Special FX | Vallejo

Special FX | Vallejo: realistic rust, blood, frost and corrosion

The Special FX Vallejo range adds organic and ageing effects to your miniatures and dioramas. They are ready-to-use acrylics in 18 ml dropper bottles, designed to be worked with a brush for full control of detail.

What effects are included

• Organic: Fresh Blood, Frost, Vomit, Bile.
• Ageing: Rust, Green Rust, Corrosion and Galvanic Corrosion, Moss and Lichen, Acid.

How to fit them into your workflow

• Prepare the surface with primer in thin coats to improve adhesion and evenness.
• Apply Special FX with a brush in controlled layers. For liquid effects (blood, bile), work with glazes and spattering.
• Build up volume and grime by combining with washes and inks.
• Protect and adjust the sheen with varnishes (matte/satin/gloss) when the effect calls for it.

Useful auxiliary products

Get the most out of application, finish and maintenance with auxiliary products and the Auxiliary Products | Vallejo subcategory:

• Thinner and flow improver for smooth coats and controlled drip effects.
• Airbrush and brush cleaners; hair restorer to extend the life of your brushes.
• Pigment fixer if you combine with Pigment FX.

Recommended accessories

• Fine brushes for controlled outlining and spattering.
• Masking tape if you want to define stains or frost.
• Sandpaper and putties to prepare a good surface.
• Airbrushing accessories (if you're applying filters or glazes over the effects).
• See all accessories.

Combine them for maximum realism

• Terrain and water with Diorama FX (mud, sand, water gels), then tone with Special FX.
• Stains, splatters and oil streaks with Weathering FX to tie everything together.
• Dust and crusts with Pigment FX and fixer applied by capillary action.

Quick steps

1. Prime the piece: see primers.
2. Paint the base colour and varnish if you need to seal layers.
3. Apply Special FX (blood, rust, frost, etc.) in thin coats or by spattering.
4. Tie it together with washes/inks and finish with varnish depending on the finish you're after.

Frequently asked questions

Are they applied with a brush or an airbrush? They are formulated for brush use. You can glaze over them with an airbrush (use a suitable thinner/cleaner). Do they leave a glossy or matte finish? It depends on the effect (blood, for instance, usually looks better with gloss). Adjust at the end with varnish. Which other ranges do they combine well with? With Weathering FX, Pigment FX and Diorama FX for a coherent result.