First go with Vallejo model air

[Guest]

so, (dare i start this conversation??) i have been using Tamiya acrylics an awful lot, both through the airbrush and brush work too.


Ive got along ok with them, and dont think ive done too bad with them.


But last week, i bought a new airbrush from John at the shop with a box set of Vallejo model air.


The airbrush incidentally is a H&S ultra, which is a good airbrush, im liking it a lot more than my old Neo which broke. (Side note, the Neo didnt do any better than the £12 airbrushes i still use for clear and primer!! Infact the chinese ones are still going!)


But i digress,


So im building up this little kampfwagen and wanted to try the modulation of panzer grey with the vallejo. Ive tried before in a different colour with the tamiya, but this vallejo paint is way way better as far as acrylics go. Mixing is so easy, in the airbrush pot direct, little stir and away! The Tamiya does mix, but you need to work it good to get it mixed up. Also, vallejo is so clean to drop in the airbrush, the dropper bottles is sooo much better!


Being able to stay consistent with mixes is so much easier too, counting drops.


Also, im able to drop in a few drops of satin, or matt or even gloss for that matter direct in with the paint, and it mixes nicely, sprays well and i can achieve the finish type i want. Every time i tried doing this with Tamiya, i found it very hard to get mixed up properly, and i didnt ever get the result i wanted, so resorted to spraying paint colour, then clear coats separate.


But the biggest factor to why i feel theyre better than Tamiya is, when i did the final stages of my colour mod, i dropped ONE drop of panzer grey, and one drop of white on my pallete, and mixed them up as i wanted.


Now, i worked slowly, taking care to apply with my 5/0 brush the highlights to areas on the tank.


By the time id finished half an hour later, the paint on the pallete was still useable!


Tamiya paint drys out so fast, i find its already skinned over and no good after 5 minutes.


Plus, the model air brushes on lovely, the tamiya i have to apply Tamiyas own brand thinner to get it to work well, and needs fine hair soft brushes to make it nice.


So ive found these vallejo great, and will be using them now.


Havent tried Mig or some of the other paints similar, perhaps those of you that have used them can add to this?


What are they like to airbrush? Do they mix easily? Thinning? Brush painting detail with them?


Thanks

[john i am]

Hey Dave knock one of these up and you'll be able to keep your paint moist for days .

[Guest]

Wow thanks john, ill make one of them!

[Dave Jay]

Dave, it seems you're settling in well in to your modelling niche nicely, which I am very pleased for you. Sometimes, as you well know, certain things happen in modelling that were meant to be although at the time when something snaps, crinkles, gets eaten by the carpet monsters or becomes beyond rescuing no matter how much you wrestled with it, it all turns out right in the end somehow, god knows how but it does.


It's great to see that you're having greater success and in something that makes or breaks a model.......the painting.

[Dave Jay]

Can I ask Dave, do you think acrylics are better than enamels?...............hahaha only joking


Where's Laurie when you need him?!

[Guest]

Can I ask Dave, do you think acrylics are better than enamels?..............

Oh Oh OH, that old chestnut huh?


Thing is Dave, i was settling in to modelling, especially as i only started in august, but then a spate of trying aircraft ruined the enjoyment. I dont understand why, its all plastic, and goes together and gets painted, but i simply cant get the feel for them.


Going back to tanks and then trying these new paints lifted me back up.


When the tools you use fight you it makes the job unenjoyable, that is true in anything, so having paints i enjoy using, and especially with my hands not working properly making it easier for me to decant into airbrush or pallet, is a huge advantage to me.


My neuro said to me last week why on earth did i choose a hobby with finite parts, and delicate skillset?


I told him because i refuse to allow this accident to rule my life. Its already took my ability to walk, and my ability to get on the floor and play with my two sons, ill be damnned if it will stop me doing this!

[BBdave]

Do you still thin the model air or use it neat I can't get it to spray without thining.


Dave

[Guest]

Do you still thin the model air or use it neat I can't get it to spray without thining.
Dave

Not so much really. The model air is supposed to be airbrush ready, and i have used it neat in the H&S with a .2 needle/tip and it seemed ok.


However, watching Vallejos videos, it seems he always mixes colours, and always adds either satin or matt varnish with it, which i do as well, with satin, and it sprays lovely and also readies the paintwork for pin washes and decals.


I use gravity fed airbrushes, .2 and .3 needle tip variants. Ive one airbrush with a .5 setup, which is a chinese AB and that works perfect for primer.


The only thing id say is check the paint you have, as i had a bottle of grey vallejo primer, and it had been poorly stored by the supplier, and i had hell with it, just wouldnt spray at all. It also came out white not grey, even five mins in front of the TV shaking it didnt make it come out properly, and it never cured after that.


I had it replaced, and this bottle works no problem!

[BBdave]

I have a .3 iwata gravity fed I've never been able to spray air neat it just clogs after a couple of seconds but thining it makes it fine I may try some satin in it and try that


Dave

[Guest]

Or try enamels? :P only kidding!

[Guest]

Dave, try running it abour 25psi, and make sure youre not getting dry tip. Honestly havent had problems, you can run 20% airbrush thinner or water (although it says the airbrush thinner keeps the adehsion of the paint, water can make it less able to stick)

[Guest]

Laurie posted this over a year ago, which might help:

"Just tried this and it is a revelation. Vallejo Flow Improver. Available in John's shop unless you want to pay double in Europe.


2 drops for every 10 of paint I used for both experiments. Using an iwata .2 needle.I did not use any thinners at all. I use this for weathering and local shading and have had to unblock every minute or so. Frustrating.


1st using Mig acrylics. Used at 15psi and 8 psi and over a period of about 10 minutes no blockages.


2nd Vallejo Silver Model air. If ever there was one for blocking the metal types are the one.


Used at 15psi and 8 psi and over a period of about 10 minutes no blockages.


Also there was no appreciable time difference in drying. Another plus it seemed easier to clean out the airbrush.


This is a great find. Only annoyance is that Vallejo, airbrush Flow Improver, airbrush Cleaner and airbrush thinners bottles are all in the same label livery. Have a few times used the cleaner in place of the thinner. And so I am putting coloured labels on.


Not used it extensively but if the above is typical this is a great step forward for acrylic airbrushing. I was very sceptical about the product but proved a pessimist.

Laurie"


I have a bottle but haven't used it yet.

[Robert1968]

Hey Dave knock one of these up and you'll be able to keep your paint moist for days .

Just saw this John ( looks so easy to do ) and as I got a lot of weathering coming up on armoured vehicles I think this wet palette idea will save me so much time, paint and money ( brilliant idea so simples!!!!


Cheers


Robert

[Wong Ryan]

Do you still thin the model air or use it neat I can't get it to spray without thining.
Dave

I use mostly LifeColor and sometimes Vallejo Air


I use either one of these method:


Method 1


1. Add Windex to the airbrush pot. Spray some of it out.


2. Mix the paint in a mixing dish, add Distilled Water, add 1 small drop of Windex


3. Pour into the airbrush pot


Method 2


1. Add Flow Aid, Liquitex Medium OR Liquitex Air Brush Medium to the airbrush pot. Spray some of it out


2. Mix the paint in a mixing dish, add Liquitex Air Brush Medium


3. Pour into the airbrush pot


I find that Method 1 is more economical. Liquitex is a pricey stuff over here.

[BarryW]

I always spray VMA neat, unthinned through a 0.4 needle but for a .2 needle it is best thinned otherwise you will get clogs. I expect that it will also spray well unthinned through a 0.3 needle.


My advice - keep it simple and just use the Vallejo thinner and/or flow aid.