Vallejo Problems...any help?

[TWOMOONS]

I keep getting a glossy finish on these Vallejo acrylics I'm learning how to use...after shaking them for quite a while, and then using water as a medium, this seems persistent.
Do you have to use the Vallejo thinner to achieve a matte finish...or am I doing something that I'm not aware of...can anyone with experience with this paints supply any info on this?
I notice that some of their colors are flat flesh and flat brown...so, is it just normal that a gloss is the end product? Doesn't seem like it should be...but who knows?

 

[housecarl]

Phil,the only thing I can suggest is shake them more. You don't know how long they have been stood! As for thinning I only use water, and mine dry dead flat.
Sorry I can't be anymore help,
Carl.

 

[rodrigrinch]

hi phil, try using flat base by tamiya, mixing wiht any acrylic paint, just a little,
saludos

 

[billyturnip]

Another tip is to used boiled water from the kettle rather than tap water to thin the paint.

I can't remember where I read it or even if it works but worth a try

Roger.

 

[Wendy]

Certain colors are glossier than others, but yes, shake those puppies as much as you can stand. I'm not sure that flat means matte in those colors. I'm pretty sure my flat blue doesn't dry very flat. Sometimes also, thicker paint is glossier than thin layers. Dunno why...

I use filtered water instead of tap water also, but that was because occasionally I would get a chalky residue on the dried figure.

You could also use something like Testor's Dullcote when you're finished to take away shine.

 

[Figure Mad]

Hi Phil

I have always experienced this with Vallejo Colours, there is only two ways of eliminating it A. adding a touch of Tamiya flat base (I think its X21) to the colour, but use it very sparingly
B. spray with a dullcoat after finishing the figure.

I think the best way is to use the Tamiya flat base, shake the bottle, take out the amount of paint you need, add a touch of glasing medium, then add a touch of flat base mix as you would to thin

Dave

 

[Uruk-Hai]

I had this problem when I started trying Vallejo. My tips is to make sure you have a good grip in the undercoat/primer. I use Tamiya flat colours with the airbrush. Then to put on the Vallejo in thin layers.

Cheers
Janne Nilsson

 

[TWOMOONS]

Thanks, all....after painting/sculpting for over 20 years, I thought to myself, "why am I having this kind of problem at my advanced age"?
Seriously, I was trying to get away from a post painting flat coat spray, as I have had problems in the past with that , too.
I'll try some of the other suggestions.

 

[renarts]

A very good shaking will eliminate alot of the problem. It sounds redundant but when you think you've shaken them enough, shake them some more. I've found that even after vigorous shaking there is still some acrylic medium (the clear stuff) that is up in the nipple of the bottle. I've started storing my vallejo's tip down so that the pigment settles to the nipple of the bottle and when shaken, there is more of the pigment there, making the paint flatter.

Too, the best result is to apply your paint in thinner coats. 2-3 thinned coats for a base coat seem to offer the best results and flat finish. I apply a thinned glaze or wash over the surface after and this helps deaden the finish.

 

[TWOMOONS]

Double checked on a couple of websites about the ideal and projected result of Vallejo paints, and the manufacturer states "they dry matte".
So I can only assume that I'm not shaking them enough (how long do you have to?), or have a storage/ medium problem.
I do shake them for quite a while...my wrist hurts, actually.
And my eyes get all blurry after a couple of hours...and my back and knees are stiff after a couple of hours of sitting ,too.
I'm going back to a less painfull hobby, like rugby and lacrosse, again.
Painting miniatures is far too violent for me.

 

[Diegoff]

As Figure Mad says, a bit of Tamiya X-21 works pretty well.
In the other hand it may be a matter of brush tecnique. Wait until the paint is thoroughly dry before put another brush stroke. I have experienced that if insist in the same wet area is easier to get a glossy finish.
Sometimes I put the figure under moderate warm, under the lamp desk or in an oven at 50ºC and this help to get the perfect matt finish.

 

[renarts]

Something I had forgotten to mention before, as you use the paint on your pallette or mixing cups, continue to stir the mix while you work. Even in the cup the paint pigment will settle out and this could be part of the problem with the semi gloss finish you're getting. Each time you fill the brush you are pulling more pigment from the resevoir of paint. You may have to add more of the pigment to keep the ratio of pigment to emulsion consistent.