Texan76 Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 Just tested out my new Vallejo Metal Color and wish to share the results. Started with a piece of spare plastic that is sanded to a smooth finish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texan76 Posted January 5, 2016 Author Share Posted January 5, 2016 These are the test items. Vallejo Gloss Black Primer, Vallejo Metal Color Aluminum, and Alclad Aluminum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texan76 Posted January 5, 2016 Author Share Posted January 5, 2016 (edited) To compare the shades equally, I will use only the Black Primer for both paints. I have to admit, I am not very good at painting gloss, so it came out a wee bit grainy. Here are both paints applied. Can you guess which is the Vallejo and which is the Alclad? The Vallejo is on the left, Alclad on the right. The panel line separates the paints. Edited January 5, 2016 by Texan76 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snapper_city Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 Alclad on the left. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texan76 Posted January 5, 2016 Author Share Posted January 5, 2016 Finally, I applied the Vallejo Metal Color Varnish. It did not appear to alter the shades much. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texan76 Posted January 5, 2016 Author Share Posted January 5, 2016 In conclusion, I was very surprised. To me, the Vallejo looks better. Plus, there is no smell! I think I might be making the switch. The Vallejo laid down very nice. I sprayed at 10 psi just like I would with Alclad. Sprayed beautifully. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kev67 Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 Very interesting as I can't use Alclad in my house, to smelly and would rather keep on the good side of the misses, so might try some of this stuff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texan76 Posted January 5, 2016 Author Share Posted January 5, 2016 Alclad on the left. I figured it would fool some people, I couldn't believe it myself. The Vallejo is the shade on the left, Alclad on the right. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texan76 Posted January 5, 2016 Author Share Posted January 5, 2016 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taggart Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 Very interesting test , have you tried masking over the Vallejo yet ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Neu- Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 (edited) To compare the shades equally, I will use only the Black Primer for both paints. I have to admit, I am not very good at painting gloss, so it came out a wee bit grainy. Here are both paints applied. Can you guess which is the Vallejo and which is the Alclad? The Vallejo is on the left, Alclad on the right. The panel line separates the paints. Well, that's not too surprising: Alclad Aluminum is intended to give that ever so slightly grainy surface. If you want to make a fair comparison, you would use Alclad Polished Aluminum or Stainless Steel... they give a more mirror-like sheen if applied properly. I think the one below is Stainless Steel, with white aluminum highlights on the wing control surfaces. Edited January 5, 2016 by -Neu- 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texan76 Posted January 5, 2016 Author Share Posted January 5, 2016 Very interesting test , have you tried masking over the Vallejo yet ? The primer instructions state to not mask until after curing 12 hours. I did not want to wait that long, so I pulled out the hair dryer. Then I took the Tamiya masking tape and reduced the tackiness by putting it on my hand. I applied it to the panel line over the already applied Vallejo Metal Color to demarcate the two shades when I applied the Alclad. When I finished, it pulled up with no visible paint on the tape. I think there is another thread on here where someone tested the durability of the paint. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun Posted January 8, 2016 Share Posted January 8, 2016 Looks good stuff. What are the best shades for aircraft exhausts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texan76 Posted January 9, 2016 Author Share Posted January 9, 2016 I do not have them, but they have several shades that would be suitable. Jet exhaust, burnt iron, etc. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
little-cars Posted January 9, 2016 Share Posted January 9, 2016 Looks like they are going to be a great option for modellers without an extractor and/or who model in the house. Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heloman1 Posted January 22, 2016 Share Posted January 22, 2016 (edited) So guys, I'm coming over to the UK late July. Where can I get the Vallejo range, please? Colin OK, got it, Little-Cars. Edited January 22, 2016 by heloman1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MajorClanger Posted January 24, 2016 Share Posted January 24, 2016 Some model shops in the UK have them - Ian Allen books and models in Birmingham (next to New Street station) had them in stock the other day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin Posted January 24, 2016 Share Posted January 24, 2016 Looks like they are going to be a great option for modellers without an extractor and/or who model in the house. Paul They may be acrylic but I'd still be wary about breathing in the fine metal particles in these, the person doing the spraying or others. Best to use a extractor for any airbrushing imho, just because they don't smell doesn't mean their ok to breath in Not being all H&S about them Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
little-cars Posted January 24, 2016 Share Posted January 24, 2016 So guys, I'm coming over to the UK late July. Where can I get the Vallejo range, please? Colin OK, got it, Little-Cars. Yep, here: http://www.modellingtools.co.uk/vallejo-metal-color-276-c.asp And we do a reasonably priced face mask to catch the overspray: http://www.modellingtools.co.uk/face-mask-with-replaceable-cartridge-filter-12689-p.asp. Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted January 24, 2016 Share Posted January 24, 2016 Very interesting test , have you tried masking over the Vallejo yet ? I've masked over it using a different primer, and it stuck well. I still need to use their own primer to see how it goes In conclusion, I was very surprised. To me, the Vallejo looks better. Plus, there is no smell! I think I might be making the switch. The Vallejo laid down very nice. I sprayed at 10 psi just like I would with Alclad. Sprayed beautifully. I have reached the same conclusion. The caveat of breathing any fumes/particles of paint holds true, but they have to be safer than any lacquer paints, surely? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Housesparrow Posted January 24, 2016 Share Posted January 24, 2016 The image showing the surface painted with surface primer obviously has uneven lighting, which is unfortunate if that also ends up affecting the lighting for the other images I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texan76 Posted January 25, 2016 Author Share Posted January 25, 2016 Here is Vallejo Metal Color used in my Mig-15 build. The main shade is aluminum, with the darker panels duraluminum. I used grey Badger primer. I've tried the gloss black metal color primer, but I can't seem to get it to lay down smooth like the Badger primer. I've tried thinning and lower air pressure, but it still comes out grainy. I must be doing something wrong. The Badger primer seems to work good though. The image showing the surface painted with surface primer obviously has uneven lighting, which is unfortunate if that also ends up affecting the lighting for the other images I think. All I have for taking pics is my iPad. Unfortunately, it doesn't take very good pics in regards to the lighting. It looks much better in person. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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