airbrushing acrylic over lacquer

It's long been my understanding that it was possible to airbrush properly thinned water-based acrylic over a fully cured base coat of synthetic lacquer without causing any undesirable side-effects to the finish. Specifically, I'm thinking of using Tamiya acrylics to detail (i.e. pin-stripe) the surface of a model previously base-coated with Tamiya rattle-can lacquer (TS-47 "Chrome Yellow" to be precise). Has anyone ever encountered a problem with this type of chemical over-lay?

For the record, I did attempt to locate the answer via forum search but the findings were inconclusive.

Should give you no trouble. At the bottom of this page (http://www.tamiya.com/english/scale/beginner2/2.htm) is Tamiya's own compatibility guide.

Once more MPWR, I'm in your debt.

:)

There could be one issue though, if you are using Tamiya's Lacquer thinner to thin Tamiya's acrylics. Apparently there is something different about Tamiya's acrylics that make them a little different so that the lacquer thinner cuts the paint well especially the gloss paints. This allows very thin coats, but since your thinner could be lacquer based it may interact with the rattle can.

Yes, I'd read (on this forum IIRC) that some had gotten good results from cutting Tamiya acrylics with Tamiya lacquer thinner. Under the circumstances I'll probably play it safe and use the proscribed Tamiya acrylic thinner to thin Tamiya acrylic. Unless, you know, for some reason that combination happens to suck.

You should be just fine with the acrylic over the TS lacquer.

I would just add one (admittedly, overcautious) note.

Still apply the thinned acrylic paint in light coats. Not only is this a question of best practice which will simply give you a better quality finish and avoid runs - Tamiya acrylic thinner is AFAIK formulated on an alcohol base and, as we all know, isopropyl is a great stipping medium for TS paints :D

Thanks; rest assured the practice of slow & easy mist-coating has, by this point, been drilled deeply into my still mostly functioning brain. :p

I plan to fire off a couple of test strips just to be on the safe side, and will post pix of the finished model (unless I screw it up, that is).