🔧 Scale Model Building Tips

Vallejo Model Air is designed for airbrushing straight from the bottle, but adding a few drops of Vallejo Airbrush Thinner improves atomization. For a 20% thinning, mix 4 parts Model Air with 1 part thinner. Add 2-3 drops of Vallejo Flow Improver per 10 drops of thinned paint for finer setups. Spray at 1.5-2.0 bar pressure.

Before painting, lightly sand and clean your model. Apply a primer coat with Tamiya Fine Surface Primer using an Iwata Eclipse HP-CS airbrush and 0.3mm needle at 15-20 psi. Let it dry for 24 hours. Apply two thin coats of Tamiya Acrylic paint (e.g., Sky Grey), thinning with Tamiya Acrylic Thinner at a 1:1 ratio. Airbrush at 18-25 psi.

Use Mr. Hobby Masking Tapes for precise camouflage patterns. Measure and mark your pattern on the model, then apply tape along the lines. Burnish edges with a bone folder or skewer to prevent paint bleeding. Airbrush upper colors, let dry, then carefully remove tape before lower colors to avoid paint removal.

AK Interactive Washes can be applied using the wet method for a more controlled effect. Shake the bottle well, then place a few drops on a palette. Dilute with AK Interactive Thinner at a 1:1 ratio. Using a soft brush (e.g., Winsor & Newton Series 7), gently stroke the wash onto the model, working it into panel lines and details. Let dry naturally.

AMMO by Mig Jimenez Chipping Colors allow you to replicate chipped paint effectively. Apply the desired color as a base coat. Once dry, lightly dab the sponge (e.g., makeup sponge) in the chipping color, then gently pat the model's edges and areas prone to wear. Let dry, then carefully remove excess using a damp cloth or cotton swab.