Airbrush Flow Improver

Vallejo Airbrush Flow Improver — a flow enhancer (32 ml)

Airbrush Flow Improver from Vallejo is a clear auxiliary liquid for acrylic paints. It is not a paint (it has no pigment or covering power), and it is not a conventional thinner either. The manufacturer describes it as a medium that improves paint flow and slows its drying on the airbrush needle. This solves the most common frustration when spraying: the paint dries right on the needle tip and in the nozzle, the spray starts to sputter, fan out to the side, or stop completely — typically right in the middle of a job.

Use

• Add a few drops directly to the paint in the airbrush cup (the manufacturer states roughly a few drops per about ten drops of paint) and mix.
• Suitable for Vallejo acrylic paints; the manufacturer states compatibility with the Model Air, Game Air, and Metal Color airbrush lines.
• Used for long spray sessions, fine gradients, and spraying through a fine nozzle, where drying on the needle is most noticeable.
• Can be combined with Airbrush Thinner — first adjust the consistency with the thinner, then add the flow improver.
• Do not overdo the dosage: too high a proportion of the medium will extend the paint's drying time more than necessary.

How it differs from a thinner — read this before you buy

This is the most common mix-up in this product category. Airbrush Thinner thins the paint — it lowers its viscosity so it can pass through the nozzle, but this also reduces coverage and color saturation. Flow Improver, on the other hand, is explicitly described by the manufacturer as a product that is not meant to turn brush paints into sprayable ones. It is not meant to lighten or make the paint more transparent — it is meant to improve flow and delay drying, so the paint stays liquid inside the airbrush and does not clog the nozzle, while coverage remains essentially unchanged. A simple rule of thumb: thick paint will not pass through the nozzle → thinner. The nozzle keeps drying and the spray sputters during work → flow improver. An experienced modeler keeps both in the workshop and uses them side by side.

Who it is for

For modelers who spray acrylics with an airbrush and struggle with a clogging nozzle, an intermittent spray, or an uneven finish. Figure painters and anyone doing long, smooth gradients and fine shade modulation will appreciate it most.

A water-based acrylic product. Spray in a ventilated space with respiratory protection, and keep out of reach of children. Follow the manufacturer's instructions and safety data on the package.