I could of course just try this and see for myself, but thought I would ask the assembled experts!!
I have some half used bottles of Badger Modelflex paints that dried out during my summmer sojorn from the hobby. Can these be rehydrated with water to make them at least usable for brush paint weathering?
To start the discussion, how dry is dry?? If they are hard, probably just throw them away. I do not use Modelflex, so if it is like sludge or goo, someone else will have to answer.
I’m not a paint expert, but I think that a chemical reaction or some such thing occurrs when a paint like that dries. That’s why you can’t just go back and wash it off. Probably the best way to get an accurate answer would be to ask the folks at Badger: http://www.badger-airbrush.com/contact.htm
Steve
Badger ModelFlex Acrylic paint is water based, so yes, you can re-hydrate it with plain water provided it is not so old and settled that all of the pigment has hardened on the bottom of the jar.
Sometimes it requires so much stirring to reconstitute the paint to a usable state that I just throw it away and buy new.
Simon,
Never, ever, ever try to reconstitute acrylic paints. Once they begin to set up, you will never be able to regain the smooth fine-pigment finish and run the risk of little specks and clumps in the finish.
With acrylics, it is always best to paint from a pallette or small tile rather than from the open jar. use an eye dropper to transfer some paint to a mixing tray, pallette, or tile, thin it some, and then use it. if it starts to thicken, use a litle more water to thin, or better yet, just add some more paint, thin, and have at it.
Your very best bet is to use paints that come with dropper tops, like craft paints. With these, you will have a MUCH longer shelf life, and far less wastage, as you don’t expose the paint to air inside the container, and only use what you squeeze or drip out. I use craft-type paint extensively for terrain and such, but for models, buildings, and airbrushing, the very best out there is Vallejo:
http://www.acrylicosvallejo.com/
These are amazingly fine-pigmented acrylic paints, and come in an amazing array of colors. Although not specifically railroad colors, there are some very close matches, and they are very easy to custom mix if you wish. I simply cannot reccomend them enough as I have gone to them exclusively for all my fine painting needs, in fact, for anything other than terrain.
Vallejo paints may be ordered online or through many hobby stores carrying plastic model kits and wargame figu
Thanks for the suggestions. I think you confirmed what I really know all along in that the trash is the best place for these.
Gwedd, thanks to you in particular for the heads up on the Vallejo paints. They look really interesting. I think I might give them a try.
So far I’ve had very good results with ModelFlex. The trick with them is not to allow any air to seep into the bottles which is why it’s important that the caps and jar tops be kept very clean. A tiny amount of crud is all it takes to dry out various brands of acrylics, not just Model Flex.
Model Flex that is “starting to dry up” can be reconstituded with “DISTILLED WATER”. If it is as hard as toothpaste, then toss it out.