floquil paints

anyone tried this type of paint? my local hobby shop is closing down and they're the only ones that carry mr. color lacquers! :mad: so i'm stuck here. i typically like to airbrush my paints on so i'm in the need to look for bottled hobby lacquers. i thought of automotive lacqers sprayed into a bottle so that i can airbrush it but how would i go about thinning it? so i went to a different hobby store and they recommended me this stuff. the floquil brand. they said it was a synthetic lacquer (i dont' know what that means) and works pretty well. anyone have any ideas or experience with this or how to thin automotive lacquers? the floquil stuff is made for model trains and i believe it is a division of testors.

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Never heard of Floquil paints.

I sometimes decant paint from spray cans to airbrush. Usually there is no need to thin the paint since it is the right consistency straight from the can. If needed automotive laquer thinner will suffice to thin it more. Be aware that this is nasty stuff often containing acetone, MEK, toluene and other equally toxic chemicals.

Not sure exactly wht synthetic laquers are. I think that the Tamiya TS range are in this category. Perhaps it means the solvents used are not as hot as older style laquers and therfore less likely to eat your plastic body?

thanks for the resonse rallyrider. what brand of automotive lacquers do you use that does not require thinning before airbrushing?

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I've decanted from Tamiya and Duplicolor spray cans.

Tamiya cans seem to be designed to do this, since they have a nozzle that is just the perfect size to fit a drinking straw over.

thanks for the info rallyrider. i'm gonna go and try to shoot some duplicolor out of my airbrush this weekend.

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How are you going to get the paint out of the can? I've heard of people puncturing cans to extract the paint and want to make sure you're not goint to attempt something silly like that.

Best method is to fit a drinking straw over the nozzle. One of the bendy ones is best. Then spray into the straw with the other end in a bottle. The spray condenses and drips into the bottle. Expect things to get cold and a bit of condensation.

Also be careful as the decanted paint will still have a lot of propellant gasses disolved in it. You'll have to let it stand for a while for the gasses to disperse. Don't put the lid straight on the bottle as the paint will be under pressure and make a hell of a mess when you go to open it later.

BTW it is RallyRaider not Rider. Or if you prefer, Phil :)

After my dyslexic fingers called Jay, Ray this morning it is poetic justice to have somebody screw my name up too :silly2:

thanks for the tips phil! i was just going to just spray into an empty paint bottle and straight to the airbrush. i'll try the straw method this weekend. thanks!

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ps i don't think i screwed up your name...:confused:

haha! i just caught my goof! i guess i just can't read today can i? thanks rallyraider !

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Floquil is a pretty popular brand especially among model railroaders, but theyre no longer lacquer based. theyve had to change their formula, i think theyre enamel based now, not sure. i havent tried Floquil before but ive heard alot of people swear by them. that was before the formula change though, i dont know how the new formulation holds up. you should just try some yourself to see how if you like it.

i bought some of their stuff yesterday and am waiting for a chance to try them out. i purchased a bottle of their primer as well as their bright silver and crystal coat. the silver looks amazing in the bottle so i decided to give it a shot. i never knew primer came in a bottle before i saw this stuff. couldn't help myself from giving it a try as i've had no luck with spray primers.

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