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Made in cz
Fresh-Faced New User





Hello
Just go a quick question. Could be normal gw paints used for airbrush ? I mean when they are dilluted with vallejo thinner and flow improver. I'm asking, because I'm going to buy an airbrush and I still have tons of citadel paints.
   
Made in gb
Fresh-Faced New User




I use GW paints through my airbrush, as you say just cut them with vallejo flow improver and i have had no problems at all.
   
Made in fi
Locked in the Tower of Amareo





Pretty much any paint can be used in airbrush. You just need to thin them. A lot. And then when you think you have thinnd them enough thin some more!

2024 painted/bought: 109/109 
   
Made in cz
Fresh-Faced New User





Oh... thank you.
   
Made in us
Dakka Veteran





Proper consistency is generally described as "milk-like". Too thin is not good, too thick isn't good.

Consummate 8th Edition Hater.  
   
Made in gb
Frenzied Berserker Terminator




Southampton, UK

Some of the normal formulations of red paints aren't recommended for airbrushing, as the contain cadmium which is harmful when inhaled. My Vallejo Game Colour red paints have a warning about this on them. Only noticed the warning after spraying them through my airbrush a few times...
   
Made in cz
Fresh-Faced New User





No problem.... I have a lot of disposable face masks and even a gas mask ...... But to another question.... Is 130-150 € an adequate for an airbrush kit ( compressor + 3 pistols.... Can write down the specifications If wanted) ?
   
Made in de
Nihilistic Necron Lord






Germany

A cheap airbrush is ok for basecoating, but for fine detail work you should spend some more money. A compressor with tank is good, because it provides constant pressure.
   
Made in cz
Fresh-Faced New User





Yeah.... I intend to use the airbrush for priming and some coating (metallic colours and so on...). Even a cheaper airbrush set could provide a nice (lookable) and even colour (If I don't feth up ), right ?

This message was edited 3 times. Last update was at 2018/09/10 11:35:30


 
   
Made in gb
Courageous Space Marine Captain






Glasgow, Scotland

Just going to put it out there that GW also produce their colours in Air brand, designed for Airbrushes. I'm not an airbrusher or familiar with the line but maybe something to look into as an alternative? Maybe someone with experience of the Air line would be able to comment?]

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Made in fi
Locked in the Tower of Amareo





 Deadshot wrote:
Just going to put it out there that GW also produce their colours in Air brand, designed for Airbrushes. I'm not an airbrusher or familiar with the line but maybe something to look into as an alternative? Maybe someone with experience of the Air line would be able to comment?]


2 issues I have with them. a) they seems harder to clean than say vallejo b) the bottle system makes it PITA to apply appropriate amount. I end up way too much. Bad enough with brush paint to wet palete, worse with airbrush colours. Oh and they are more expensive than vallejo.

Frankly if we are not talking about tons of paint I would get dedicated vallejo airbrush paint where possible. Price isn't that huge for small amount of colours and ease of use is IMO worth it.

GW ones though I would avoid. That darn bottle. For airbrush I def want drop bottle.

2024 painted/bought: 109/109 
   
Made in si
Camouflaged Zero






I don't wanna sound condesending but GW airbrush paints are pretty stupid. Why would anyone use pots for airbrush over let's say
Vallejo Model Air is beyond me.

   
Made in gb
Fresh-Faced New User




Tried the GW airbrush paints myself and I'm honestly not too happy with the results as opposed to mixing the normal ones with thinner myself.
   
Made in cz
Fresh-Faced New User





I heard the citadel air paints are bad..... but anyway.... decided to increase the budget so I'm going to buy harder & steenbeck ultra and fengda as186 compressor + air pipe. I think it will be better choice, won't it ?
   
Made in gb
Fresh-Faced New User




I have used both GW and Vallejo (air and normal) and some P3 and scale75 since getting my set up just before Xmas and I feel that certain colours in each sets airbrush better than others..

But if I had to go with a single set? Would have to be the Vallejo air. Cheaper, drop bottles and I have never had issues using any of them.

My advice is to experiment and look on youtube for tutorials. If you already have the GW paints most will be fine with flow improver.
   
Made in us
Ultramarine Scout with Sniper Rifle





Ohio, USA

I've found that Citadel paints work well with the Vallejo products. I've moved though to Citadel's air line and have found that they work well too and require less (but still some) thinning.

While they're not thinned enough to go right into an airbrush, they are thinned enough that you can paint right out of the pot.

2015:
2/0/2
2018:
5/1/2 
   
Made in gb
Longtime Dakkanaut





Essex, UK

Hey Grep, as most above have said, GW paints work well when thinned down to a 'milky' consistency (i use vallejo airbrush thinner personally). As to an airbrush, i would recommend a cheap ebay/amazon airbrush to start off with, then look at a higher quality one later down the line one you have learnt the basics. As to a compressor, have you thought about going down to your local hardware/tool store and looking for one there? I use 24 litre compressor and find the airflow to be more consistent than the smaller ones often sold for airbrushing.
   
Made in cz
Fresh-Faced New User





Yeah. I checked, but they don't have any. So probably going to buy it from net. I thought 3l are enough... Quess not. Going to buy it online, but worst thing is, that I cannot find anywhere what size is the air connector (I dont know how to translate it better ).... If it's 1/8, 1/4 and so on....
   
Made in gb
Longtime Dakkanaut





Essex, UK

Its not that 3ltr isn't enough, I've just found that the extra over head means the compressor doesn't have to run too much and provides consistent and smooth airflow/pressure. Nothing worse than the compressor kicking in when you working on a detail and blasting the mini.

As to the connections, i don't remember the size etc off hand, but it want hard to find the bits needed.
   
Made in gb
Dakka Veteran





United Kingdom

 Modock wrote:
I don't wanna sound condesending but GW airbrush paints are pretty stupid. Why would anyone use pots for airbrush over let's say
Vallejo Model Air is beyond me.



Vallejo's airbrush paints are definitely better, but I guess the idea of the GW ones would be if you have painted some of an army and want to use paints that look the same, but start basecoating with an airbrush or something. At least that's why I bought a pot of Caliban Green Citadel Air. The only problem is that the GW paint was so bad (somehow it was both too thick and too thin at the same time) that I immediately switched to using the standard Caliban Green and thinning it to my own preference. I'm not one of those guys who's down on Citadel paints btw, I actually think they're fantastic, as are Vallejo as well.

The upshot of this that is relevant to the OP is that yes, Citadel Paints are perfectly usable with an airbrush. Get some Vallejo Thinner and Flow Improver, and experiment until you find the right consistency.
   
Made in gb
Stealthy Grot Snipa






UK

I don't know gak about airbrushes, but I'm looking to get one - seems like they're what I want to get to the next level.. so subbed to see where this goes..

(Sorry I can't help OP)

Skinflint Games- war gaming in the age of austerity

https://skinflintgames.wordpress.com/

 
   
Made in cz
Fresh-Faced New User





 Hits_the_spot wrote:
Its not that 3ltr isn't enough, I've just found that the extra over head means the compressor doesn't have to run too much and provides consistent and smooth airflow/pressure. Nothing worse than the compressor kicking in when you working on a detail and blasting the mini.

As to the connections, i don't remember the size etc off hand, but it want hard to find the bits needed.


Unfortunately.... I cannot find any adapters..... So I will probably stick with the "airbrush" compressors.
   
Made in us
Longtime Dakkanaut





One thing to remember with regular shop compressors is that they’re LOUD. I use mine in my office so I’ll be sticking with quiet airbrush compressors, myself.

The tank is a good suggestion, though. I wish I had just paid the extra $30 for one with a tank from the start.

As far as citadel paints for airbrush use, I have used a couple of their regular paints with no problem once properly thinned.
   
Made in cz
Fresh-Faced New User





I think I have decided...... I'm going to buy Fengda as-186 compressor (should have also moisture filter, manometer and so on.... also it has a 3l tank). And then some pipe...... and at final I think I will go for harder & Steenback ultra airbrush pistol. Is 0.2 optimal or it is better to go for 0.3 ?
   
Made in cz
Fresh-Faced New User





Bought it. Tried it. Satisfied. I made some mess when started airbrushing, but quickly figured it out. Here are some primed spare parts.
[Thumb - 20180922_164041.jpg]

   
 
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