Vallejo Model Air has failed me again!

[galileo1]

Spent two hours today cleaning my brand new Infinity to get rid of dried Vallejo
Model Air paint. I don't know what I did but the paint started to dry a couple of minutes after I started painting. By the time I was finished, the color cup was covered with a thin film of dried paint, the tip was almost frozen solid, and nothing was coming out. Even Vallejo's own airbrush cleaner did little to get the dried gunk out of the brush. I had to finally use a combination of thinners (including cellulose thinner) to get everything cleaned up.

In the case you're wondering, all I did was to add a little Vallejo thinner and then the paint so I'm not sure what happened. This is the second fail I had with this paint. I'm seriously thinking about getting rid of the ones I have and just use Tamiya and Mr Hobby acrylics for airbrushing. I still like their Model Color for brushing but Model Air, I don't know.

If anyone can shed some light on how to use these paints I'd appreciate it.

Rob

[Panzermeister36]

Just fill it with lacquer thinner (while not breathing) and leave it aside for an hour; that does it for most acrylic paints. I did that to my AB after a clogging problem with a bad paint mix, and it runs perfect afterwards. Just my opinion though, there`s probably better ways the more experienced guys do...

[fly1ngdutchm4n]

I'm using Valejo air all the time, and without problems.
But I do not thin the paint for it's ready to use.
If I would thin Valejo air, it becomes to thin and dries instantly.
Maybe that happened with your paint?

Also I'm putting a small amount of paint in the cup and run cleaner (windshield wiper fluid) between every new fill up..

[kiwigav]

Only started using Model Air in the last few months, no problems yet.

I tend not to put too much in cup at once and if I thin only a very tiny amount. Other considerations to remember is the atmosphere, where you are spraying. Also I have heard of some people using an acrylic retarder to slow drying down, but not sure on reaction with Model Air Paints.

Good Luck

[Rob]

What a pain!
As you've used cellulose to clean the brush, perhaps ensure that you rinse well before using VMA again. Solvents tend to turn vallejo paints to unsprayable gunk!
Good luck

[Paul]

Used to use vma a lot when i got back into modelling but after problems using it I gave up, in fact I got rid of the full range the other day. In my experience it does need thinning about 10% and does spray better like that but still it's intermittent how it sprays. I also find a lot of the supposed colours look nothing like they should. Give me mr hobby any day over vma.

Love Vallejo model colour though that's awesome paint

Ps yeah as rob said Vallejo doesn't like cellulose at all

[galileo1]

Thanks very much for the feedback, all. I did add a bit of Vallejo's own thinner (two or three drops) before I put the paint in the cup so I thought I'd be good. First issue I noticed almost instantly was the intermittent spraying. I could not keep a constant flow of paint going. I may give it a shot again at some point but, to be honest, after two hours cleaning the brush I'm hesitant to give it a go.

And yes, I need to clean the Infinity off of the cellulose before spraying with an acrylic again. I'll run some Windex (window cleaner) through and some water just to make sure the cellulose is out. I did read, however, that using window cleaner with Vallejo was a big no no. Anyone mind clarifying this a bit?

Thanks again,

Rob

[Switcher]

That is why I don't use them as well. I am new to this but before embarking on my adventure I did a bunch of research. Vallejo doesn't play well with others. Acrylic paints can be easily thinned with a mixture of 50/50 distilled water and windex (window cleaner), or just straight H2O. Thinners contain alcohol which accelerates the drying process, a good and a bad thing. In that case from what I have seen and read, use a fluid aid or retarder is required.

Because of the serious mishaps I have seen or heard of, Vallejo is not a paint I wish to play with, especially not ruining a model in the final stages. Some folks have great success with it, this is a good place to share that wisdom

[galileo1]

Most definitely agree with the "not playing well with others" statement. Since the above incident, I've been reading quite a bit about issues with this paint. There are so many combinations of 'fixes' out there that you're head will spin. Anything from mixing VMA with Future to using their own glaces, etc.

No sure I want to mess with this stuff again.

Rob

[moi196872]

Funny that you guys are having so much problems, I just spray it neat out of the bottle or maybe a little X20A. Never tried it with anything else. Maybe the temperature as something to do with the problems.

[fly1ngdutchm4n]

Funny that you guys are having so much problems, I just spray it neat out of the bottle or maybe a little X20A. Never tried it with anything else. Maybe the temperature as something to do with the problems.

I second that.
No problems here also. Never had.
I'm Spraying it also right out of the bottle, and do not thin it at all.
I'm working in my living room, also airbrushing there, so maybe the temperature has to do with it.

[Switcher]

Funny that you guys are having so much problems, I just spray it neat out of the bottle or maybe a little X20A. Never tried it with anything else. Maybe the temperature as something to do with the problems.

Bonjour Longueuil!

My native town Soissons st.

[Switcher]

Funny that you guys are having so much problems, I just spray it neat out of the bottle or maybe a little X20A. Never tried it with anything else. Maybe the temperature as something to do with the problems.

I second that.
No problems here also. Never had.
I'm Spraying it also right out of the bottle, and do not thin it at all.
I'm working in my living room, also airbrushing there, so maybe the temperature has to do with it.

From what I have read to date, that is the factor ambient temp and barometric pressure. Coen mentions this is one of his vids, he is not the only one. For those who it works for works great, for those where it doesn't I can't blame them for giving up. I have what works for me in my climate and until I gather more experience, Vallejo is definitely no on my short list.

[Paul]

For me it did work, I also think it works best thinned about 10% but the finish isn't the toughest and is easily damaged. The problems I had included airbrush clogging which is made worse by large clots of paint forming in the bottle and being transferred in the airbrush. The other problem for me is that a lot of the supposed colours look nothing like they should. I sold my full set of model air this week and will replace with a much better paint (Akan)

[galileo1]

Funny that you guys are having so much problems, I just spray it neat out of the bottle or maybe a little X20A. Never tried it with anything else. Maybe the temperature as something to do with the problems.

Wait a minute, you use Tamiya's X20A thinner to thin this stuff? I thought VMA congeals when mixed with things like X20A. Wow, go to try that (specially being that X20A has some retarder in it).

[galileo1]

For me it did work, I also think it works best thinned about 10% but the finish isn't the toughest and is easily damaged. The problems I had included airbrush clogging which is made worse by large clots of paint forming in the bottle and being transferred in the airbrush. The other problem for me is that a lot of the supposed colours look nothing like they should. I sold my full set of model air this week and will replace with a much better paint (Akan)

I'm really thinking I'd like to try those Akan paints. I know you use your own label to thin them but can I use (being that I don't have access to your thinner) to thin them. Do I have to buy yet another specific thinner for them?

Rob

[Paul]

For me it did work, I also think it works best thinned about 10% but the finish isn't the toughest and is easily damaged. The problems I had included airbrush clogging which is made worse by large clots of paint forming in the bottle and being transferred in the airbrush. The other problem for me is that a lot of the supposed colours look nothing like they should. I sold my full set of model air this week and will replace with a much better paint (Akan)

I'm really thinking I'd like to try those Akan paints. I know you use your own label to thin them but can I use (being that I don't have access to your thinner) to thin them. Do I have to buy yet another specific thinner for them?

Rob

They do their own thinner, which I have, but I've only ever used Ultimate thinner with it.

[galileo1]

Thanks, Paul. Will be looking for some then.