Experiments with Vallejo and M. Graham Paint

[wcfn100]

You mean an airbrush-less technique?

No, just what you've been talking about, an even fade without splattering.

Not trying to say you haven't done it.  But like the first time around, it's nice to see it replicated by others.

Jason

[wazzou]

That Micro-Mark stirrer is awesome.

[tom mann]

No, just what you've been talking about, an even fade without splattering.

Not trying to say you haven't done it.  But like the first time around, it's nice to see it replicated by others.

I think Gary Hinshaw has it down!  You'll get spatter even if the mix is right due to build-up around the needle.  So you always need to check that. 

One more try, this time a z scale tank car.  Mix is a pea-sized dollop of M. Graham Zinc White with a single drop of Vallejo Grey.  I added 6 drops of Vallejo's thinner (just arrived today).  Stirred until even.

The unweathered car in the background is to show the magnitude of the fade (and the visible dust and junk that makes this process almost a vain attempt).

[wazzou]

I almost think you should cut down on the gray slightly .

Just a little, though.

[wcfn100]

I think Gary Hinshaw has it down!

Yeah, I had good success with his methods when I was using Pollyscale, but I'm moving to Vallejo paints so I'm watching this thread closely.

Jason

[peteski]

That Micro-Mark stirrer is awesome.

A big +1!
Just have to remember not to turn it off while it is still immersed in the paint then accidentally turn it on while it is out of the bottle. 

I have also seen the same exact item sold as an alcoholic  drink mixer.  In the dollar store.

[wazzou]

I wish I had seen that before I paid like $7.95 or something several years ago.

[tom mann]

I almost think you should cut down on the gray slightly .

Just a little, though.

Most likely...but the subsequent paint applications will tone it down some.

[GaryHinshaw]

I'm really curious to try out the high-flow acrylic line from Golden.  They are formulated for a range of high-flow applicators like ink pens and markers, as well as an air brush, but they dry like film paint.  They include both opaque and transparent colors, but sadly no zinc-based transparent white.  Transparent shading grey sounds intriguing though.  I have some of the transparent oxides on hand but have lacked time to give them a try yet.  There are a few hipster videoes at the bottom of the page to give you an idea of what they can do.

I added 6 drops of Vallejo's thinner (just arrived today).  Stirred until even.

What kind of formula is this?

[tom mann]

What kind of formula is this?

The Vallejo paints come in bottles with built-in droppers.  But my guess would be about 7:1 Thinner to M.Graham+Vallejo mix.

[tom mann]

@GaryHinshaw:

I discovered today that Michaels has a few colors of the Golden Fluids line.  They don't carry the High Flow, but they don't carry any airbrush stuff anymore.  Golden Fluids are pretty close to Polly Scale viscosity.  I got Titan Buff, which is slightly transparent.   

[Scottl]

Our Michael's had about a dozen colors, while our local art store sells their entire selection.  I have Zinc White, transparent Red Oxide and a few others.  They spray very nicely.

[GaryHinshaw]

Scott, do you have zinc white in a pre-thinned formulation?  I haven't seen that.

[Scottl]

Yes, it was only available at the art store.

[tom mann]

This is how the Golden Fluids look.  I thinned Titan Buff with Vallejo Thinner at 1:2.  I noticed that there was no clumping during stirring (as I was seeing with M. Graham) so it was easy to mix and spray.  It was also much easier to control during spraying, as there were no moments of "spatter" when different viscosities of paint would momentarily come out.

Before:



After:



I'm happy with this combination.  Oh and I also changed the coupler:  I'm not a monster after all.