Questions about paint(ing)

[JBarry]

I recently scored an airbrush and want to paint my first model with it. I bought Tamiya acrylic paint. My question is, should I thin it? If yes, with what? I have Tamiya thinner, or should I be using water? How much should it be thinned?

I'm planning of following the same rules that PMan posted in the "how to prepare for paint" even though that thread is aimed at can users. Do the same rules, apply for an airbrush?

Thanks in advance for any advice that y'all render.

J. Barry

[freakray]

Make sure your Tamiya thinner is for acrylic paint, they also make a thinner for enamels.
Thin the paint so it is about the consistency of milk, this will give it a good consistency for spraying.

Similar rules apply, it's more of a learning process.

[JBarry]

Cool, thanks for the info freakray.

J. Barry

[willimo]

A guy that works at my LHS says he thins Tamiya Acrylics with alcohol. I don't, but he swears by it and it should be far cheaper.

[proosen]

Any alcohol will do for thinning Tamiya acrylic paint. I use something called Isoprophyl alcohol (hopefully it has the same name in english to), but you can use whatever alcohol at hand. Works splendid for me. The only drawback as I see it is that Tamiya acrylics gets somewhat soft and can't be handled the same way as an enamel paint job. I have been trying to do some bodys with it and so far only one came out right. So I think I'll ditch the stuff for enamels and laquers instead, at least for the bodyworks.

Niclas

[mike@af]

Rubbing alcohol owrks just fine. And its only $.50USD.

[JBarry]

Thanks for the replies. I popped open the paint, gave it a whiff and said to myself, "self, this can be thinned with rubbin' alcohol." I thinned it with the Tamiya thinner, that I also smelt. God, that has to be the most expensive rubbing alcohol on the market. Never again...

So, I have 4 coats on her now. It's brilliant. I'm quite impressed with the quality of the airbrush. I scored the airbrush from harborfreight.com for $9.99 USD. It attaches to my 26 gal. air compressor and has a fitting for aircans too. I think it was a 'score' after pricing airbrushes online. Most of the 'inexpensive' ones are around $50. USD.

I now need to practice, practice, practice. I want to be great with an airbrush, maybe even attempt some 'artwork'.

Again, thanks for all your replies.

J. Barry

[bvia]

There IS a difference. Tamiya Acrylic thinner has a surfactant additive that allows the paint to flow out over the surface and gives it a bit of a self-leveling feature that 70% or 90% IPA doesnt.

You can also use Windex as an acrylic thinner and ammonia.

I use Tamiya thinner on gloss coats, 70% IPA (with JUST a dab of dishwashing liquid, the clear Dawn stuff, that has been diluted 50/50 with reverse osmosis drinking water) on semi or flat.

Also to help with the cured strength of the Tamiya acrylic gloss colors (in places I know I'll have to repeatedly handle) I add some future to the mixture (30/70 tamiya to future).

My suggestion would be to use the Tamiya for gloss only, which will save you alot! and IPA for the others...

hth,
Bill

[mike@af]

Originally Posted by JBarry

I now need to practice, practice, practice. I want to be great with an airbrush, maybe even attempt some 'artwork'.

Again, thanks for all your replies.

J. Barry

What kind of airbrush did you buy?

[86_SR5]

I think he bought this. I know of one and considered getting the one like this for 20bux, but I changed my mind.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=46720

[JBarry]

Originally Posted by bvia

There IS a difference. Tamiya Acrylic thinner has a surfactant additive that allows the paint to flow out over the surface and gives it a bit of a self-leveling feature that 70% or 90% IPA doesnt.

You can also use Windex as an acrylic thinner and ammonia.

I use Tamiya thinner on gloss coats, 70% IPA (with JUST a dab of dishwashing liquid, the clear Dawn stuff, that has been diluted 50/50 with reverse osmosis drinking water) on semi or flat.

Also to help with the cured strength of the Tamiya acrylic gloss colors (in places I know I'll have to repeatedly handle) I add some future to the mixture (30/70 tamiya to future).

My suggestion would be to use the Tamiya for gloss only, which will save you alot! and IPA for the others...

hth,
Bill

Very intereseting. Thanks for this great info. When I first posted this thread it was because I read somewhere to thin with soapy water. So, I thought I would ask. Your reply explained everything. I will put it to good use.

Originally Posted by GTmike400

What kind of airbrush did you buy?

I bought this: Air Brush Kit

It's a cheapie, only $9.99. When I get some skills and some bucks I'll up to something more professional for sure.

I painted most of the body parts tonight, thinned with the Tamiya Thinner (good thing too, Gloss red) I really like the quality of the brush and the Tamiya paint. They worked well together. I'll get some pics up tomorrow and put them in the other thread.

Thanks again to all that replied.

J. Barry

[86_SR5]

might have to go buy that so I can make use of my alcad paints!

[mike@af]

Looks like a single action Badger. For artwork and stuff you will need more control, such as a dual action brush. But will talk about that when you get there.