Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Hi all

First post here (except for my post in the intro section!)

Just getting back into painting. I've got a load of old miniatures from the metal days (mainly Space Wolves and Eldar). I've not picked up a brush in over 15 years though.

Given I've got some other projects around the house that need an air brush I thought I would double up and do priming and basecoating models that way. With that in mind I've got an airbrush in the post and have bought some Vallejo Game Air paints in preparation.

The question I have is whether the Vallejo Game Air paints are also suitable for brushwork. I know they are thinner but the guy running my local gaming shop reckons they are fine for painting (just might need a couple of coats in some instances). If that's true I'd rather get the airbrush ready paints so I can try my hand at airbrushing more of the models and highlights etc. I know I can thin the normal paints but the ease of dropping straight into the airbrush is tempting. Thinner paints might also encourage me to be patient and build up thin layers rather than slap on thick coats.

Presumably, the Game Air paints would be no good for drybrushing though. I used to spam that technique back in the day but I'd rather keep away from that if possible this time. Looking for a smoother finish.

Cheers

WG

Well im no pro, but havea couple of those paints and i find them nice to work with as you dont have to thin them alot.

I have them as well, I haven't tried with a brush, but I've heard others that have before. You should be able to paint with them using a brush, just might take more coats, which is what you want anyway, for a smoother finish.

You could probably still dry brush with them, once you wipe off all the excess, let it sit for 10 seconds or so, and it should be semi dry by then. Haven't tried that either, but you do, let us know how it comes out.

I brush with air paints and airbrush with brush paints. They just react differently, as in you'll need more coats than usual as they're quite transparent

Do watch out for airbrushing some of the Game Colour paints as they're not suitable. Some of the reds in particular contain cadmium so you can't spray them (poisonous). The warning on the bottle is tiny, you can easily miss it. I did!

Crispy78 wrote:
Do watch out for airbrushing some of the Game Colour paints as they're not suitable. Some of the reds in particular contain cadmium so you can't spray them (poisonous). The warning on the bottle is tiny, you can easily miss it. I did!

It wouldn't surprise me if a lot of reds from a lot of companies do have Cadmium and simply don't tell you.

Vallejo have been on the path of removing Cadmium from their paints, check the warning labels on them and unless they've been sitting on the shelf for a long time they probably have a label saying "contains no As, Cd, Co, Cr, Hg, Pb, Sb, Se". But older Vallejo paints from before the shift to make them all safely sprayable may still contain nasties.

Goodness knows what's in Citadel paints that you might be breathing in when you spray them.

Vallejo Model Air and Game Air are great for painting with a brush. The dropper bottle makes it so much easier to work with as well. I got about 100 of those and only use my GW paints if I have to. Not to mention they are about half the price.

But you are right, they are not that good for drybrushing, that's what I still use GW paints for.

If you want to drybrush with them you have to build up the pigment on the brush gradually. Put a drop of paint on your palette, pick some of it up, wipe it off, pick up some more, wipe it off, pick up some more, wipe it off.... just keep repeating until it's good for drybrushing. And make sure the thing you wipe it off on is absorbent to try and wick away the extra moisture.