Tamiya enamels vs. acrylics

darth_daniel · Post by **darth_daniel** » Mon Jul 24, 2006 1:56 am

I need some new paint and found the perfect colours in the Tamiya colour range. But since I need to airbrush them, IÂ´m worried about thinning. What can Tamiya acrylics be thinned with? Alcohol? Water? And what can Tamiya enamels be thinned with? And are the acrylics and enamel paint bottles the same size?
I also found a color in the spraypaint range, are Tamiya spray paints glossy or dull? And how good do spray cans work compared to an airbrush?
Many questions, sorry, but IÂ´d be grateful for some anywers!

BLZ BOB · Post by **BLZ BOB** » Mon Jul 24, 2006 9:23 am

Tamiya acrylincs have their own thinner as they are alcohol based it comes in small(ish) bottles and a 250 ml bottle of their X20 thinners cost me the equivalent of $8 it lasts a while and as you add 40% ish thinners to the paint you bulk out your pot of paint. I can recommend them as they are ideal for airbrushing, if not for the fact I have an absolute boatload of citadel colours and have problems colour matching then I would switch enitrely, as it is I use them frequently.

Post by **TER-OR** » Mon Jul 24, 2006 9:30 pm

I use 99% isopropyl alcohol to thin.

The enamel sprays are of course thicker, but they're nice paints.

Kylwell · Post by **Kylwell** » Mon Jul 24, 2006 9:45 pm

darth_daniel wrote:I need some new paint and found the perfect colours in the Tamiya colour range. But since I need to airbrush them, IÂ´m worried about thinning. What can Tamiya acrylics be thinned with? Alcohol? Water? And what can Tamiya enamels be thinned with? And are the acrylics and enamel paint bottles the same size?
I also found a color in the spraypaint range, are Tamiya spray paints glossy or dull? And how good do spray cans work compared to an airbrush?
Many questions, sorry, but IÂ´d be grateful for some anywers!

The XF colors are flat, the X colors are gloss.

I buy a 250ml bottle of thinner every couple of months.

Qrest Fourstar · Post by **Qrest Fourstar** » Wed Jul 26, 2006 8:18 pm

Its funny this has come up! I keep trying damn Tamiya acrylics and have the worst time with them. Now, one of the best builders in my club is using them!

I'm working on the FMBF Slave 1. Im determined to get the colors right! I just finished shooting the field gray on the cockpit pieces(I didnt see any gray, looked green to me) I thinned it 3 parts paint to about 1 part thinner( just a bit more than 1) I use syringes for my thinning. It sprayed fine at first, but then seemed to not want to pass through the airbrush. so perhasps 3 parts paint to 1.5 prts thinner? I thinned using their thinner. at about 15-17 PSI.

Thoughts?

Kylwell · Post by **Kylwell** » Wed Jul 26, 2006 8:47 pm

I usually thin my flat Tamiyas about 50-50.

darth_daniel · Post by **darth_daniel** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 3:41 pm

What can the Tamiya enamels be mixed with? And will 96% Alcohol work for thinning the acrylics as well?

Kylwell · Post by **Kylwell** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 4:52 pm

I use Tamiya thinner. Tried various home remedies with dubious results.

Thomas E. Johnson · Post by **Thomas E. Johnson** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 5:22 pm

I use regular isoprople alcohol to thin the acyrlics. I only very seldom need to thin it. It sprays great right out of the bottle.

Romulan Spy · Post by **Romulan Spy** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 5:40 pm

I thin Tamiya acrylics with plain old Windex when I need to airbrush. Also works great for cleaning up the brush afterwards.

Qrest Fourstar · Post by **Qrest Fourstar** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 5:42 pm

Romulan Spy wrote:I thin Tamiya acrylics with plain old Windex when I need to airbrush. Also works great for cleaning up the brush afterwards.

at what ratio or do you eyeball it?

Romulan Spy · Post by **Romulan Spy** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 6:44 pm

Mostly just Mk. I Eyeball method. Lately I've been using my Paashe H airbrush quite a bit. For broad area coverage (let's say you are spraying an entire model with a base coat of grey or green) I'll use a fine tip, then fill the color cup with about two parts paint to one part thinner, and open the nozzle a bit. For shading and accenting I'll add more thinner, about 50/50, and close the nozzle way down.

If I need to spray really fine lines I use my Badger gravity-fed double action; then I'll add a little more thinner and crank the pressure way down. It's all a matter of experimenting till it looks right.

darth_daniel · Post by **darth_daniel** » Thu Aug 03, 2006 11:24 am

Okay, I just bought the needed Tamiya acrylics, unfortunately they didnÂ´t have the XF-2 Flat White so I bought X-2 White, the glossy stuff. Now my question, can I mix glossy and matt paints? Thanks for any help!

BTW, same question as above, can I mix the paints with 96% Alcohol? And can I use it to clean my airbrush?

Kylwell · Post by **Kylwell** » Thu Aug 03, 2006 11:36 am

Yes, and if you want to make that gloss white flat, Tamiya sells something called 'Flat Base' that you can add to gloss paints to make them matte.

macfrank · Post by **macfrank** » Thu Aug 03, 2006 2:51 pm

kylwell wrote:Yes, and if you want to make that gloss white flat, Tamiya sells something called 'Flat Base' that you can add to gloss paints to make them matte.

The Tamiya flat base has to be used sparingly and carefully, or it'll leave a white residue that can't be removed without removing the paint.

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Tamiya enamels vs. acrylics

Tamiya enamels vs. acrylics

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