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so at least one of my Vallejo model paints is very gummy; practically a paste, not flowing at all. is it ok to add water to them? i've heard that some paints, if you ad water to them, it breaks down the bond between the medium and the pigment. i know nothing about this kinda thing though. suggestions?

thanks Dakka!

-C6

ps-and i've already tried adding Vallejo Matte Medium to it, and carefully mixing it up/stirring to tr to get it even, and that hasn't helped.

Watering down Vallejo is fine. Its water based acrylic. The only kind of paints im aware of that you cannot water down are oils.

do your self a favor and get a bottle of acrylic thinner found at most every craft store, have even seen it at WalMart. Its about $10-15 depending on where you get it and will last you for ever for what most painters of models will use it for. Its amazing stuff and wont break down the binders from the pigments the way water will the way water will.

I'll second Vypers suggestion of Acrylic thinner.

Also, adding an agitator to the bottle to make sure it gets thoroughly mixed when shaken(just make sure its large enough not to get lodged into the spout )

Vallejo has many different thinners and mediums. I add water to vallejo paints all the time... but most often I'll also add a drop of matte medium, or depending on the job glaze medium.

P3 has a nice mixing medium also.

I've added water to mine before, and it seems to be helpful/fine.

It's funny - when I first got the paints, I thought they were a bit on the runny side. After a couple of months though several are decidedly on the thick side. The bottle must not seal quite as tight as I thought, or else it seperates a bit and if you don't shake it well enough you're pouring off the thin stuff sitting on top.

thanks for all the advice folks. i'll try a little water, and look around for that thinner too.

As with most acrylic paints:
Water's fine.
White spirit is fine.
Acrylic flow improver & other acrylic mediums is fine.

Tamyia however isn't waterbased and their acrylic thinner should be used.

Remember Vallejo needs serious shaking to mix properly.
You can take the nipple off (yes I said it & the best bit is I won't be sanctioned for it!!) and add a lump of something inert (eg a bit of plastic - so it won't react with the paint) to aid mixing.