thomatkinson Posted September 3, 2016 Share Posted September 3, 2016 Hi everyone, I was wondering if anyone had any advice about airbrushing with Vallejo Acrylic Satin Varnish? Although it's now supposedly pre-thinned for airbrush use, it seems very thick. When I airbrush with it straight from the bottle, it barely even sprays from the tip of the airbrush. The bottle suggests thinning with water if needed. More research led me to try thinning 50/50 with distilled water, but this gave an awful mottled/orange peel effect on the surface of my model and no amount of pressure changing or distance / speed alterations seemed to improve things. I think tried reducing the amount of water, with the idea that perhaps the water was drying out too quickly. I got much better results thinning about 75/25 water/thinner and other similar variations, but still not great and each either too thin or too thick. Can anyone suggest a better way? Or should I try a different product? Thanks for your help! Thom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Housesparrow Posted September 3, 2016 Share Posted September 3, 2016 I would use Vallejo Thinner for thinning. Ah.. so.. In order to get a SATIN finish, you probably want a perfect gloss coat beneath. Maybe the orange peel was there before using satin varnish? (what I think) For my submarine models, I am alway happy with the result (see my sig links), but I always have a nice gloss coat before adding a satin finish to remove the toy look of the gloss coat, making the model look more real (or "more realistic" I should say), by adding satin and/or matte varnish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Housesparrow Posted September 3, 2016 Share Posted September 3, 2016 Admittedly, I've always found creating a gloss coat problematic. Difficult to get it look great with Humbrol Clear. I should probably experiment more. I bought some other stuff, but haven't tried it yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Housesparrow Posted September 3, 2016 Share Posted September 3, 2016 When I spray on satin varnish, I try to spray on light coats with several passes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thomatkinson Posted September 5, 2016 Author Share Posted September 5, 2016 Thanks for the response! I am spraying over the top of a gloss coat and there is no orange peel effect on that gloss coat - it all looks good until I put on the satin. I also use light passes with the airbrush. So I'm thinking it must be to do with the thinning with water... So, I think I'll try using Vallejo thinner next as you suggest. Is there a particular thinner? If you have the time I'd really appreciate a link to the product you use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yeoman1942 Posted September 5, 2016 Share Posted September 5, 2016 I use Ultimate thinner and a couple of drops of W&N flow improver in all types of Vallejo varnish and it works a treat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Housesparrow Posted September 5, 2016 Share Posted September 5, 2016 It is called "Vallejo Airbrush Thinner" 60 ml. bottle = number 71.361 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thomatkinson Posted September 6, 2016 Author Share Posted September 6, 2016 Thanks both - that's a great help - I'll give it a try Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thomatkinson Posted September 6, 2016 Author Share Posted September 6, 2016 P.S. I forgot to ask - what ratio do you use to thin the varnish with the Vallejo Airbrush Thinner? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Housesparrow Posted September 6, 2016 Share Posted September 6, 2016 I don't have years of experience with this, but I guess about three drops of thinner, to ten drops of varnish. Unsure of the exact ratio I must admit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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