"Vallejo - is me or them?" Topic

I've used Vallejo for some time but recently I've been having problems.

Some that won't matt off, others that come out of the jar were the color and the medium have separated and metallic that goes on black and not gunmetal for example so again appears to have separated.

Any suggestions on how to get the paint to remix in the bottle without your arm dropping off?

Buy some stainless steel ball bearings and put 2 or three in each bottle. It will make shaking more effective and quicker.

AK – I have these
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Green stuff world
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MIG
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Yes, you have to shake them really well and sometimes that doesn't help. I've had certain colors with multiple bottles that aren't flat.

That's been happening to me for 5 years or more. Some are fixed with a good shake, others just don't seem to have had the right medium in them as they always dry glossy.

I use BB's and that helps a good deal but won't fix all problems. It does seem to be getting worse.

It is not you.

I experienced Vallejo colours that would not dry matt even after vanishing.

Fear not a simple solution, and an explanation, is at hand – link

PS shaking is not the solution.

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Martin

Which kind of Vallejo are we discussing? Model color or Game color? I've found that if mixed properly as stated above then Model color dries matte. Game color on the other hand is hit and miss. No mixing will help.

I like Martin's "solution". I use that and one other that seems to help the paint "matte out". That's Liquitex Ultra Matte Medium. Not their regular matte medium, (doesn't seem to help). I've been pleased with the ultra.

Old paint brushes make great stirrers! (So do old painters~ ).

Cut down to finger length and use the excess paint as your palette- no need to waste a drop.

In my work I apply a few drops of IPA (90%) to help 'soften' any drying paint and remix with media. Same, a few drops of warm water. Since i don't use 'straight' colours much, any shade variation is welcome- or recovered if bad enough it shows.
FWIW regards dave

Maybe you should use a different brand of paint.

I've used Vallejo model colour for many, many years and have only had one bottle, a dark red, that had this problem. I do add ball bearings and shake them a lot especially with a newish bottle. I also tend to rotate them in storage so sometimes they are upside down.

If you are varnishing your figures does it matter that much that some don't dry matt?

I originally switched to Vallejo Model Colour years ago because I liked the way it flowed and because it didn't dry out in the jar like other brands.

I've used it a lot on Civil War units with no issues at all. Now this may be because I painted a lot of 28mm stuff on this project so the paint was in regular use or may be a change in production somewhere but it's since I shifted to 28mm WW2 for Chain of Command these issues seem to have arisen.

One of my friends has mentioned that, like Timmo, when he has a project underway and has the same bottles in use over a period, he also stores those ones upside down.

Sounds like one thing I might try along with a stir, or nine! That worked with the Gunmetal. The pigment in that was like cement!

I can't use Vallejo as it never seems to dry matte (at least for me). The best I ever achieved was a satin finish, and with the Game Color range, the finish actually glossed. No amount of shaking and stirring ever seemed to help.

I now use Reaper, and have always obtained a nice matte finish. The only Vallejo paints I use are metallics, which are some of the best on the market.

Best way to mix separated Vallejo paints is to duct tape the bottle to the blade of a reciprocating saw and let er rip for about 10 seconds. Make sure the cap is on tight thought.

There are several very nice jigs out there are attached to the saw blade and either use screws or springs to hold the paint bottle but I find the tape works just fine as long as you're not too attached to the paint label.

Yeah I learned to write the color number on the bottom of the paint in permanent pen…

That is simply genius, get the jigsaw to do the work for you….….that I really will try. Must keep my fingers away mind you

Thanks for raising this mate. Have struggled with glossy and unmixed Vallejo paints for years now and couldn't understand the hype – so glad its not just me!

FWIW guys, since starting this thread I have been experimenting with storing the bottles upside down and this does seem to make a difference.

It may be the weight of the pigment forces itself off the bottom under gravity but it does mix better and I've found some paints ready to use as a result.

Only thing I would advise is caution opening the bottle after a period of inversion, it can lead to paint coming up the nozzle under pressure when you take the cap off.
Not like a soda fountain but it can just flow on its own. Maybe a shake or a short period upright before use could cure this.

I use a nail polish mixing agitator. They are available for cheap on Amazon, or your local beauty shop. They fit Vallejo bottles well.
Check the lid, don't learn the hard way!

Nice tip Dominick. Is it possible to give a link to the one you use just to get some of us started?