Whether you use VColor or Gunnzo's paint (which is actually made at Irizawa or VColor's factory so it basically the same paint but wider color choices), you should thoroughly clean your airbrush. I have a single serving sake cup like the ones pictured below (yes, I really use a Medama Oyaji cup. It is about 180ml and pretty good sake so don't slam it or throw it out. Drink it properly). I fill it about half way or less with acetone and take apart my airbrush and drop the whole thing in the cup. You DO NOT want the rubber parts in the acetone otherwise it will just eat away the rubber. Anyway, I will dunk the airbrush in the cup, swirl the cup around or stir the acetone with the airbrush making sure the cup of the airbrush has acetone in it so it will loosen and paint in the airbrush. I'll basically do what I can to push any paint out then let it sit for a few minutes. Afterwards, I'll put it all back together, let the paint settle in the cup and then pour some of the acetone into the cup of the airbrush and shoot it out. I'll do this till it shoots a clean stream then just let the leftover acetone evaporate from the cup (rather than pour it down the drain). My PSI is pretty low when I paint (like 10-15psi...I think that's pretty low). Someone asked about thinner for VColor. The substitute is CS Coatings' Vinyl Thinner which you can find in store that sell vinyl paint for fishing lures. It acts very similar to VColor thinner (don't bother with the fishing lure paints for your soft vinyl). Additives: I wouldn't use them. If I want to spray metallic paint, I would just mix a color with silver or gold. I've never used gid pigments but have used gid paint to coat the insides of a clear toy. It doesn't stick very well. If you want to use pearls or something along that type of color, go Monster Kolor. They're great, but I am not a fan of it.
Acetone is my thinner, cleaning agent, and base for all the paint I've been spraying, mind you it's acrylic secret recipe. Acetone is my best friend. I've got some vinyl coming in and I want to do it right. I'd hate to give up my pearls and metal flakes. I'm going too see if I can find a happy medium. The possibilities are just too great for me not too try. <3
Acetone is your thinner of choice but make sure you use vinyl thinner for those vinyl paints. purchase a can of it from Gunnzo. Edit: you can add pearl flakes to paints, you know.
I have been Using some really great pearls I picked up, and they're looking really great. Now I just need to wait for paint to come in. What PSI are y'all running? I think I'm going to go down too 25.
It depends partially on the airbrush I'm using. Shoot, I'm in Germany on a trip and can't remember off the top of my head... when I get back to SF next week I'll look and report.
It was defiantly not what i expected. i thought would go on clear, but its gross and chalky. I was hoping it would be similar to clear, but no. Not like primer ether. I couldn't get any vcolor i wanted, but I got some vinyl paint from Thailand in the mail today.
How are you artists storing your paints? Any tips & tricks on prolonging the life quality of the paints? I was thinking about making a rack for my bottles. Rich’s 50/50 mix ratio is spot on. I’ve also been putting 2 ball bearings or marbles in the vial bottles; to help mix up the paint, after it sets for a long time. I been using that methel ketone acetone, but it isn’t as good as the CS vinyl thinner.
MKA would eat away at the vinyl of the figure. Edit: Store the paint in either glass or PET bottles, keep it in a dark and cool space.
is their a new source for vcolor or is gunnzo the only place in usa. gunnzo stock hasnt been updated in a while for vcolor or mad ape ninja
Check THIS shit out! Japanese company just showed off the final prototype of a laser pointer that you put on your airbrush so you can get precision pinpointing. https://twitter.com/model_babette/status/993853202490523652
Have any of y'all tried the CS coatings CLEAR vinyl finish? Im looking to make some pearls for the homies,
It's now available to order in 3 configurations apparently, with around a one-month period to actually produce your order. I'm mostly sure you'd have to use a forwarding service, but you can ask if they can send it directly to the US or not. Check out the website: https://pachelbel.jp/model_babette/airbrushpointer_top.html
Anyone have a good source for purchasing the Vinyl Thinner? I'd love to find it in a quart if possible.
thanks I just ordered mad ape ninja stuff from gunnzo, figured it was the path of least resistance rather than trying to source vcolor.
Got a bunch of Mad Ape from Gunnzo, had great results so far. Two questions for any more experienced painters: Does clear coat also need to be thinned? I've been thinning the paints with the thinner Gunnzo sells and was wondering if it's the same deal for the clear coat. Any tips for keeping paint from drying out while doing brush work?
Yes think it the same, actually more. And the spray it on in layers, don’t lay it on thick. And no there is no way to really slow drying down. You can buy the retarder, but I’ve never really liked it. For brush work use something like mr color, and think that out. It will dry a hair slower and it’s pretty strong. I use it a lot for my brush work.
Thanks, Rich! I really appreciate the insight. I've used Mr. Color surfacer before and liked it so I'll definitely try and get some of their paint too.