4 work at 20Psi.
And a 5/5 ratio for 0.2 or 0.15 needles work at 20Psi too.

Only with the smaller needles the tip dry thing comes up, especially in the summer but a quick swipe with a wet brush solves that.
HTH

[JR]

Thank Fernando.

[Fernando N]

Happy to help, although I made a mistake in yesterday's post.
The ratio for the smaller sizes should be 5/5, edited now:rolling:...