HI GUYS im after some advice

[BOATMAN]

HI AL im now hopein to use my mini A/B ON MY CAMO on my phantom an ive ordered the TAMYIA THINNERS accrilts but what paint do i buy to mix with it to get a good A/B spray ? thanks if u can help me
chrisb

 

[the Baron]

Please forgive me, but I'm not trying to be a smart ass. Just to clarify, do you mean you've bought Tamiya's acrylic thinner, and you'd like to know what paint to use? I use Tamiya's acrylic thinner X-20A with Tamiya's acrylics only (X/XF series). I suppose you could try using it with other brands and media, but there's not really a reason to, that I can think of. For example, I would not use it with any water-based acrylics, like Vallejo's Model Air or Model Color, Lifecolor, or the craft store brands Apple Barrel, Americana, Folk Art. I use water, or isopropyl. And I don't think it'll work with enamels or lacquers.

As far as thinning the Tamiya paints goes, I start with a 1:1 ratio, and add more thinner as appropriate. I just mix the paint and thinner in my airbrush's paint cup. I eyeball it. I don't use retarders or any other adjuncts, so I can't speak to those.

You can thin Tamiya's acrylics with lacquer thinner, too, though it's not necessary. I have tried it, on a suggestion that lacquer thinner makes the matte colors an absolute dead-matte flat. I didn't really see an effect.

I hope that helps!

Best regards,
Brad

 

[BOATMAN]

Please forgive me, but I'm not trying to be a smart ass. Just to clarify, do you mean you've bought Tamiya's acrylic thinner, and you'd like to know what paint to use? I use Tamiya's acrylic thinner X-20A with Tamiya's acrylics only (X/XF series). I suppose you could try using it with other brands and media, but there's not really a reason to, that I can think of. For example, I would not use it with any water-based acrylics, like Vallejo's Model Air or Model Color, Lifecolor, or the craft store brands Apple Barrel, Americana, Folk Art. I use water, or isopropyl. And I don't think it'll work with enamels or lacquers.

As far as thinning the Tamiya paints goes, I start with a 1:1 ratio, and add more thinner as appropriate. I just mix the paint and thinner in my airbrush's paint cup. I eyeball it. I don't use retarders or any other adjuncts, so I can't speak to those.

You can thin Tamiya's acrylics with lacquer thinner, too, though it's not necessary. I have tried it, on a suggestion that lacquer thinner makes the matte colors an absolute dead-matte flat. I didn't really see an effect.

I hope that helps!

Best regards,
Brad

HI MANY THANKS but im not up on these A/B PAINTS SO WOULD YOU SIR MIND POSTIN A PICTURE OF THE PAINTS TO USE IF POSSIBLE
PLEASE
CHRISB

 

[Jakko]

Tamiya X-/XF-series paints:



Do beware that you buy paint with a number that starts with X or XF, though! (X is gloss, XF is matt.) I mention this because Tamiya also has LP-series paint in very similar bottles, but this is lacquer-based and cannot be thinned with their X-20A thinner.

The two smaller bottles on the left hold 10 ml, the larger ones on the right are 23 ml. For anything you need more than a little paint for, get the 23 ml bottles, as you pay a lot less for the paint itself that way.

However, having said that I just tried to find out UK prices, and can only find 10 ml jars at UK web sites, generally for about £2–£2.25 or so each. (For comparison, in Dutch web shops I looked at, 10 ml is around €3.50 to €4 each but 23 ml is €5 to €5.50.)

 

[BOATMAN]

MANY THANKS JAKKO for the info on the paints at least i know now what to look for as it may not work out as the mini A/B IVE GOT IS A CHEEPY FOR WOMEN SPRAYIN NAILS AS IM GETTIN ON NOW SO CANT SEE ANY POINT TO BUYIN A A FULL SIZE AB AS I WONT HARDLY GET ANY USE FROM IT
CHEERS
CHRISB

 

[Jakko]

You should be able to spray Tamiya paints through it, surely. Thin the paint with an equal amount of X-20A and see how it goes? You can clean the airbrush by first spraying a bit of plain X-20A through it, and then following up with water.

 

[Steve Ski]

Yep, Tamiya seems to be it for most of us, me included.

 

[Paul67]

I use Mr. Color leveling thinner with Tamiya and all of my other acrylic lacquer paints. I used to use their X-20A but I would get miniature runs with as thin as I like to shoot. It's somewhat hotter than the Tamiya thinner. It also helps a lot if you have orange peel. After the paint sets up then I spray a wet coat and let it sit, that usually takes care of the orange peel even on 2K coatings.

 

[Edbert]

I use Mr. Color leveling thinner with Tamiya and all of my other acrylic lacquer paints. I used to use their X-20A <snip>

I have the same experience so far, MLT also helps slow the incredible drying speed of the Tamiya X and XF series. I did not have problems caused by X20A, but when my bottle ran out I ordered more MLT. For things where I DO want rapid drying, then 90+% alcohol works well, just gotta watch for tip drying.

Aint nobody like a dry tip!