Vallejo drying too fast

[rob_van_riel]

I know there's quite a few Vallejo fans out here, so maybe someone can help...

I'm trying to switch to Vallejo acrylics for hairy stick work. This is fine for (relatively) large areas, but I run into trouble with fine detail work. The problem is roughly like this: I squirt out some paint from the bottle, I get a very small amount of the paint onto my brush, I wiggle my target and brush into the correct positions (remember, this is finnicky detail work), run the brush along the target, and nothing happens. The paint on the brush has dried in the 20 or so seconds it took me to get from the puddle to the actual painting. I tried adding some water, but there seems to be no middle ground between 'dries on the brush' and 'runny'.

Does anyone here know how to keep minute amounts of Vallejo paint on a brush useable for up to half a minute?

[fredk]

Try adding artists 'flow enhancer'. It slows drying down so that the paint can flow, thus eliminating brush strokes, but the slowing of the drying should help in your case.
I've not added any to V but all my other acrylics get it as soon as a pot is opened.

[Ratch]

You might try adding a little Vallejo Model Air 70597 Retarder Medium
I've also heard of a wet pallet method, but not used it myself

[Kitaholic]

Been using Vallejo acrylics for a while now and all I add is water. About 25-40% and it brushes brilliantly. I use an oral syringe to measure out the paint and water and mix it in old paint jars I have washed out and keep for my mixes.

[rob_van_riel]

Been using Vallejo acrylics for a while now and all I add is water. About 25-40% and it brushes brilliantly. I use an oral syringe to measure out the paint and water and mix it in old paint jars I have washed out and keep for my mixes.

Sounds like you're working completely differently from me. The scenario (for fine detail work) on this end is to squeeze out the smallest possible amount from the bottle. With that minute an amount, and unmeasured at that, there's no way to accurately mix in something else. (might explain my mixing problem)
It sounds like you've got a whole battery of pre-thinned paints sitting in replacement jars somewhere..

[rob_van_riel]

Try adding artists 'flow enhancer'. It slows drying down so that the paint can flow, thus eliminating brush strokes, but the slowing of the drying should help in your case.

You might try adding a little Vallejo Model Air 70597 Retarder Medium

I'll try these sometime, if only out of curiosity, but it sounds to me like 'not fit for purpose as sold', and I can't say I'm overly enthousistic about adding more compounds to the collection just to get the paint to work.
Every time I touch acrylics, I like enamels better than before

[Ratch]

I do a lot of detail painting with Vallejo Model Color and I've not had this drying on the brush problem
I suggested the retarder as this helps to stop the paint drying and clogging the airbrush - it may solve your problem - not that I've experienced it myself

[fredk]

I use Vallejo for details on figures and I've not had this problem either. I can do several figures before reloading the brush and it still won't have dried on the bush.
Is your ambient temperature high with low humidity?

[rob_van_riel]

Is your ambient temperature high with low humidity?

In The Netherlands? You must be joking...
About 21 Celcius and 50-60 percent humidity.

Given your reports of similar work without encountering the issue, I'll have to retest to get better or confirmed data.

Another variable that might be of influence is brush size. What do you folks use for this kind of work?

[fredk]

I use any size from 10/0 to 1 for detail work. Mostly it would be 3/0 or 5/0

[Ratch]

My weapons of choice are these Humbrol Detail Brushes AG4301

Fine brushes with synthetic bristles in sizes 00, 0, 1 & 2 RRP £12.99


These brushes have sculpted handles and protective sheaths. They are excellent for fine detail work and worth the higher price