Ultimate guide to Mediums, Thinners and Additives - HC 437

In this Hobby Cheating Tutorial, I take you through everything you've ever wanted to know about thinners, mediums, flow improver and drying retardents. These additives can be very valuable, but have some downsides as well. Let's navigate that and get you ready to paint your best!
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0:00 Intro
1:00 Basics of Paints
4:25 Thinner Medium
7:10 Flow Improver
12:15 Slow Dry
14:35 Others
16:20 Outro

[@johncastellano297]

Flow improver in the water cup is an excellent tip I've never thought of. Going to try it in my next painting session. Thnx Vince!

[@blastpop]

Agreed, base on my level of experience this is the take away tip of the video. Thanks!

[@54tisfaction]

This.

[@zenteck4950]

I've always put one drop of washing up liquid in my water cup whenever I fill it. I'll try this to see if it works any better.

[@VinceVenturella]

Glad it was helpful!

[@brkfstfd]

1 drop of dawn (or whatever dish soap) in my mug is my go to :)

[@user-lv9jc6qx3f]

Mr. V, Thanks so much for your videos! They are helpful and easy to follow. Like having an artist on-call for questions. You are the first place I go when I have questions or want to see how to do things.

[@VinceVenturella]

Awesome, thank you!

[@rogeroverstreet3919]

This has to be one of your best videos, Vince. All of your videos are excellent but if you ever do a "Best Of" compliation, make sure you include this one. There are pieces of advise here that I have never thought of, or heard of, before. Adding a few few drops of flow improver to your paint water is brillant! Thank you for all of your work!

[@kohlgoldsmith1731]

Thanks for de-mystifying these products. This goes a long way in explaining why my “glaze medium” seemed to just strangely affect the paints I was using it with. Good to know what it ACTUALLY might be composed of rather than magic juice.

[@jarlbeorn]

pretty sure the chemistry involved may as well be witchcraft to most of us lol

[@billdefranza4927]

I came here to say this.

[@clarketron3000]

I don't usually go through comments, but I always appreciate you answering questions. For this video, there were so many good questions and answers that I found them almost as helpful as the video, almost worth making a part 2 video with them!

[@margaretwood152]

[VIDEO / " SEGMENT Suggestion]: "Vince, *_How_* do you choose which *Variation* of *COLOUR* & *BRAND* to use when painting ur Minis❓" Thanks Vince!!! ( *_"Cut It Off!!! 🪱CUT IT OFF!!!!!!!"_* ~> "....And they _both lie down for a while."_ )

[@CoconutCheez]

Another great Hobby Cheat. I always thought thinner medium and flow improver were the same thing. I wish I knew the difference earlier, since I think i ruined some of my paints by adding too much flow improver because they were getting too thick. Thank you for making the hobby better for everyone!

[@evinoshea5215]

I wish I could have watched this video when I was a newer painter, there are so many useful lessons here. The importance of matte medium for glazing was something that took me a long time to learn. The flow improver tips were great, I used it immediately since I've been working on some freehand and it helped immensely. Thank you for the great videos!

[@nicholasmiller4756]

Loved seeing Huge Miniatures product as I love their stuff

[@dad.hobbies]

This has been super helpful. I've been really intimidated to purchase any additives because I wasn't really sure how it all worked

[@phanron8382]

When I started out I used to paint with thinner/glaze medium. The problem I have with this though is that it's so hard to gauge how thinned down your paint is whereas with water you just look at the flow of the paint and can instantly feel the right consistency.

[@BarokaiRein]

I've been using GSW acrylic thinner for almost two years instead of water now and I honestly cannot articulate why I prefer it over water so much. I think it's just more consistent and somehow makes painting easier. I'm not sure what it does and why it makes things easier, but it just seems like I get better layers when thinning with it rather than water. One of those 240ml dropper bottles goes a long way too. Like, I think one lasts me an entire year of painting.

[@hugeminis]

Thanks for covering our paint additives in your video! I’m glad to see that you enjoy using them as part of your toolkit. Very useful information for anybody interested in pushing their skillset. - Brinton

[@VinceVenturella]

You bet!

[@philgee486]

Another great vid making the essentials part of folks thinking and not just trial and error

[@MultiZegamer]

Hey Vince. First awesome video. Secondly I realized that you are one of the best painters. You made me realize I did not need to do NMM in a fanatical way to be a good painter. Just for this you need to be praised.

[@VinceVenturella]

Glad I could help!

[@corneliusperkins7363]

Fantastic, very helpful. I'd also love to learn about some other specific mediums, like metallic medium and "contrast" medium.

[@VinceVenturella]

Great suggestion!

[@LinkiePup]

This is something else ProAcryl is absolutely killing it with! The many types of Mediums they make is amazing, and each one is tooled for the right job! Glaze and wash medium being my absolute favorite go to! It’s helped improve my glazing jobs so much!!

[@Quen10k]

I've heard a lot about Newsh from their line, but haven't had a chance to work with it yet. Per their team, it is their best selling product (or medium?) and has just been loved by people. Was wondering if Vince was going to weigh in - either way, gonna scoop some up. As someone new to the hobby who has used most of the bigger paints (Vallejo, Citadel, ProAcryl, Reaper, P3, Army Painter, Golden, AK), ProAcryl is FAR and away my favorite and what I'll be migrating most of my collection to. Just SO good all-around, and in an airbrush too.

[@G3arsguy529]

​@@Quen10k Proacrly has been my go to as well. Newsh is really only good if you want to try to do a oil wash style weathering effect. I have yet to see it used for anything else yet

[@LinkiePup]

@@G3arsguy529 it’s just a drying retardant, and can be used for more than the oil was effect. Streaks, rust, or even building up mottled dry dirt effects.

[@HunterJE]

@@Quen10k Vince tried out the Newsh stuff about a month ago - look for HC 433

[@paolocapecchi5182]

Love your explanation. Very clear and didactic. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[@VinceVenturella]

Glad it was helpful!

[@moccoX]

One for the Algorithm:) Thanks for the Video ❤

[@kevinhayes517]

Thank you for this great tutoria;….I finally understand flow improver for the first time. Your teaching is excellent and makes me understand things more clearly than ever before. Thanks very much for your time and efforts!

[@Wijkert]

10:00 maybe good to add that inks already contain a flow improver, so they have these corresponding properties by default. Which you can add to with more flow improver like you mentioned.

[@billdefranza4927]

FWIW, I've taken to thinning white paint with white ink and I love the results. It's smooth and stays opaque.

[@Wijkert]

@@billdefranza4927 I do the same and goes for other paints as well. But white can indeed be extra difficult to work with due to the properties of the pigment.

[@howardcoates6985]

Thanks for this one Vince, now I have to watch it a couple times and make notes....

[@jarlbeorn]

Sweet Apollo, that tip for flow improver in rinse water is genius. I have a big bottle of liquitex i bought years ago and have barely used any of so thats a great way to slowly use it and get value.

[@goforitpainting]

Professional as always 🖌

[@Elfeeta]

Love these technical videos as usual. Nice update from previous videos. Thanks, Vince!

[@Mikey__R]

Hey Vince! I don't think you covered the difference between medium and varnish? The implied difference is that medium is acrylic whilst varnish is polyurethane, is that the only real difference? Interestingly, I'm looking into different kinds of paints to paint my kitchen, polyurethane "paint" looks like a good choice for high traffic cabinets. Always good to see Larry, he's looking well. I wonder if he'd like to help me paint my kitchen. Thanks as always for sharing your knowledge, I do enjoy the deep dives into theory topics.

[@VinceVenturella]

Yeah, that is basically the difference, varnish is made for protection/sealing where as mediums are for mixing directly with the paints, they are just the stuff in the paint bottles already.

[@krzysztofmathews738]

Perfect! Just the video I need to see today.

[@earnestwanderer2471]

Always learn something new. Like the drying retardant tips.

[@VinceVenturella]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@arti1115]

That video was much needed by everyone, Thank you Vince.

[@MarketResearchReading114]

Vince Venturella I learned painting techniques via Moonbreaker's painting engine (highly recommend mimics traditional approaches with an undo button and other features) and I was struggling because my glazes were really not working, thank you for the help. These tips are gonna make my next model even better! The glazes in reality were just not matching up with what I was seeing the pros do, now I gotta figure out how to actually clean an airbrush up to snuff, consistently. I think its time for me to get more patient in that regard.

[@RochelleHasTooManyHobbies]

Vince has a video for airbrush cleaning, too!

[@MarketResearchReading114]

@@RochelleHasTooManyHobbies For some reason I think its just a matter of consistent thoroughness. Its not something to muck about and do lazy one moment for a quick fix.

[@yoshiwiseful]

man this was so helpful! thank you! you make it make sense and go straight to the point mahalo

[@bunionsandcabbage6764]

This was super helpful, and I'll definitely incorporate it into my repertoire

[@mzzabzzuzza4759]

Another great and informative video, thanks Vince! I have an off-topic question, I hope your assurance that you always answer every comment extends this far, but if it doesn't, I understand! I recently treated myself to a set of D&D5E starter books and noticed in the Players Handbook credits, you are listed as having provided "additional consultation". I was surprised to see your name, and am now curious as to what form your contribution took? Keep up the great work, you are an inspiration!

[@VinceVenturella]

I don't mind the question at all. I was a consultant on D&D 5e from basically the launch of the project. I knew the designers as I had worked with them on some previous projects and provided feedback and direction throughout the direction of the development of 5e, it was a very positive experience and I was proud to pariticpate in the creation of what I think is the best edition of D&D ever made. :)

[@mzzabzzuzza4759]

@VinceVenturella I can only imagine how gratifying and fun that must have been! Also, I didn't think it was possible I could admire your commitment to the hobby any more than I already did, and here you are proving me wrong. The legend continues :)

[@M0U53B41T]

Brilliant! thanks for this - a much needed overview imo

[@jameswbii]

Great explanation

[@thelonepainter4760]

Awesome video Vince! 👍🏽😊

[@_Cactus500]

For such a helpful input I still waited on, thank you very much

[@melshk]

This is super helpful, thanks Vince! I like to use retarder with metallics, because I don't like putting them on a wet palette, and Vallejo Metal Color dries too fast when painting a squad of guys. As expensive as a bottle of that stuff is, it's painful to see half of it dry right on the palette.

[@billdefranza4927]

Thank you for this, Vince!

[@markgnepper5636]

Great stuff friend 👏 👍

[@Earthlink2000]

Thanks Vince, wonderful video with precious knowledge.

[@toberl01]

Very educational, thank you!

[@kingkreaghan6762]

Thank you so much! I'm finally to a place where I'm gonna do a bust. This video is gonna help me a lot! I always appreciate your great videos.

[@alancook1053]

Great topic explained well! I think you hit all the high points and pit falls. This should help many in our hobby. The issue is the paint brand of paint that is chosen(as you discussed). Experimenting with ones' brands, with the base additives you recommended, is the only way to go! Thank you!🙂

[@ivan7672]

You're doing a fantastic job with so detailed explanations! Thank you!

[@VinceVenturella]

You're very welcome!

[@kirestus]

Looking forward to a long weekend of painting all kinds of strange minis this weekend

[@corytokay9787]

Finally tried using flow improver the ways you describe in this video. It's quite the game changer. :)

[@tomekhekin914]

Adding pigment to paint won't thine your paint :) like in case of your famous gold recipe. Grate video as always.

[@hulejul9748]

flow improver in the water is clever. but my cats have a tendency to drink of the cup as soon as I turn my back to it, so I'll not take the risk 😂

[@stylnox]

Great Video! I was under the wrong asumption that Glaze medium was just acrylic medium and used it to thin the paints without breaking. This is great content, thanks!

[@mikemike5721]

Very useful video. Lately I have been adding a bit of matte medium to my citadel paints on the wet palette. It helps me with having a consistent “matteness”when I switch between ranges on the same model e.g AK paint.

[@l337haxz0rn00b]

I'd love a follow up to this video looking at airbrushes and getting the mix right for minimum tip dry, smooth application, etc, what changes between tinting and blocking colours and what the rough rations are etc.

[@k23Mordred]

That was very very helpful! Thank you!

[@VinceVenturella]

Glad it was helpful!

[@garywitham4815]

Same here. great tip with flow improver in rinsing water. It really make a difference, i was so pleasantly surprised. thanks..

[@VinceVenturella]

Glad it was helpful!

[@SunnySkyNL]

Your video's helped me so much taking leaps in getting better at painting my miniatures instead of babysteps. So thankful for all your video's and help it really makes me enjoy my hobby so much more and after becoming a dad for the first time last june time is even more important to spend right. Now that I learn faster I can paint more because I make less mistakes and understand so much better what I do and when to use what skill. Again thank you so much.

[@VinceVenturella]

That is awesome!

[@galatician8063]

Thanks Vince!!!

[@jimholmes4729]

As always, thank you! Great stuff.

[@VinceVenturella]

My pleasure!

[@jackschlaeger5024]

Brilliant!

[@HuntingHeresy]

Excellent breakdown. I think the only thing I'd add is more painting examples playing around with ratios and maybe comparing brands in a separate video. I have a lot of Liquitex and Golden stuff, but I recently got the Army Painter airbrush bottles to refill with the other brands because the Army Painter bottles are a pretty ideal size.

[@sindrefjermestad2744]

Thinner medium wet-on-wet! 🤯 Thank you thank, trying it Right Now.

[@magnusmillerwilson]

Seriously helpful. Thanks, Vince. I’m trying to figure out what the exact right amount and ratio of additives to use for transferring Citadel paints to dropper bottles. Yeah yeah, should have known better, but I got into painting during 2020 and didn’t know better back then before I bought a ton of Citadel paints before knowing what else was out there. So here I am! COntrast is easy. Just pour. I’m leaving my Shades in the pots because it’s easy to use and if I spill them then whatever. But my Bases and Layers are going to be a bit trickier

[@VinceVenturella]

I have multiple videos in the playlist about it, but generally a few drops of flow improver you should be good.

[@jayblue1258]

Thanks Vince! Informative and well delivered as always. I was wondering do you include Jo Sonja's Magic mix in that last group of questionable products?

[@VinceVenturella]

No, I think it is pretty cool, as far as mixed products go, it's actually a pretty great one.

[@ConstiausPankow]

Hey Vince, I've heard a drop of dishsoap in the water pot is also a good idea. What do you think about that. Since dishsoap is mostly surfactants, wouldn't that achieve the same effect as flow improver?

[@mattbrown1306]

If you are looking for a flow improver to add to your water cup try Jet Dry or similar type of soap.

[@VinceVenturella]

Yep, very similar thing.

[@Dhrazia]

Thanks again Vince. I do quite like Vallejo's Glaze medium. Might just be that I learned how to glaze using it and have come to rely on it. Water can be fine for some paints alone for a glaze though (scale75). Will try doing it with thinner medium.

[@Aisaaax]

I will also disagree a bit on your last point about combined stuff. I like Speedpaints, for example. And I find that thinning them with water really changes the properties too much. The same goes for acryllic medium. But speedpaint medium - works great. Just like acryllic medium to normal paint, speedpaint medium is great for thinning speedpaint without altering its properties.

[@VinceVenturella]

Yeah, for those specific paints, the specific mixtures can be very valuable.

[@inigomontoya6968]

Clear and succinct. That's why I love your videos! You've confirmed some of my general "notions" and given me more to think about. Thank you!!! That flow improver in the water cup tip is brilliant and I would've never thought of it. BTW I always enjoy looking at your screensaver over your shoulder. Have you ever considered bundling up and selling it or allowing your patrons to download it?

[@VinceVenturella]

My screensaver is just Magic the Gathering 'Angel' card art. :) - glad the video was helpful.

[@alexpoobum]

great info thanks

[@VinceVenturella]

Glad it was helpful!

[@mikewicked.x]

Great tip putting Flow Improver in the water cup. Is putting it in the reservoir of a wet palette a good idea, or no? I suspect not for the reasons you warned about over using these mediums, but its still a question i have.

[@VinceVenturella]

a few drops in the water of your wet palette wouldn't hurt anything and is a perfectly reasonable idea.

[@jasontrump9595]

Vince got a question I use Castile Liquid Soap in my water cup, should I switch up to flow improver

[@brittratzburg6591]

It should have the same effect, both flow improver and soap are surfactants.

[@VinceVenturella]

Yep, should be the same either way.

[@meledward231]

Awesome, another video! Question: do you publish videos at an exact time or can you publish a video and set a delay/timer on when it goes live? Just curious as i drink my coffee and see the time you posted this.

[@RochelleHasTooManyHobbies]

KZbinrs can set a time when a video gets released, yeah. But maybe Vince is just built different and wakes up early on Saturdays 😂

[@VinceVenturella]

Yes, I have them set for release, they always release at 7AM EST on Saturday.

[@Nigredos_subjective_Tedtalks]

Commenting for Vinny V love!

[@shoutout2312]

This is great and perfect timing. One question i have is about pouring mediums? Is that just flow improver? Curious if there is any application for that this hobby.

[@VinceVenturella]

Never really used it, I assume its a mixture of flow improver and some other items to allow it to easily pour out.

[@SigurdBraathen]

9:55 Spooky transition! =D

[@davehall6053]

Thanks Vince, a very useful video to unravel the mystery of what all the different additives do (other than make your wallet lighter in many cases!)

[@jessiahlarsen3823]

Should i be adding any thinner or flow improver when using Vallejo metallics through my airbrush or even with a normal brush? Never been clear on that myself. But love your videos Vince, great content and have helped me in my hobby journy A LOT!

[@VinceVenturella]

Everything in the airbrush gets thinner/flow improver. For the brush, you definitely don't need them if we are talking vallejo metal color.

[@MikeScarbro]

Thanks for the video, Vince! Always appreciated. I had an issue using Monument's Glaze and Wash Medium and a little water to try and do some glazes on my necron energy weapons. The medium seemed to create a very glossy finish on the blends, which made it much harder to tell what was happening under bright lights. Have you experienced this? If so, any advice on how to avoid it?

[@VinceVenturella]

That will just often happen with additives and glazing, things will get shiny as you are simply applying more medium or additives. That is functioning as expected. You need to them matte the surface back out with something like Ultra-Matte varnish.

[@madMARTYNmarsh1981]

Cheers, Vince. Very useful video, as usual. Question: what would happen if I thin acrylic paint with white spirit?

[@VinceVenturella]

I legitmately have no idea, but it doesn't seem like it would be good.

[@bobbystickel5107]

I do have a question that I don't think you answered: do these mediums affect acrylic inks the same way? or should we use them differently when combining with inks? (thanks for a great video!)

[@VinceVenturella]

Same either way.

[@chrisminipaints]

Another really interesting video thank you! I recently bought some Vallejo Airbrush Flow Improver but I find when using this Vs Airbrush thinner the texture has a bit of tackyness too it. It may be that I use too much but how do these differ through the airbrush?

[@Wijkert]

If the paint stays tacky and never fully dries, you likely added too much flow improver. If you want to airbrush a very diluted paint, it's better to add some flow improver and add water or thinner to get the consistency you are looking for. EDIT: Vince also goes into this at 9:18

[@VinceVenturella]

Yep, the above is correct, you want to start with a very small amount, too much and you can make it so it will never really set properly.

[@dylanmoerike4060]

Would you suggest a thinner or drying retarder for wet-blending with the new Speedpaint 2.0? As always, grateful for the videos 🙏🏼

[@VinceVenturella]

Wet blending is always tough with very thin paint with that. That being said, I don't think you need much extra in there, a tiny bit of drying retarder just in the brush could be valuable, but you want to keep it very minimal.

[@brettfinaughty4192]

I am definitely trying the Flow Improver in my water trick! My water quality isn't that great so I am hoping this will help as it never seems to wick off like all the videos I see, Thank you! Could I request a video on varnish application but using a brush? I can't airbrush it and I tried the citadel pot ones and it did not turn out great!

[@capedbeardy]

Hey Vince! Getting into this hobby lately and you have been instrumental in giving me the confidence needed to navigate all of the products/tools available! Couple questions: 1. If I like to transfer my citadel paints to dropper bottles would thinner or flow improver be better to do this with? 2. If I brush on my primer, it seems I might get better results using thinner instead of water to thin it down?

[@VinceVenturella]

1) Mostly a little flow improver a few drops of water. I have a few videos in the list about it. 2) I try to avoid brush on primer in general, but if you were using it, yes, a drop or two of thinner and a single drop of flow improver is the answer to get everything moving.

[@filippobosi]

Hi Vince! Thanks for the video. Could you please elaborate further on why “gel” retarders are not worth the use? I’m quite curious!

[@VinceVenturella]

In general, they are more difficult to mix and can integrate poorly into some of our more liquid paints.

[@filippobosi]

@@VinceVenturella thanks!

[@Mephiston]

Another great video. If you could do a recommendation round up of brands and products that are relevant to this, itd be great. For example, retarder mediums that are gels.. would be good to know who to steer clear of (looking at you, vallejo), and who works best. Also, is the monument glaze and wash medium any good? I found their brown wash quite lacking, but the black is very reminiscent of badab black (i.e. the old nuln wash)

[@VinceVenturella]

Yep, the Pro Acryl Glaze and Wash Medium is very good. I will have to do a product round-up.

[@Mephiston]

@@VinceVenturella Excellent, thanks Vince. I look forward to that product round-up.

[@TheAndrian463]

A slightly simpler update to an earlier upload on the same subject. Itching to get my hands on some Huge miniatures products in the UK whenever they are distributed here or in Europe.

[@hugeminis]

Hello! While we don't have a distributor in the UK, we do have very good shipping rates there.

[@TheAndrian463]

@@hugeminis Thanks for the info.

[@stylnox]

also forgot to say on the last comment, you would be great writing a book about in depth miniature painting.

[@gabyzzeetoon4516]

Merci chef

[@mindyfranke5279]

Very helpful, thank you! Can you talk about the finishing mediums sometime? For example, would a pearlescent medium make a color look like a metal? Just wondering before I go purchase some to try. :) Hope you have an excellent week!

[@VinceVenturella]

It would not, I've never really found a use for it in our hobby. :)

[@Galdust]

Thanks for a very informative video! I have seen Matt Medium and Thinner Medium from Vallejo. It was quite confusing to read the description on their website. f I got this correct, the latter should be matt medium pre-mixed with water?

[@VinceVenturella]

Likely, but there could be other things in there, those sorts of off-label proprietary products are tough to full identify.

[@craneduelista]

my warhammer hero 🦸‍♂️

[@pointandshootvideo]

Great talk! This begs the question, should we be using a medium or thinner in our wet pallet instead of water?! Thanks!

[@VinceVenturella]

No, that would be far too expensive, and water is fine, that is our solvent, its valuable. That being said, a little flow improver or something mixed in won't hurt.

[@bulldozer360]

Hello Vince, I have a bottle of liquidtex airbrush medium that I use to thin my paints for brush painting. Whats the difference between that and the regular matte mediums? The ones I've seen sold in the art store has a thick consistency.

[@VinceVenturella]

The airbrush thinner mediums are more of a mixture, you're probably getting some mix of all 3 of the primary addititives.

[@therhdentdent2772]

I'm wondering if the Liquidtex brand of additives (basic and professional) can be used for miniature painting. I never see anyone use or mention it. Does the brand usually focus on more traditional acrylic art like on a canvas or can it be utilized for miniature painting as well?

[@VinceVenturella]

Yep, they work great, I use them quite frequently.

[@mini_maven]

Thank you Vince, this was a helpful video. Something I would like to understand better is the finish that these different mediums can add to hobby paints. I once tried a slow dry medium and it made the model super glossy and I found painting back over that glossy finish was making my work look splotchy and gross. Is this normal?

[@VinceVenturella]

Okay, so adding mediums/thinning paints can increase their glossyness, because you are going to be painting more with medium than with "paint". So in addition, when a paint gets glossy, at a molecular level, it's getting smoother, which makes it harder for additional layers of paint to stick to it. The way you tackle that is by applying a layer of matte varnish over it (usually through the airbrush if possible). That will give you a surface for paint to adhere to.

[@lolaldanee2743]

Vallejo is super confusing, even you fell into the trap of showing their stuff in the wrong category. Their airbrush thinner is actually a flow improver (as in, breaks surface tension, consits of destilled water + isopropanol + maybe something else) while the stuff they call flow improver is more of a thinner medium ( mostly water with glyzerin as a drying retarder actally, doesn't contain any acrylic medium as far as I'm aware)! you almost never need that stuff, in 99% of all cases you either want retarder, medium or thinner

[@pbkobold]

Their thinner is a thinner in the conventional sense that paint people talk about. It flashes off fast enough that whatever surface tension changes it makes don’t make a huge difference. I agree the Vallejo flow improver is mislabeled and seems to be mostly a retarder. Liquitex’s flow aid product seems like a true flow improver.

[@lolaldanee2743]

@@pbkobold Well, sure, it's a thinner all right. My point about it is that in video it had been shown among a bunsh of mediums, and there is not a drop of medium in vallejo thinner. btw I find that this thinner changes surface tension substantially, I even use it to mix my own washes with that thing. (works fantastic as an airbrush cleaner too btw, much better than Vallejo airbrush cleaner, I truely hate their labels)

[@Deteeff]

In my case, I personally find that Vallejos Flow improver is mandatory for me when airbrushing. When I use Vallejos Thinner or Vinces' mix of 80% thinner and 20% Flow improver I cannot get a good spray, even if I dilute the paint to water consistency. It just stops/clogs after a few seconds. When using only Flow Improver, it is a much better flow :)

[@pbkobold]

@@Deteeff what paint range are you thinning? Citadel?

[@Deteeff]

@@pbkobold It's mostly Khimera, AK and Scale 75.

[@krzysztofmathews738]

Ah, just thought of a specific question! I have heard that Tamiya model acrylics are actually a slightly different chemistry than other sorts of model, art or craft acrylics. Does that mean that the Tamiya Thinner designed for those paints is also going to have significant differences? Is it in fact still compatible if I were to use it with say Vallejo, Pro Acryl or Army Painter paints?

[@pbkobold]

If you’re talking the x20a thinner, then I’m pretty sure the Tamiya paints are a much more alcohol based chemistry. I’d be curious how it goes, but I wouldn’t try the Tamiya paint or thinner on a wet palette. Through the airbrush is a different story-the X20A is an awesome thinner. I’ve used it with ProAcryl, AK, and golden soflat with great results. It seems to work really well to thin thicker paints. I have had paint “curdle” a few times (with an AK tan color) but I think that was cuz it dumped in a ton of thinner with a little paint before mixing rather than mixing it as I added thinner. In any case x20a is my favorite airbrush thinner. People caution against using it with pure water acrylics, but I get amazing results (except when it curdles 😂).

[@VinceVenturella]

Correct, there is alcohol in the mix, so it's a different chemistry.

[@Hudston]

I can't believe I've never considered putting flow improver directly in the rinse cup! That's a game changer! Do you have any specific considerations for using thinning medium with Pro Acryl paints, particularly when glazing with them? I picked some up recently, including your signature set, and they seem weirdly temperamental when it comes to thinning. Glazes build up a gritty texture that I've never seen with other paints and I'm not sure why!

[@VinceVenturella]

Those mediums can actually be a great tool for pro acryl and can help keep everything really smooth.

[@blueshoals]

I'm slowly working my way through the Hobby Cheating playlist, thanks for all your help! Question: How useful is it to create bottles of pre-mixed additives for different purposes? Is it worth the time to create a bottle of pre-forumated additives for my airbrush? Is it feasible to create a bottle of airbrush ready black primer? Or airbrush-ready varnish? Or should i mix that in the airbrush cup on the fly?

[@VinceVenturella]

I have thinner and flow improver pre mixed for my airbrush. No reason you couldn’t make a pre mix for varnish, I should probably do that, but for now, I mostly just mix in the cup.

[@socko47]

Vince, at a lecture on hobby paints there was emphasis on only using the company’s product as some switching caused the paint to either break or worse clump. This raises the question in my mind as to where does alcohol, Windex, or windshield washer solution fit in?

[@VinceVenturella]

I am not sure what you mean, you mean mixing different paints? Different mediums? windex and so on had some uses in the old school scale modeling but it isn't generally needed for most of our purposes in the hobby anymore. Alcohol can be of use for thinning and cleaning, Tamiya still uses the alcohol as part of its thinner.

[@socko47]

@@VinceVenturella The lecture warned of using one company’s thinner as a universal thinner. Their experience was clumping that clogged their airbrush. So they warned to only to match a company’s paint with the same company’s thinner due to various formulas in the paint.

[@VinceVenturella]

@@socko47 Gotcha, I've never really seen an issue, but if you use some of the more generic ones, like the huge miniatures or generic liquitex items, you shouldn't see an issue.

[@VetBodGaming]

How have I never thought of adding flow improver to my paint water. It seems so obvious.