There’s a very good 5 minute video on YouTube done by Michele Theberge a very good instructor on fine art paints. It’s called “Worst Mistake Acrylic Painters Make.” It’s not rocket science but it will tell you why it’s not a good idea to use much water to thin any paint and especially not water based acrylics like Vallejo Model Color or Golden Fluids. The stuff she’s talking about is “Airbrush Thinner” which is available at any art store or Blick’s web site. The already thinned water acrylics like Vallejo Model Air or LifeColor probably don’t need airbrush medium, but I’d sure recommend getting Vallejo Airbrush Thinner which is water but with a load of conditioners and dry-slow chemicals in it. (LifeColor makes it’s own thinner, but I’d guess it’s much the same Vallejo’s as the paints are first cousins. LifeColor has a blizzard of military colors and is very good paint: it’ll want some thinnner - maybe 4:1 - your mileage may vary.) Golden High Flow is the best airbrushing paint (or at least the best water based acrylic - Tamiya’s tough to beat) and it can usually be used right out of its bottle: give it a good shake - there’s a BB inside. Here’s the link:
There was a member here some month or so ago mentioned he thinned acrylics using water. I can’t tell you how many times I told him thinning acrylic using water is not a good idea and it will not make paint adhere to kits properly. He never listened nor responded to my advice. I thought, “screw it”, let him find out the hard way.
I’m going to step up and admit that I never quite understood the difference between Vallejo Airbrush Thinner and Thinner Medium. (though at least I got it right enough to use airbrush thinner for airbrushing )
I think I’ve got it now, and will likely start using thinner medium for brush painting instead of my usual distilled water. (Just a tad, mind you…Just dampened a brush with it is all)
Decent video, thanks for posting.
Hey sheep, was I the guy being stubborn?? [proplr]
I love it when guys ask a question,and tons of us answer,post links,pictures,videos,and we’re all bantering between ourselves,but the OP disappears,never gets involved in the discussion,and did never thanks anyone.Seen that a few times.[:^)]
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