Question on Vallejo paints - "To spray or not to spray"

[jimz66]

I have tons of Vallejo paints like the rest of you do. Some say not to spray them. I'm curious as to why and what the problems are? I notice its certain reds. blues and greens in particular. But not others. Just curious. How serious is this?

 

[Mirofsoft]

I have not even 1, like the rest of us !? Don't know
My answer would be a song
Abba
"Gimme,Gimme, Gimme""Money,Money,Money"
They want to sell you another ( again ) can

 

[NigelR]

Vallejo Model Color paints are quite thick and need a lot of thinning for airbrushing. They can be sprayed, but you will need to experiment with thinning ratios. Vallejo Model Air are specially formulated for spraying but even those I find need a bit of thinner to avoid a lot of tip dry.

Some of the online discussions I have seen mention that airbrush ready paints (like Model Air) have finer pigment particles, which is why they don't clog the airbrush but aren't so good for brush painting.

I never spray Model Color myself. I have a set of Model Air paints I use for spraying WWI aircraft and AFVs. I use Model Color for figure painting and small detail painting on aircraft and AFVs.

However, spraying Model Color works for this guy:

 

[Warren SMITH]

Hi, I prefer to use Tamiya paints in the airbrush, and Vallejo for brush work, alough I do have a few of the Vallejo air paints, which are clearly thinned straight out of the bottle.. I would suggest a few tests using what paints you have and plenty of thinners... Find what works for you..

 

[bigtodd]

I have been spraying them for 20 plus years. I found that the general thinner from VMS is the best thinner. I brush paint with them just as long. If your paint is old use a fine wire mesh strainer to get dried particles out before putting into airbrush cup.

Love love love Tamiya through an airbrush, works perfect every time with their x20 thinner and cleans up with Lysol All purpose kitchen cleaner $2 bottle lasts forever but cleans Tamiya paint out of airbrush better than straight thinner or alcohol.

Cheers,
Todd

 

[Alex]

I second Todd on this. Use the Vallejo airbrush thinner for Vallejo model color and model air and they will spray without any problems. Clean the tip once in a while and you are good to go.
I can even spray Golden Soflat paints as well !
For Vallejo, just double check if you have old bottles : you should never spray cadmiums. Same thing for other artist paints.

 

[jimz66]

For Vallejo, just double check if you have old bottles : you should never spray cadmiums. Same thing for other artist paints.

Why is that? are they toxic?

 

[jimz66]

Love love love Tamiya through an airbrush, works perfect every time with their x20 thinner and cleans up with Lysol All purpose kitchen cleaner $2 bottle lasts forever but cleans Tamiya paint out of airbrush better than straight thinner or alcohol.

Cheers,
Todd

Can't do it. I live in an apartment with kids around. Plus I don't like the odor. I've got plenty of them I just need to find them to get rid of them. Thanks Todd.

 

[Alex]

Why is that? are they toxic?

Yes if you ingest or inhale dry particles
see this link for more information :
https://acrylicosvallejo.com/en/safety/

 

[Alex]

Interesting to read this (wear a respirator when airbrushing Vallejo model colors !) :

‘ In our colors for Models and Miniatures, Cadmium Calcinated Zinc Sulphide and Cadmium Sulphoselenide are present in some of the basic colors and in even lesser percentage in mixtures of the 300 plus shades. All are certified as ASTM D-4236. ‘

 

[Richie]

One of the main reasons is Pb on the their labels, the one I remember off the top of my head is the yellow ochre. But there are probably others containing lead.