Once again, pardon for all the iPad Pro selfies, as I really need to get comfortable in front of the camera for my
new Youtube channel. At some point I will stop apologizing. LOL
Let's talk shop again!
This blog article is part of my
Vallejo Colors EXPLAINED series of posts.
I had a nice long chat with a long time Gunpla modeler friend, now a Vinyl sculptor and painter ( Wuji ) a few nights ago. And we talked a ton regarding Vallejo paints...
PAINTS
I paint and draw monsters and robots for a living. I paint acrylics on canvases, and draw inks and watercolors on paper.
I only use Vallejos ( except for a handful of Golden acrylic paints ). I only use quality paints on my paintings and illustrations. Canvas and paper are dirt cheap, but quality paints get expensive fast.
Models and toys are NOT cheap.
So quality paints are more important to me when it comes to painting Gunpla and action figures. I also like my paints non-toxic as I have 3 kids ( since 2007 ).
Paints are not cheap, they are actually investments. Start investing on quality paints.
WHY SO MANY VALLEJOS!
I have been using Vallejos since 2001 ( could be earlier ). I used to paint my Lord of the Rings action figure collection with Vallejo Model Color and Washes. I like my toys dirty and grimy like in the movies.
I have more than 500k php worth of Lord of the Rings toys. I almost painted ( weathered ) all of them. My 10 inch Sauron figure is the shiniest in the world. lol
They invest so much time and money in developing their paints. This crazy goal of trying to give us the best quality and performing paints for specific painting tasks, led to a wide range of colors!
I think Vallejo have the widest range of colors for painting, drawing, scale models ( hobby ), miniatures and now Gunpla and action figures.
Non-artists but are scale modelers have a good experience with lacquers and hobby acrylics. A handful like me, have experience with the art / painting range ( Vallejo Acrylic Studio ) as well.
Acrylics ( true water based acrylics ) for painting and for scale models are different from each other.
However, all water based acrylics ( even the more expensive brands ) have different consistency. I am not sure as I am not a scientist, but this varying viscosity / consistency or even opacity, depends on the pigments.
Experienced acrylic painters and scale modelers know their acrylics tho. Different colors are handled differently, different colors are thinned differently. Knowing and mastery of your medium is part of being a true "artist" anyways. I am not implying I am a great artist. I am just stating that I am an artist. :)
Knowing these individual color properties, both in painting on canvas and on scale models, will actually help you produce diverse results.
In time, learning how to paint acrylics is worth it. They are ( mostly ) non-toxic after all.
I will try to briefly explain all the different Vallejo colors that I have. I have a ton of Vallejo paints. I have the complete range of Vallejo Game Air, Vallejo Game Color, Vallejo Metal Colors, Color Shift, and Vallejo Mecha Colors.
I also have a lot of Model colors, Model Air colors, All the pigments, all the washes, inks, texture paints and all of the auxiliary paints. I think I have enough experience with all these paints. lol
VALLEJO MODEL COLOR
The Vallejo Model Color are made for scale models ( tanks, planes, ships and 1/35 figures ). They have the widest range of hobby colors ( Vallejo Air included ) on earth!
There are 210 ( I think ) Vallejo Model Color paints. They have also the most number of paint sets ( rust set, figure painting set and camo sets ). Since they were designed for army scale models, they have the widest range of browns, earth and grey colors. Also a crazy amount of greens.
VALLEJO MODEL AIR COLOR
The Vallejo Model Air is the airbrush color range / version of Vallejo Model Color. They have a total of 348 colors in this airbrush range.
Again a crazy amount of earth, grey and green colors. The pigments used for these paints are "atomically" smaller than Vallejo Model Colors. The paints in this range are also airbrush friendly. A few colors in the Model Color range are a bit toxic ( not as toxic as lacquers of course ).
Thus Vallejo does not recommend thinning and using the Model Colors for airbrush use. Both the Model Colors and Model Air Colors are the preferred paints of scale modelers like Chema Cabrero and others.
VALLEJO GAME COLOR
The Vallejo Game color were designed for table top miniatures. They can withstand the usual handling ( playing ) of these miniatures. I have around 40 of these paints.
There are a total of 207 colors in the Vallejo Game Color range. These are actually a bit more vibrant than the Model color paint range. Much like the Model Colors, Game Colors were designed for hand painting.
There are a ton of Game Color paint sets too. Some ( most ) were designed by Angel Giraldez.
Much like Vallejo Model Color, these Game Colors are not designed for airbrushing. A few are even mildly toxic for airbrushing. See Vallejo's official website for the list of mildly toxic colors.
VALLEJO GAME AIR COLOR
I have the complete Vallejo Game Air Color ( 76 ) and I love them. The colors are vibrant and the viscosity is actually great for hand painting. I still add a drop of medium ( usually matte medium ) and keep my paint brush wet ( distilled water ) during hand painting.
I used my Vallejo Game Air in airbrushing and hand painting my miniatures. I also used them for my Gunpla way back. Until I discovered Vallejo Premium.
The Vallejo game air are also sold in sets ( designed by Angel Giraldez ).
I still thin this with Vallejo thinner and V Flow when using them for airbrush. Usually 1:1:8 ratio of thinner, V Flow and paint. Lighter colors ( less opaque ) are thinned less. All the Vallejo Game Air Colors are safe for use with the airbrush.
VALLEJO METAL COLOR
I have the complete range of Vallejo Metal Colors ( 27 including the Metal Varnish and Black Primer ). These are awesome metallic paints that are also for airbrush. The pigments are so smooth. They are like real metal. This range needs more yellow / brown variant tho. They only have Copper and Gold.
The Vallejo Metal Colors were formulated with aluminum pigments in a water based formula. These metallic colors are the best water base metallic paints in the market in my humble opinion. I have yet to intensively try the metallic colors of the Vallejo Mecha Colors tho.
VALLEJO PREMIUM
This is my fave until the Vallejo Mecha Colors for Gunpla came out of the market. The Vallejo Premium paints come in bigger 60ml bottles. I have exactly 10 of these colors. I use them for Gunpla. These paints were formulated to adhere to any kinds of surface such as polyethylene, fiberglass, polycarbonate, metal and lexan.
I have primarily use this for metal miniatures ( primer ) and Gunpla. These are super strong polyurethane paints. I highly recommend a Vallejo Premium Urethane gloss varnish before any Vallejo Matte varnishes.
These paints are used for motorcycle helmets and surfboards.
VALLEJO MECHA COLOR
I think these are as strong or almost ( I am not sure ) as the Vallejo Premium Colors. Albeit Vallejo Mecha Color were formulated to withstand play and handling of model kits like Gunpla. I think these paints are also perfect for action figures.
We will know in time.
As I've said in my previous
Vallejo Explained posts, I will be exclusively using these Vallejo Mecha Color paints in all my future Gunpla builds and toy repaints.
LIQUID GOLD, TEXTURE PAINTS, WASHES, INKS, WEATHERING EFFECTS
I have the Liquid gold paints which are super smooth and metallic looking paints ( Gold, Silver and Bronze ). However they are alcohol based and you need a different set of paint brushes for these paints.
I have all the big texture paints and have been using them on all my diorama builds. I personally use palette knives and wooden sticks in applying them, as they easily ruin paint brushes. You need to let these paints for a good few hours ( or a day for the still water )before applying second coats.
The Weathering Effects paints are super Awesome, Some are gloss to mimic real life wet oil and such. Some are matte like the older washes. Much like the washes, these are easier to control than the inks. The super high pigments in the inks are a bit too bold for some weathering effects. I have a complete set of Washes and Inks. I only have a few Weathering effects paints.
The Vallejo Mecha Color set came with 11 Weathering Effects paints... and I am super excited to use them soon!
NAVY COLOR, AFV COLOR SERIES, AIR WAR COLOR SERIES and PANZER ACES
I only have a handful of these paints. They are similar ( I think ) to the Model Air Colors. However, I have little experience in using them, and I have yet to paint a model tank or plane. Chema Cabrero and other experience scale modeler masters should have all these paints and they use these extensively for all their builds ( envious me ).
THAT'S IT!
It's simple, you buy them all! Hahahaha
Seriously, buy the set depending on what you paint.
Or if you do Gunpla ( use Mecha Colors ), which is prone to a bit more wear and tear than miniatures and scale models, but you like the colors from the other series, I suggest you use Premium or Mecha Color Primers, then finish with Premium or Mecha Color Varnishes.
Again, let the paints cure for a week after the Urethane ( Premium ) or Mecha Color gloss varnish, then spray Mecha Color matte ( or satin varnish ), then let cure for another week before handling.
Personally I would recommend Mecha Colors and Premium Colors from Primer to varnish for Gunpla. I understand that the colors are limited as of now tho. Let's hope they expand the color choices soon. wink wink.
As always, thanks a ton for dropping by! Until next update guys!
Again, do not forget to subscribe to my
new Youtube channel. And join my humble journey in painting with Mecha Colors in my future Gunpla and Toy Repaints!
Thanks! Just enjoy the Hobby!
Cheers!
