Urgent help needed with Vallejo Model Air

[montythefirst]

Ok I have a big problem, I recently started using Vallejo Model Air, unfortunately when I have been spraying I have been getting a grainy texture as shown in the photos below,

I am using a Premiair G35 Airbrush, Compressor with tank set at 20 psi and I am spraying straight from the bottle.

What am I doing wrong? cos, I don't want to waste paint and mess up my figures.

 

[BarrieHynd]

Had that before myself and thinned the paint a bit more. Maybe the paint has been sat for too long.
Thinning it seemed to work for me.

Barrie.

 

[montythefirst]

Had that before myself and thinned the paint a bit more. Maybe the paint has been sat for too long.
Thinning it seemed to work for me.

Barrie.

what did you use to thin

 

[BarrieHynd]

Used the Vallejo thinner's.

 

[montythefirst]

by eye or do u have a ratio

 

[Tubby-Nuts2]

Monty,

When I was able to use an airbrush! I too sprayed this stuff straight from the bottle! ... It clogged 'Toot-Sweet', and got exactly the same result as you are describing.

Straight from the bottle ? .. My arse is it!.. Definitely requires thinning!

A bit of a cheeky 'Commercial spin', with this product!

Regards,

Mark

 

[YongA01]

Thin to consistency of "low fat milk" like should help....

 

[gothicgeek]

Monty, if its grainy then the paint is drying in the air!

Try adding some kind of drying retarder or flow enhancer, also maybe drop the pressure and get in a little closer.

HTH

Mark

 

[montythefirst]

thanks guys what psi are you spray at

 

[montythefirst]

Monty, if its grainy then the paint is drying in the air!

Try adding some kind of drying retarder or flow enhancer, also maybe drop the pressure and get in a little closer.

HTH

Mark

what sort of thing would you use ?

 

[kagemusha]

Don't drop the pressure!.....take it up to 28 psi.....increase the thinner ratio....and never mix the paint and thinners in the cup of the AB.
Dropping the pressure will lead to spattering......mixing the paint in the cup means the larger grains fall into the throat of the AB.....and you can't reach them to thin the paint properly.
Only drop the psi if you are working very close to the subject.....thinning becomes even more important then....or you will get 'pooling' on the surface.

 

[gothicgeek]

I use Daler-rowney flow enhancer VERY thinned, my friend used to use Valejo drying retarder,again thin it out into some water in a dropper bottle, add to your mix ( one drop at a time )

Also as said by Kagemusha pigment can settle in the cup.

I use a pipette to mix the paint up in the cup.....

 

[montythefirst]

Don't drop the pressure!.....take it up to 28 psi.....increase the thinner ratio....and never mix the paint and thinners in the cup of the AB.
Dropping the pressure will lead to spattering......mixing the paint in the cup means the larger grains fall into the throat of the AB.....and you can't reach them to thin the paint properly.
Only drop the psi if you are working very close to the subject.....thinning becomes even more important then....or you will get 'pooling' on the surface.

That makes a lot of sense

 

[kagemusha]

An easy way to check your mix is right......
When mixed..load a flat brush with the paint...and draw it across the rim of the AB paint cup....so that it runs down the inside....
Runs quickly down....but leaves a trail you can see the metal through = too thin
Runs quickly down....but you can't see the metal through it = correct
Runs slowly = too thick

 

[artur_koszewski]

Simon,

As the guys before me wrote - the paint is too thick, should be a milk like consistency.
To dilute it you can use Vallejo thinner dedicated for airbrushing - it already contains a retarder, so no additional is necessary.
It is called "Airbrush thinner" and the product code for 60ml bottle is 71.361.

Hope it helps.

 

[Kevin D.]

And THAT is why I like being part of PF! That's the most comprehensive air brush advice that I have seen or heard to date. Very nice guys! Us newbees to air brushes just got a great boost from y'all!

Kevin

 

[Ferris]

Indeed looks like the paint drying in the air. A very nice effect for heavy wool coats or blankets, but not for this figure.

In addition to the tips mentioned above (proper thinning and pressure (I spray this sort of thing at 1.5-2 Bar, or 22-29 psi)), I'd like to suggest two more things:
- spray smaller areas at the time, from a smaller distance with less air. There will be less chane of paint droplets drying in mid air.
- make multiple thin passes, with drying in between, instead of soaking the surface in one blast. That would give you the orange peel effect, ugly as well.

Cheers,
Adrian

 

[montythefirst]

cheers

 

[John Bowery]

Thanks for a great article.
Cheers
John

 

[samson]

Cant add much here to what has been said use the av thinners and flow retarded . Take the above advice and you should be alright