Quick Tips - The 1 easy rule for trouble free spraying of Vallejo Model Color

I share my 1 easy to remember rule that gives perfect airbrushing results with Vallejo model air.

[@sprucehouse9]

Really, REALLY helpful! I don't know why Vallejo paint frequently gets such a bad rap. I've used it since 2005 without problems - and some of the bottles still even have good paint in them!

[@JeffDonahueScaleModeling]

Hi Jason, really nice video. Lots of great info. I use Vallejo pretty much exclusively. I tend to use the same ratios you do, with minor adjustments for temperature. When I was just getting back into modeling, I won a bunch of Vallejo Model Color paints in a contest and have been using them ever since! Thanks for sharing. See you next time.

[@thescalemodelcarguychannel8681]

Awesome tip Jason!

[@ukdave57]

Great info, thanks for sharing Jason.👍👍

[@billysayers7941]

This video really helped me I've not been airbrushing for very long I'm just learning how to use one.

[@AtlanSumerian]

Thanks for your video, Jason. You kindly showed up how to use model color Vallejo, good information for me, thanks again.

[@ModelkitStuff]

Glad it was helpful!

[@hibbosmodelbench2351]

As informative and as helpful as ever my friend ☺️☺️☺️

[@asdf9890]

Thanks, just got back into the hobby. Last built in the 80s and never had an airbrush. Just got a Vallejo set to start with. I had bought a dozen testors enamel, but I want to know what I’m doing before messing with those in the airbrush. Thanks again! I think I’ve gained enough confidence to fire mine up!

[@ModelkitStuff]

Have fun! I do have a video on airbrushing with enamels take a look at the Christmas build 2022

[@charliemessenger6537]

Great tutorial. I’ve always liked Vallejo best for brush painting and Tamiya or Mission Models for airbrush BUT, as you’ve shown, properly prepped Vallejo goes down just as well. I think it’s a bit less forgiving than the others as far as durability but cost and availability is a big factor in Vallejo’s favor.

[@ModelkitStuff]

I agree its not as hard waring and you need to take care with it

[@waynefromaustralia3792]

well said sir

[@stevenwheaton874]

Thanks Jason, once again a very informative video. These videos are so helpful, especially for a noob like me. I've built many models before but, I'm going into pretty much a new world. With airbrushing, weathering, decalset, and using different manufacturer's paint. I'm pretty much a rookie here. The only paint I ever would use would be Testors, I didn't know about vallejo, tamiya and others the like. Would it be possible for you to do a similar kind of video for tamiya paint as well?

[@ModelkitStuff]

Hi Steven, glad your finding some of these videos helpful. Unfortunately I am only prepared to do videos Where I feel I know what I am talking about, there is so much bad information out there I don’t want to add to it. I am not an expert on Tamiya paint as I don’t like it very much so I wont do a Tamiya paint video sorry. There should be plenty about, I think there is a good one on Andys hobby’s store on thinning Tamiya paint.

[@stevenwheaton874]

@@ModelkitStuff All of these videos have been so helpful, I appreciate the time you put into making them. I feel like I should have been taking notes like I did in school. There is so much more to modeling than just gluing pieces of plastic together and painting the model up. Thank you for sharing all your tios.

[@johnnoble01]

I'll add dont use ipa or Tamiya thinners as the paint turns to snot! It did with me anyway. I've had brilliant results using Humberol acrylic thinners with Valejo as this has a built in retarder.

[@PatricksScaleModelShop]

I just started airbrushing and I’ve used the Vallejo paints and i seem to have thinned them just right as the paint laid down just right on the model but it dried to a total flat coat. Was it supposed to turn out glossy or is this normal and if so what do I use to give it a gloss coat? Thanks for the help.

[@cysteinone]

Thanks for the info! Just started airbrushing with some Model Colors I had for brush painting before. Although I thinned them down, still not able to find the balance for smooth flow from the spray and no accumulation of paint on the model. (using 0.3 spray with ~ 1.2 bar). Would the metallic colors of Model Color line be good with this tip or need to be diluted more?

[@ModelkitStuff]

Best to have a play and see what works the metallic colours are all quite individual in terms of viscosity.

[@southpaw5483]

Thank you for the content and sharing. I am painting a scale model car kit and want a few items with a Gloss Finish. Is it better to add Gloss Medium to the paint, or keep the paint as is and Gloss Coat afterwards?

[@ModelkitStuff]

I prefer to loss afterwords. If you add gloss to paint your thinning the paint and often it matts the gloss

[@southpaw5483]

@@ModelkitStuff thank you, your insight is appreciated.

[@toddw6716]

Simple

[@germaN87AC]

If you want to reduce the drying time of the acrylic paint, should you use Retarder instead? I am confused

[@strgil]

Pop the top off of the paint bottle , stir then shake.

[@davidlanham5914]

Thank you for this video. I'm in the process of finding an alternative paint to Model Master Acryl which has been discontinued. With your mixture for using Vallejo Model Color, how many coats would someone need to be prepared to paint for good adequate coverage? More, less, or the same for brush painting as for airbrushing? Thanks again.

[@ModelkitStuff]

No set rules depending on the colour, primer etc, lay the number of coats you need but on average 2 to 3

[@davidlanham5914]

@@ModelkitStuff What primer do you like to use? Do you thin the primer or use it straight out of the bottle? Have you ever used the Vallejo Retarder Medium along with thinner to prevent airbrush tip drying or to help with brush painting? Thanks again for your advice with using Vallejo Model Color paints.

[@ModelkitStuff]

@@davidlanham5914 Hi David, I use different primers but obviously you don’t have to use a primer at all, a friend of mine who wins lots of show awards never primes. Halfords automotive rattle can primer is excellent. If brushing or or airbrushing I use Ultimate primer un-thinned which is stynalrez re-bottled. If you wash your parts first you don’t need to prime, but priming can be useful for changing top coat colour saturation or where you have used multi media parts to balance the surface colour, plastic and etch for example.

[@davidlanham5914]

@@ModelkitStuff Don't believe Halfords is readily available in the U.S. where I live. Do you have any experience using Tamiya Fine Surface Primer in rattle cans? I'll check into the Ultimate primer availability. My Badger Patriot 105 airbrush has a 0.5mm needle, so I would hope it would be O.K. to shoot un-thinned without clogging. What has been your experience with the Vallejo Surface primers?

[@ModelkitStuff]

@@davidlanham5914 Any automotive primer should work and hugely cheaper than Tamiya, I personally find Tamiya primer in rattle cans a bit thin. I like Vallejo primers a lot too. Like I say mist the time you don’t need to prime so don’t get tied up about it all, you can just put a layer of paint on. Drying Vallejo primer and paint with a hairdryer makes the surface harder

[@mikebrenfrenette7228]

What needle size do you prefer to run with in your airbrush

[@ModelkitStuff]

Depends on the job, I have two airbrushes permanently set up one with a 0.4 and one with a 0.2

[@NiekkieNick]

When using the Vallejo Airbrush paints, do you also have to thin it? Wjy does it stay sticky? Even after weeks of drying it stays sticky. Why is that?

[@ModelkitStuff]

Unfortunately it’s not a simple answer but yes I think model air roughly 25% but it depends on all sorts of things your best using your eye and experience to judge if the paint is thin enough before you put it in your airbrush. I always put it in a pallet first to get it right. Staying sticky for days is not correct it’s usually touch dry in 30 minutes or less so not sure what your doing if you are thinning change your thinner, use the dedicated brand thinner is best don’t use something like levelling thinners in true acrylic paint. You can clear coat the paint after 30 mins which will stop the paint being sticky

[@jlcsr9163]

@@ModelkitStuff maybe used too much retarder?That has happened to me.

[@moikehunt8928]

Very helpful and informative video, thank you. Can I ask you a question please, you say 50/50 mix ratio for Vallejo "Model Colour", can I apply that same ratio to Vallejo's "Model Air" and "Game Air" paints? Thanks again for your great tutorial videos.

[@ModelkitStuff]

hello and thanks for the kind words. I will do a video on model air the short answer is no its not the same rule. I have never used the Game range so could not comment on that sorry.

[@ukdave57]

@@ModelkitStuff Be great if you do. I have same question regarding model air.

[@billysayers7941]

Hi there I've watched this Visio I'm not very good with precentages what would this be in drops please

[@ModelkitStuff]

50/50 is 1 drop paint 1 drop something else as explained

[@billysayers7941]

Ok that k you

[@zetabola1]

Hi, do you have a diy recipe for airbrush thinner that works with vallejo?...

[@ModelkitStuff]

I use Vallejo thinner and flow improver, why would you want to invent a mix when there is one ready to go?

[@zetabola1]

@@ModelkitStuff because here the thinner is too expensive, between USD30 and 35( a bottle of vallejo paint around 6) i make diy thinner for the tamiya, ammo and revell acqua paints, but there is something with the vallejo ones that gum up(sorry for crappy english)

[@ModelkitStuff]

@@zetabola1 right ok, you can thin all Vallejo paint model colour and model air with water.

[@billysayers7941]

Is it 50 50 for airbrush as well

[@ModelkitStuff]

maybe you need to watch the video again as the answer is in there

[@billysayers7941]

@@ModelkitStuff thanks

[@nikolajc7617]

Flow improver are not a drying time extender, its a surface tension remover, extended drying time is a retarder.

[@martinj9251]

Hi is this make not spray ready?

[@ModelkitStuff]

sorry dont understand the question

[@martinj9251]

@@ModelkitStuff Sorry. I ment is the paint not ready to go straight in the air brush?

[@ModelkitStuff]

@@martinj9251 no they do a model air range that can but some people thin that too

[@markenright7247]

Model Air spray straight from bottle, Model Colour is thick and needs thinning.

[@seansmailes9981]

Do the rules change with Vallejo Air?

[@ModelkitStuff]

Yes its a different viscosity

[@BennyCFD]

Uh..........There are too many variables to have a 50 50 rules for example people use different air pressure from around 15 psi up to 25, or the nozzle size from .2, .3 .5 and a combination of all the above. The only answer is to experiment with what you are working with.

[@ModelkitStuff]

Yep but as a ‘rule’ 50/50 works

[@Hafer_]

This is obviously true but you'd be surprised how consistently 50/50 works with Vallejo model color. It's consistent enough to have 50/50 as a rule or the minimum dilution you must have if you want model color to airbrush well.

[@f62darkstar]

all good advice.....accept for thinning paint with water....In my opinion that is bad advise, especially for beginners.....stick with the manufactures reducers/thinner......do not thin with water.

[@ModelkitStuff]

Begginers are often children and need to keep costs down. I agree use the correct thinners but if your on a pocket money budget my advice is sound. In fact Vallejo also state you can use water.