As a beginner, I am still learning the tips and tricks of using acrylic paints, primers, thinners, washes, pigments etc. as part of my weathering journey. I created this weathering cheatsheet to help me and hopefully you too. As always, test first before applying to your models as the results could be different from mine due to the climate condition, room environment as well as skills and experience of using airbrush and other devices.

Note: Some use drops, other use parts to measure the quantity of paint, primer, water etc. I use parts so that when I prepare a large quantity solution for example a 100ml thinner, I can measure 70ml flow improver and 30ml thinner or 30ml isopropyl alcohol 99% and 70ml distilled water. Replace the word “parts” with your measurement of choice.

Vallejo Surface Primers

Scale modellers recommend always, always, ALWAYS prime your models before paint! I use Vallejo Surface Primers.

• Surface Primer: Use undiluted or dilute with 1 part Vallejo Airbrush Thinner (art. no. 71.261) and 3 parts primer.

The recommended compressor pressure between 15-20 PSI / 1.03-1.38 Bar / 1.05-1.40 kgs and 5-minute interval between applications. Complete dry period is 12 hours.

Difference between primed (left) and non-primed (right) test spoons. With fingernails I could easily remove the paint off unprimed spoon. With harder scratch material, you find scratches on primed spoon but removed paint on unprimed.

Vallejo Model Air and Model Color Acrylic Paints

Based on Vallejo’s recommendations (see their respective brochures) and from expert scale modellers:

• Model Air: Use undiluted (Model Air is airbrush-ready) or dilute with 1 part Vallejo Airbrush Thinner (art. no. 71.261) and 3 parts paint.
• Model Color: Dilute with water to required consistency or dilute with with 1 part Vallejo Airbrush Thinner (art. no. 71.261) and 1 part paint i.e. 50/50.

The recommended compressor pressure between 10-15 PSI / 0.75-1.10 Bar / 0.5-1 kgs and 5-minute interval between applications. When applying Airbrush Flow Improver (art. no. 71.462) add 2 parts flow improver to every 10 parts paints in airbrush cup.

AK Interactive 3rd Gen Acrylic Paints

I started off with Vallejo Model Color/Model Air acrylic paints based on recommendations from YouTubers that I followed. At present, I only have 3 AK Interactive 3rd Gen paints.

• AK 3rd Gen: these paints are pretty thick (similar to Vallejo Model Color) so I diluted them with 1 part thinner for every 1 part paint.

The recommended compressor pressure is 18 PSI / 1.24 Bar / 1.27 kgs.

Vallejo Airbrush Flow Improver & Thinner

I found a good experience using Vallejo Airbrush Flow Improver (art. no. 71.462) with Airbrush Thinner (art. no. 71.261) that I made a solution of 7 parts Flow Improver and 3 parts Thinner i.e. 70/30. You can also use the thinner and flow improver as per recommendations above.