Vallejo - Airbrush Thinner for Acrylic Paints 200 ml (6.76 fl.oz.) Review (2026)

What this thinner is formulated to do

This is Vallejo's Airbrush Thinner, product code 71161, sold in a 200ml (6.76 fl.oz.) bottle and formulated specifically to extend Vallejo acrylics, increase fluidity, and delay drying time compared with using plain water. Vallejo states it dilutes color without loss of adhesion, resistance, or overall paint consistency, which is the core problem a dedicated thinner solves versus water alone, since water can thin a paint's body without addressing how the acrylic binder behaves once sprayed. The bottle is made from recyclable r-PET plastic and the formula is described as odorless, high-purity acrylic solution.

Compatibility across Vallejo lines

Vallejo lists this thinner as compatible with its Model Color, Game Color, Model Air, and Artist paint ranges, which covers both brush-focused acrylics and the pre-thinned Model Air line. That broad compatibility means a single bottle can serve a painter who brush paints with Model Color and also airbrushes with Model Air, rather than needing a separate thinner for each paint line. Results with other brands' acrylics are not something Vallejo specifically documents, so painters mixing brands should expect to test compatibility rather than assume the same behavior. That range means a painter does not need to stock a different thinner for every Vallejo paint line they use, simplifying the airbrush station down to fewer bottles on the shelf.

Why a dedicated thinner over water

The stated benefit of using this thinner instead of water is smoother flow through an airbrush with reduced tip dry, the buildup of dried paint at the airbrush tip that interrupts spraying and causes speckling. Because the thinner is formulated to work with the acrylic binder rather than just diluting pigment concentration, it is intended to keep coverage and color intensity consistent even as viscosity drops, which plain water does not reliably do. For painters who airbrush regularly, that consistency reduces both clogging frustration and the guesswork of remixing paint mid-session.

Getting the ratio right

Even with a dedicated thinner formulated for the job, overthinning any acrylic paint still causes running or pooling on a miniature's surface, so a painter needs to test thinning ratios on scrap or a hidden area before committing to a full model. The right ratio also varies somewhat by which Vallejo paint is being thinned and by the specific airbrush and pressure setup in use, so there is no single universal ratio that works for every combination. This is less a flaw in the thinner itself than a normal part of learning any airbrush workflow, and the 200ml size gives enough volume to practice without running out quickly. Keeping notes on what ratio worked for a given paint and pressure setting saves that guesswork the next time the same color comes back into rotation.

Bottom line

For painters already using Vallejo acrylics who want smoother airbrush spraying and less tip dry than plain water provides, this thinner is a straightforward, purpose-built product that covers Model Color, Game Color, Model Air, and Artist ranges in one bottle. It will not eliminate the need to test thinning ratios for a specific paint and airbrush combination, and its documented compatibility is specific to Vallejo's own paint lines. At 200ml, it is sized for painters who thin paint regularly rather than only occasionally, offering good value per session over smaller thinner bottles.

Frequently asked questions