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Hi everyone,

I've been lurking for a while, figured now that I need some help it would be a good opportunity to officially join and post.

A few years ago I got into 40k, painted some models with absolutely no experience and they turned out alright at best. I then shelved them away until recently. I decided to get back into the hobby, this time with an airbrush as I am looking to paint some larger models (predator for example), as well as a painted dreadnought. I stripped the dreadnought using Super Clean pretty successfully, and was ready to start again.

The problem, as shown below, is that my primer (Vallejo surface primer), does not appear to coat equally. In addition, it causes dry tip on my airbrush every 10 seconds, and leaves bubbles on the models (also shown below). I googled solutions, and people were saying it does not need to be thinned anymore. I did try to up the PSI (to mid 30s) but it did not solve the problem. Just for the record, pictures don't do these bubbles justice, looks touch worse in person.

Not sure if this would help solving the problem, but when I use my minitaire Boring Green paint, it also causes dry tip every few seconds, and requires constant cleaning. I never get dry tip while using the minitaire Raven Black though, even if I'll paint with it for 15-20 minutes.

I am using a Badger Patriot 105, and the TC-20T air compressor from TCP Global.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

(Trying to edit to get the right images in)

Well, tip dry is going to happen when you paint with acrylics, there isn't a whole lot you can do about except for keeping cotton buds and cleaner handy. If you watch some videos of professional painters you can see them clean the tip fairly often, especially working at lower pressures. As far as your primer issues, It looks like it is way too thick. Also, did you shake the bottle thoroughly? The Surface Primer has a tendency to separate and some times a good hard shaking is in order.

EDIT: When you stripped the dreadnought, did you thoroughly rinse off all the parts with warm water and dish soap to remove an left over Super Clean?

In my experience with Vallejo primer you need to thin it a little if it's clogging that much up at the tip. Have a cotton swab for the tip to clean off the tip every so often as well. However, from what I am looking it seems a bit to thick. IMO Sometime the Primer can be sprayed right out of the bottle depending on Airbrush /Nozzle Size etc. Try thinning it is the best recommendation I can give you. Also a must it to make sure the model does not have any residue from stripping them on it. after stripping soak them in clean water to get rid of the residue and let it dry fully.

I agree, primer looks a bit thick, in addition, primer should not be applied in an opaque layer as you have done, a couple of thin coats is all you need. Primer is meant to prepare a surface for the base coat, not to be a base coat.

A.

I did soak it in soapy water, but maybe for not long enough. I will try again on a model that has not been stripped, and post the results.

When it comes to thinning the primer if it gets down to it, do you recommend specifically the Vallejo thinner, or will any thinner or some water will do?

DogF00d wrote:
I did soak it in soapy water, but maybe for not long enough. I will try again on a model that has not been stripped, and post the results.

When it comes to thinning the primer if it gets down to it, do you recommend specifically the Vallejo thinner, or will any thinner or some water will do?

Vallejo thinner would be fine, but I personally have never needed to thin the Surface Primer. I prime at about 30 psi and in very thin layers with the airbrush a couple inches away from the model.

Also, don't just soak it in soapy water; scrub it with a brush and rinse it off under the sink.

DogF00d wrote:
I did soak it in soapy water, but maybe for not long enough. I will try again on a model that has not been stripped, and post the results.

When it comes to thinning the primer if it gets down to it, do you recommend specifically the Vallejo thinner, or will any thinner or some water will do?

Bottom of the page is what I use.

http://www.acrylicosvallejo.com/en_US/model-paints/auxiliary-products/3

I spray this with MUCH lower pressure, about 20psi or so.

Also, when using the 105...I only open the brush (pull back the needle) a very small amount - just enough to give coverage.

The 105 is a great brush, but if open all the way, puts out a lot of paint...too much in my opinion for actual good quality fine airbrush paint.

So, trying lowering your psi a bit, and only pulling the needle back a small amount - this will give you a fine mist of primer.

As someone who's been using the vallejo primers for well over a year I can say I've never needed to thin them down. I've never had this kind of a problem, spraying at either 20 psi, 30 or even 40... Only thing I can think of is residue from stripping the model down, or possibly some humidity issues?

davethepak wrote:
I spray this with MUCH lower pressure, about 20psi or so.

Also, when using the 105...I only open the brush (pull back the needle) a very small amount - just enough to give coverage.

The 105 is a great brush, but if open all the way, puts out a lot of paint...too much in my opinion for actual good quality fine airbrush paint.

So, trying lowering your psi a bit, and only pulling the needle back a small amount - this will give you a fine mist of primer.

That's an excellent point... the 105 comes with a .5mm tip right? That's awesome if you want to lay down some serious paint over a big area (terrain and large models) but not so much when trying to get a little bit of paint in a tiny area.

 Requiem wrote:
As someone who's been using the vallejo primers for well over a year I can say I've never needed to thin them down. I've never had this kind of a problem, spraying at either 20 psi, 30 or even 40... Only thing I can think of is residue from stripping the model down, or possibly some humidity issues?

While it absolutely may be a residue issue, I don't think this is the case. I tried priming a Tyranid I had left from a long time ago (this one was in new condition and has never been painted) and it left the exact same bubbles (around the rib cage area).

Tonight I will run some tests and I'll see if I get the same results. I have the Badger paint mixer I will use on the primer first, I will use very thin layers on 30 PSI, and I will clean the tip with the swab and cleaner throughout the priming. I'll report the results later on.

Humidity may be an issue, but I'm not sure to be honest. It's been pretty cold out here lately so the heat is on, and I can't paint with the windows open.

Either way, thanks for the input so far everyone. Much appreciated.

I've used the Vallejo primer a lot and didn't encounter these issues. I use a H&S Evolution with a .4 needle for primer. Just some shaking, but no thinning needed.

Try to use only small amounts of primer rather than filling the paint cup. Flush the brush with water and cleaner every time the cup is empty. Spray out jar, very handy.

You may need to increase the distance between brush and model. Try light coats, they should dry quickly.

After paint stripping, use dish washing detergent and finally running tap water to minimise leftover residue.

Ok, so today went significantly better than yesterday. No bubbles! As you guys suggested, I went lower PSI, and sprayed thin coats. This worked out pretty good for the most part.

However, I'm still getting dry tip literally every 10-15 seconds or so, to the point where no primer comes out, and then too much shoots out all the sudden. It's pretty difficult to get consistent/even layers when I have to stop and clean it up all the time.

It can't be not shaking the primer enough, as I used the badger paint mixer and made sure it's all evened out. Any other thoughts, or is thinning it my only option? Everywhere I read people are saying it does not need to be thinned, but I don't know what else to do.

It doesn't need to be thinned, that stuff is like water straight from the bottle. Tip dry is going to happen, it's just the nature of the beast and there isn't a whole lot you can do about it. Limit yourself to short, controlled bursts instead of one continuous stream and keep an eye on the tip.

DogF00d wrote:
Ok, so today went significantly better than yesterday. No bubbles! As you guys suggested, I went lower PSI, and sprayed thin coats. This worked out pretty good for the most part.

However, I'm still getting dry tip literally every 10-15 seconds or so, to the point where no primer comes out, and then too much shoots out all the sudden. It's pretty difficult to get consistent/even layers when I have to stop and clean it up all the time.

It can't be not shaking the primer enough, as I used the badger paint mixer and made sure it's all evened out. Any other thoughts, or is thinning it my only option? Everywhere I read people are saying it does not need to be thinned, but I don't know what else to do.

It could be the environment you're spraying in? Is it cold/ hot? Nozzles clogging means the paint is to think or drying to fast. That's why I suggested to thin it some. Airbrush Thinner (Not water) will help reduce the dry time before it exits the gun. Also pulling a little back on the needle will help alleviate the nozzle head from clogs. I had the same problem some time ago all I need to do was use Vallejo Airbrush Thinner and pull a little bit back on the needle it never clogs now .

Another forum in regards to this has info as well

http://cs.finescale.com/fsm/tools_techniques_and_reference_materials/f/18/t/148300.aspx


FYI not all Airbrushes have this issue this is why others say spray it right out of the bottle Nozzle size plays a role as well. Thinning is not going to hurt to try.