Q about thinning Mig acrylics

[TurkeyVolumeGuessingMan]

I'm looking at getting Mig's paint color set for the Su-35 Flanker. I was wondering if I could just use Tamiya's acrylic thinner on it, just as I can with Model Master Acryls? How about lacquer thinner? Thanks in advance.

[Pod1610]

You've probably found out by now, but Tamiya Acrylic thinners and MiG( as well as Vallejo and AK) acrylics make a horrible gunky mess when combined due to very differing chemistry in their make up. Hopefully you've found out beforetrying to do it....

[irishtrek]

Why not just use plain old tap water??

[TurkeyVolumeGuessingMan]

You've probably found out by now, but Tamiya Acrylic thinners and MiG( as well as Vallejo and AK) acrylics make a horrible gunky mess when combined due to very differing chemistry in their make up. Hopefully you've found out beforetrying to do it....

So what do you use as a thinner?

[Pod1610]

Usually their own proprietary one, but I've also used plain old water without a problem.

[seam-filler]

Why not just use plain old tap water??

Yes, water usually works well enough, but I'd prefer to use de-ionised water or at least purified water over tap water - there's an awful lot of chemicals and salts in straight tap water which can lead to patchy blotches forming as the paint cures.

How about lacquer thinner?

You can get much better coverage thinning acrylics with lacquer thinners, but, again, do not mix paints brands. Lacquers will shorten the life of your airbrush's O-rings and lacquers are significantly more toxic if you're into breathing in the vapours.

[irishtrek]

I've mixed craft store acrylics with MM acrylics with no problems but I will not mix Tamiya with MM acrylics simply because the Tamiya seems to have a lacquer scent. And if I remember right I've even mixed Tamiya with craft store acrylics once or twice and had no problems.

[TurkeyVolumeGuessingMan]

Thanks for the advice. How about 100% isopropyl alcohol? I bought a big container back in February when I used to think that the coronavirus was something to be afraid of. I've been using it to clean my airbrush and just to clean our home but I was thinking I might have good luck using it as a paint thinner.

As far as mixing paints, Tamiya acrylics and Mr. Hobby Aqueous acrylics are 100% compatible. The newly formulated Mr. Hobby Aqueous is backwards compatible too. Model Master won't mix with these because they are a very different type of paint. It's a shame that they have been discontinued. MM paints are pretty good, but they've always been difficult to find here in Japan, even when Platz was supposedly distributing them.

[seam-filler]

How about 100% isopropyl alcohol?

Isopropyl alcohol (IPA) is good too - just be aware of the fumes. Without ventilation and and/or a good quality mask the fumes while spraying will make you drunk quite quickly and will likely give you one hell of a headache. Not so much a problem thinning with IPA for hairy-brush painting.

Another thing that works with most brands of paint is dishwasher rinse-aid. It also acts as a flow-enhancer giving really good coverage. I've found about 40% rinse-aid works for airbrushing, about 30% for hairy-stick. I've not specifically tested it with MM paints, but it works well with MIG, Tamiya, Humbrol, Revell, Vallejo and artists acrylics like Liquitex and Windsor & Newton.