TomcatFanatic123 Posted September 5, 2016 Share Posted September 5, 2016 (edited) I decided I wanted to switch to Vallejo Model Color paint for my brush-painting, as I've heard a lot of great things about it. So, for my birthday in July,the parental units got me a beautiful 72-bottle set of the military colors, and I was thrilled. I haven't used any of it yet, because, well, I haven't had anything to brush-paint, but I will soon. So this brings me to my question...how do you mix the stuff? With the Tamiya/Testors/Model Master bottles, I have my battery-operated paint stirrer. I obviously can't use that for the Vallejo colors because they squeeze out. If I just shake the hell out of the bottle by hand will it mix it well enough? Should I invest in one of those paint-shaker table things? I know it's a silly question, but thanks in advance for the help! Edited September 5, 2016 by TomcatFanatic123 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kaibutsu Posted September 5, 2016 Share Posted September 5, 2016 TomCatFan, I believe shaking the hell out of it by hand will mix it well enough. - Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rex Posted September 5, 2016 Share Posted September 5, 2016 Go to Hobby Lobby and look at their necklace and bead section. Once there, you should run across Hematite beads hanging on a card. For the Vallejo type of bottles, get a string of the small beads. (the correct beads look like dull steel ball bearings, and you will feel the difference in the heft compared to the other beads) Then, using a cloth, pop the dripper end off of your Vallejo bottle. Drop the bead in there, and pop that cap back on. When you shake them, even though that dripper cap is a pretty tight fit, also shake them with the cap screwed back on. The bead could hammer the dripper loose. (ask me how I know this, lol) Since you will know what the gap looks like between the dripper and the bottle, check that before you tip the bottle and drop paint into your palette or airbrush cup. (again, experience taught me to look at the joint each time, lol) Then you can just reach for a few paint colors that you will use, and shake them 4 or 5 at a time. Don't worry about the stories that say we shouldn't shake our Acrylics,,,,,the newest paint range to get released come with "drip down" caps and a shaker bead in them from the factory. (the cap design is the key) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lancer512 Posted September 5, 2016 Share Posted September 5, 2016 Either what Rex said, or use marine grade stainless steel hex nuts that are large enough to still fit into the opening. Don't use normal stainless nuts, as they will corrode and mess up the paint. Hex nuts don't block the nozzle, as I've heard stories of steel balls blocking the nozzle, resulting in a rather rapid ejection of the nozzle from the bottle (and the bottle's contents). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rex Posted September 5, 2016 Share Posted September 5, 2016 Oh, yes, never use a solid ball. Beads or nuts only. Another thing is to not hold the bottle vertically, you should be able to get enough paint out by holding the bottle horizontally, or very slightly elevated. That way, the bead or nut will be at the bottom of the bottle, and won't "work through" the paint before you have the few drops you need dispensed. If you are dispensing your paint as if it were Ketchup,,,,,don't put anything in the bottle. Then just pop the dripper out and use a stirring tool such as the Badger, with the end changed out so as not to cut the bottle when you turn it on. A finishing nail in the cheap Wal Mart toenail sander works well for this. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Thommo Posted October 12, 2016 Share Posted October 12, 2016 I just shake the hell out of it for use in my airbrush. Their flat clear is the best flat I've ever used. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john53 Posted October 13, 2016 Share Posted October 13, 2016 (edited) I was in a similar predicament, tired of tossing Testors and MM bottles barely used away when they turned to rubberized gel. I was torn between Vallejo and Humbrol, I am old, Humbrol is in "mini cans". I am just too old and set in my ways to squeeze paint out of a tube, but that's just my personal preference, also I like my "toxic colors" AKA enamel. At least I'll die happy!---John Edited October 13, 2016 by john53 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
86Sabreboy1 Posted November 28, 2016 Share Posted November 28, 2016 One thing you should know about Vallejo Model Color. Don't lick your paint brush. You really don't want to know where some of the pigments come from, especially anything with red in it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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