How to airbrush Vallejo Model Air (and any other water-based acrylic)

[FalconFan24]

So I am seeing this question about airbrushing Vallejo come back up again and again. I created this mixture (many years ago ) working with professional artist to come up with something that works on all water-based acrylics (FYI: Tamiya is not a water-based acrylic). The formula has been tested on Vallejo, Ammo, AK, Mission Models, Humbrol, etc. The formula makes acrylic paint airbrush like a lacquer. It also makes the paint more resilent, in my videos you can see I handle the paint without hands and tape over it in just 15 mins.

 

I created this article many moons ago and a YouTube video (see link). I am hoping this article can help other fellow modelers learn how to airbrush Vallejo Model Air paints.

https://youtu.be/OYyfKPouFCQ

 

Quick background on me. I started airbrushing at around age 9 and fell in love with it. I am an airbrushing nut (currently have close to 50 airbrushes) and worked as a professional airbrush artist for printing company for many years. I then took my experience airbrushing in the private sector to airbrushing scale models. After working with enamel and lacquers for many years, I have lost my sense of sense. Decided I can't keep going like this and switched to acrylics. Started with Vallejo and hated them at first. No matter what I did, I could not get them to work right. Main problem was tip drying and that can ruin model. I tried several recommendations from fellow modelers, from Vallejo, etc. Nothing worked at all! After about 15 seconds I would get tip dry. It was just so frustrating. I got rid of them immediately the first time. Due to health concerns, living with pets, and roommates, I decided to give them another try and find a solution.

 

Vallejo has some good things going for it: very little to no smell, easily available, comes in sets you don't have to buy individual bottles ( i think they were the first major company to do this), and a fantastic range of colors. So I started to do some tests and found a mixture for airbrushing Vallejo paint and is going to give you great results!

What you need:

-Vallejo thinner

-Vallejo flow improver

-Vallejo retarder

 

The formula is 90% liquid (70% Vallejo flow improver + 30% Vallejo thinner) and 10% retarder (vallejo retarder)=100% formula   YOU MUST ADD IN THE RETARDER, IT IS THE SECRET SAUCE. It is is what makes the mixture make the paint more resilient. Also, you don't need to be super exact.

 

I use an empty Vallejo 17 ml bottle for this purpose (ignore the bottle size, this can be made for any size bottle). I add in all 3 ingredients and then shake the hell out of the bottle.

 

For airbrushing, I use either a 50/50 (paint to thinner) or 60/40 (paint to thinner) start with 20 PSI as base point. I prefer to use smaller needle/nozzle setup, .2mm or .3mm. I use the backflushing technique to mix the paint within the cup. Btw, this is a starting point and you adjust as needed for your needs….for example: more thinner and lower air pressure for mottling purposes.

I recommend adding the thinner mixture into your airbrush first! It helps lube the airbrush needle. Also, a little goes a long way. For this example, I added in 5 drops thinner to 6 drops paint. I had so much paint leftover even after the sheet and the test piece.

 

As you can see from the pictures, I can get fine lines with no tip drying issues. I sprayed on that white sheet for about 5 mins no issues at all. Coverage is great...but YOU MUST USE A PRIMER. Acrylics need primers or they will easily come off. Hopefully the pictures show the wonderful results you can get from Vallejo.

Hope this helps! If you have any questions, let me know.

 

PS: All models shown are airbrushed with Vallejo Acrylics

Edited November 21, 2024 by FalconFan24

[Da SWO]

Timely, as I just bought a bunch of Model Air colors for my next build.

 

Guess I need to make another run for thinner, flow improver and retarder.

[southwestforests]

3 hours ago, FalconFan24 said:

What you need:

-Vallejo thinner

-Vallejo flow improver

-Vallejo retarder

 

The formula is 90% liquid (70% Vallejo flow improver + 30% Vallejo thinner) and 10% retarder (vallejo retarder)=100% formula   YOU MUST ADD IN THE RETARDER, IT IS THE SECRET SAUCE. It is is what makes the mixture make the paint more resilient. Also, you don't need to be super exact.

 

I use an empty Vallejo 17 ml bottle for this purpose (ignore the bottle size, this can be made for any size bottle). I add in all 3 ingredients and then shake the hell out of the bottle.

 

Ahh, thanks! I've not yet airbrushed Vallejo. The only non-solvent, acrylic, paints I've airbrushed to date are Tamiya, PollyScale, Acryl.

[Da SWO]

Are there any issues storing excess paint?

[FalconFan24]

4 hours ago, Da SWO said:

Are there any issues storing excess paint?

If you mean recycling the thinned paint, I would not recommend that. The mixture makes the paint harder overtime and it will due to that to the paint in the bottle. But good thing is you can use Vallejo bottles to pour precisely as much as you need. A few drops goes a long long way.

[Thadeus]

Very nice tip. I'll give it a try sometime, as I've amased quite a few Vallejo Model Air paints. Do You use Vallejo primers? Or something else? And what about drying times? I noticed using Gunze thinner I had a lot less dried paint at the tip, but the drying time was also significantly longer.

[Da SWO]

I assume I need the same mixture for the flat and gloss coats too?

[Winnie]

the only thing I want to add to this discussion is the retarder. It is glycerin based, and can make the paint take a long while to dry, and I have ammended this formula to only 1 drop of retarder. The paint still flows nicely, and no tip dry as of yet. 

 

Other than that, this Mixture as described by @FalconFan24 have been used successfully by me for quite a while!

[FalconFan24]

On 11/26/2024 at 2:04 PM, Winnie said:

the only thing I want to add to this discussion is the retarder. It is glycerin based, and can make the paint take a long while to dry, and I have ammended this formula to only 1 drop of retarder. The paint still flows nicely, and no tip dry as of yet. 

 

Other than that, this Mixture as described by @FalconFan24 have been used successfully by me for quite a while!

 

Nice to hear that it is working for you. Yes, as I mentioned that adjust accordingly....but make sure include all 3 components for best results.

[FalconFan24]

On 11/24/2024 at 1:08 PM, Da SWO said:

I assume I need the same mixture for the flat and gloss coats too?

Sorry, for my belated reply. I just saw your message. No  do not use the mixture Vallejo gloss coat or flat coat. I will be honest, I am not the biggest fan of Vallejo Gloss....it does slow and takes 24 hours to cure. Adding in the mixture only increases the curing time....which is not want you want. On a side-note: for gloss coat for decaling/weathering I recommend either Ak intermedate guazy agent and Alclad Aqua gloss. Both are acrylic, use straight from the bottle, low psi, should go on wet. Both go rock hard on in 50 mins and you can put oils on enamels on.

 

If you plan to use Vallejo gloss or flat coat (assuming it is the premium brand) use the gloss straight from the bottle, 15 psi. For the flat varnish, thin 50/50 with vallejo airbrush thinner, at 15 psi, light coats.

[Da SWO]

I am getting ready to try this.

Just to be clear, I mix the thinner, retarder, flow improver first.

Then add paint?

What mixture? 50/50, 60 paint/40 sauce?

Thanks

[FalconFan24]

On 2/20/2025 at 6:57 PM, Da SWO said:

I am getting ready to try this.

Just to be clear, I mix the thinner, retarder, flow improver first.

Then add paint?

What mixture? 50/50, 60 paint/40 sauce?

Thanks

Hey Da

 

Just read your message. Yes, make the formula mixture and best to put into a bottle for easier use. Then mixture 50/50, 18-20psi, for general airbrushing.