Vallejo Game Color Thinner

[kevinsho27]

I have several of the paints in the GC line that separate on the pallette when diluted with water (even after shaking the bottle vigorously). I know the Vallejo has a thinner specifically for the GC paints, but I would have to order that online and really don\'t want to wait for it. Does anyone know of a acceptable alternative for diluting GC paints that will stop the separation.

 

[Einion]

Originally posted by kevinsho27
I have several of the paints in the GC line that separate on the pallette when diluted with water (even after shaking the bottle vigorously).

Is this like immediately or after a short while?

Over the years I\'ve had many mixes that would do this - it generally happens with pigments of very different types and if the mix is watered down past a certain point - and just lived with having to give them a quick \'stir\' with the brush while reloading.

If you have any on hand, I think a small addition of Future might help with this problem (?) but of course this will tend to make the paint dry a little less matt.

Einion

 

[kevinsho27]

Originally posted by Einion

Originally posted by kevinsho27
I have several of the paints in the GC line that separate on the pallette when diluted with water (even after shaking the bottle vigorously).

Is this like immediately or after a short while?

Over the years I\'ve had many mixes that would do this - it generally happens with pigments of very different types and if the mix is watered down past a certain point - and just lived with having to give them a quick \'stir\' with the brush while reloading.

If you have any on hand, I think a small addition of Future might help with this problem (?) but of course this will tend to make the paint dry a little less matt.

Einion

It happens after a few minutes. I\'ve tried Future but it doesn\'t seem to help much.

 

[matty1001]

A few of the VMC do this aswell, and I always just add one drop of Vallejo\'s thinner. Binds it all back together, and drastically slows the splitting time.

 

[Wootton]

matty1001 is right, sometimes vmc do that as well and a few drops of vmc thinner helps, so it would probably be best to invest in a bottle of the stuff, it isn\'t too expensive

 

[ninjakitty]

I use the testors thiner you can get it at hobby lobby for like two bucks. it works great with gc..... what is future?

 

[Stro]

Future floor wax ..... painters use it to make magic wash

 

[Einion]

Although it\'s commonly referred to as Future Floor Wax in modelling circles it does of course not contain any wax. It\'s a type of liquid acrylic floor finish (see here).

In the UK there\'s a similar product called Klear.

Einion

 

[Shawn R. L.]

Does isopropal alchol (rubbing alcohol) have any use/advantage in diluting?

 

[kevinsho27]

Originally posted by Wootton
matty1001 is right, sometimes vmc do that as well and a few drops of vmc thinner helps, so it would probably be best to invest in a bottle of the stuff, it isn\'t too expensive

The expense isn\'t the problem. The fact that Vallejo paints aren\'t available were I liveand have to be mail ordered is the problem. That\'s why I was asking for a substitute.

 

[Einion]

Originally posted by Shawn R. L.
Does isopropal alchol (rubbing alcohol) have any use/advantage in diluting?

Not for our kind of work I don\'t think.

Some armour/aircraft modellers swear by using alcohol (with and without water) to thin their hobby paints for airbrushing but they\'re often quite different to standard acrylic and vinyl paints.

Einion

 

[lizcam]

Originally posted by kevinsho27

Originally posted by Wootton
matty1001 is right, sometimes vmc do that as well and a few drops of vmc thinner helps, so it would probably be best to invest in a bottle of the stuff, it isn\'t too expensive

The expense isn\'t the problem. The fact that Vallejo paints aren\'t available were I liveand have to be mail ordered is the problem. That\'s why I was asking for a substitute.

You might try adding a bit of glazing medium to them. I do that often because I thin really far down. But on some paints it just doesn\'t help.

I use magic wash (future floor wax and water) to thin everything and still get the seperation. P3\'s are really bad at this as well. The glazing medium will help some but it\'s best in the mean time to order that thinner.

 

[DaRat]

Originally posted by kevinsho27
The expense isn\'t the problem. The fact that Vallejo paints aren\'t available were I liveand have to be mail ordered is the problem. That\'s why I was asking for a substitute.

If you are on the north side of Houston, Little Wars carries Vallejo paints. Most other stores will probably also special order it for you.

You also might try Liquitex Matte Medium from Michaels or Hobby Lobby.

 

[kevinsho27]

Originally posted by DaRat

If you are on the north side of Houston, Little Wars carries Vallejo paints. Most other stores will probably also special order it for you.

You also might try Liquitex Matte Medium from Michaels or Hobby Lobby.

Last time I checked, Little Wars only carries the Model Color line, not the Game Color. Are the thinners availablt in each line the same?

 

[bullfrog]

You could always try the isopropyl alcohol but due to it\'s properties it will evaporate much faster than other alcohol based thinners and may not be of much use after a few minutes. I know at work we tend not to use it with plastics as it can sometimes alter the plastic. But having said that it only affects some plastics ans even then it is usually confined to the surface.
With all the thinners available and the small cost of some from the craft shop trying the alcohol might be more trouble than what it is worth.

 

[DaRat]

Originally posted by kevinsho27
Last time I checked, Little Wars only carries the Model Color line, not the Game Color. Are the thinners availablt in each line the same?

Purely a guess, but I believe so.

Still, I\'d pick up a 40% off coupon for Michael\'s or Hobby Lobby from the sunday paper and go try the Liquitex Matte Medium first.