Comparison · Paints & Primers
Vallejo Model Color vs Model Air
Same brand, two viscosities — can one line do both jobs?
| Spec | Model Color | Model Air |
|---|---|---|
| Viscosity | Creamy — built for brush layering | Milk-thin — airbrush-ready from the dropper |
| To airbrush it | Thin ~1:1 with airbrush thinner | Spray as-is or with a few drops of thinner |
| To brush it | Excellent coverage and control | Workable for glazes; too thin for opaque brush coats |
| Pigment load | High — strong one-coat coverage thinned properly | Finely-ground pigment tuned for 0.2–0.4 mm nozzles |
| Range | 200+ colors, the classic matte rainbow | 100+ incl. camouflage and metallic sets |
| Price | ~$3.50–4.50 / 17 ml | ~$3.50–4.50 / 17 ml |
The verdict
They are the same acrylic chemistry ground to two different jobs. Model Color is the brush line — creamy, dense, beautiful through a Kolinsky — and it airbrushes fine once you thin it. Model Air is factory-thinned for the airbrush and sprays gorgeously at 18 PSI, but lacks the body for opaque brushwork.
If you own an airbrush and a thinner bottle, Model Color alone can genuinely do both — that is the one-line answer. Model Air earns its slot when you spray constantly and want zero mixing ritual.
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Sheet 09 · Bench Goods
