Vellejo black in an airbrush...woe is me....

redfinger · Post by **redfinger** » Wed May 02, 2007 2:19 pm

So I have spent the better part of the morning trying to figure out the enigma of vallejo black in my airbrush...

It seems that no matter what thinning agent I use, amonia, alcohol, future, ect....and what ratio I use the paint seems to clog the nozzel w/ in moments....I am doing pre-shading, so my psi is only 7-10, however I have noticed that whatever the airpressure, I get the same results.

Now the funny thing is I have used vellejo colors before in my airbrush, never black I guess, and my results have been fine?!?!?

So what black would you guys reccomend? I have actually had really good luck w/ Tamiya colors...how does there black stack up?

I have been airbrushing for several years in the auto arena, and came accross this probelm before, when too much reducer(the drying agent of acrylic enamels) is added, my guess would be that there is so much pigment in the paint that thinning it down has screwed up the ratio, causing it to dry faster...

Ashton

Antenociti · Post by **Antenociti** » Fri May 18, 2007 9:40 pm

use liquitex Flow Aid Fluidifiant rather than a "thinner"...

or use Vallejo Model-Air which is ready 'thinned'.

Post by **TER-OR** » Sat May 19, 2007 6:43 pm

Tamiya's blacks are very good. The gloss is really glossy, and you may want to add some Flat Base to it and make it a Semi-Gloss, which I find covers better.

Jonas Calhoun · Post by **Jonas Calhoun** » Sat May 19, 2007 7:04 pm

I don't have personal experience (one of the few paints I haven't pushed through my Iwata), but from what I've read elsewhere, Vallejo really wants to be thinned with their own airbrush medium.

It has something to do with it being a vinyl-based paint. I've also heard using Liquitex flow-aid mixed 1:20 with water works.

That said, I've seen results with Vallejo paints, and it's pretty incredible. I use 'em for handbrushing, and really like the results. You asked about Tamiya, and it's also very good paint. Personally, I'm trying to reduce to a couple lines of paint: Gunze Sangyo for airbrushing (and some handbrushing), Vallejo for handbrushing. Tamiya in a pinch. I'm trying to stay away from Testors, Floquil, Polly S, etc. Others have good luck, me not so much.

Dan