How much to dilute Vallejo Model White?

[Warren]

Gentlemen,
I am building a Grumman F6F 3 Hellcat 1/48 scale. I need to paint the underside of the wings and fuselage a while grey. I have Vallejo Model Color
#70993 (white grey). I have primed the parts with Model Master enamel grey primer (aerosol can), and will hand brush the paint.
I tried it on the wheel covers diluting one to one using Vallejo Medium Thinner (73524). It does not cover at all. It is like water.
My question is what dilution ratio should I use so that the paint covers properly? I realize it may take at least three coats.

When my first attempt failed to cover, I removed the white paint, and the Model Master enamel grey primer, and re-primed with
STYNYLREZ grey primer. Again, after 24 hours, I tried to repaint using a 2 (paint) to 1 (Vallejo thinner) ratio, and still I get very poor coverage.

I am at a loss on what the proper dilution paint to thinner ratio should be. I am guessing 4 to 1.

I do not want to begin painting under the wings and fuselage until I can get a proper mix.

Would appreciate your suggestion.
Thank you.

Warren

[Vleugelmoer]

there Warren,

The paint you are using from the Vallejo Model Color range is intended to be used with paintbrushes, just like you intend to do I gather. As paintbrushes can handel very thick paint and still get a decent enough end result, They couple of things that pop into my head are "why would you want to dilute the stuff in the first place" followed by "If he dilutes it to that level he will basically have a home made wash".

So here's a somewhat crazy idea, as you are using hairy sticks and not an airbrush I gather. Just try it straight out of the bottle, no dilution at all. I would recommend adding a couple of drops of retarder medium in if you aren't using a wett palette thought. This will give you more time to work with the paint.

As always happy modeling and keep sticking styrene.

Paul

[Avgas]

I use it straight out of the bottle when brush painting but then I've never covered large areas like wings. Give undiluted a go and if that's too thick put a little thinners in it, rather than starting with too thin a mix and reducing the thinners.

[shasmalcaor]

The main situation that I thin the Model colour range is when I want to do shading and blending on miniatures.

If you are painting a solid colour with a brush you need to either use Model Colour straight out the bottle. Maybe dilute one in five at most, and then you will need to build the colour up in multiple layers to get a solid colour, this is the technique used in miniature painting to get tonal variations.

[wookiee76]

White can be a pig to spray full stop but as said start out thicker and thin from there if it doesn't spray properly, i normally thin about 50/50 with model colour but model air i spray neat.
May be worth popping the top off the bottle and giving it a good mix, amazing how much some paints settle out.

[Avgas]

May be worth popping the top off the bottle and giving it a good mix, amazing how much some paints settle out.

I always put a little ball bearing in with paint dropper bottles for that reason.

[Lysus]

May be worth popping the top off the bottle and giving it a good mix, amazing how much some paints settle out.

I always put a little ball bearing in with paint dropper bottles for that reason.

Well, I guess I'm adding ball bearings to my shopping list. Great tip.

[Warren]

Gentlemen,
Thank you all for your suggestions. I mixed the paint before use on an electric ROBARTS HOBBY PAINT SHAKER, so that paint settling in the bottle
is not the problem.
I will get the "Vallejo retarder medium" , and try with no dilution. I will let dry 24 hours between coats.

Warren

[patrickroos]

Gentlemen,
Thank you all for your suggestions. I mixed the paint before use on an electric ROBARTS HOBBY PAINT SHAKER, so that paint settling in the bottle
is not the problem.
I will get the "Vallejo retarder medium" , and try with no dilution. I will let dry 24 hours between coats.

Warren

As have been said already Model Color is intended for brush use.
Therefore the paint is quite thick and if sprayed needs to be thinned.
What needle size do You have?
Needle size-air pressure-thinning ratio are the three main variables to dial in for a good result. Its all about getting the paint to atomize properly as it leaves the nozzle. If it does and Your at the right distance most paints lay down fine.
As for thinner, Vellejo thinner works ok, but You can also try X20A if at hand.
As with all light colors such as very light greys, whites, yellow etc, they are not very opaque and have to be built up in multiple layers.
You can do this quickly by blow drying the paint with the airbrush between coats. Or even better with a hair dryer.
Don't try to force it, take Your time and build it up and let one coat dry before the next one.
Vallejo and especially Model Color varies in thickness and pigmentation.
With a .2-.3 needle I would go for a 40/60 ish mix paint/thinner and around 20 ish Psi...
Start with 30-40% paint and test...if its "like water" add more paint to the mix and/or lower the air pressure.
If it splatters or start/stops its to thick, add more thinner and/or increase air pressure.
And clean the needle tip frequently.
Remember this paint is not formulated for spraying and can be a bit tricky. There is no right or wrong way, just have to experiment a bit until it works.

Good luck!

[Warren]

Patrickroos,
Thank you for your comments. However, as I said, I am using a hand brush to apply the Vallejo Model Color. I do not own a airbrush.
Warren