Tamiya panel line accent

[49thStateRT]

Hi, question:
First my typical process:
Tamiya alcohol based acrylics thinned w/ Tamiya X-20a, then acrylic gloss coat like AK Interactive air brushed on or spray can Mr Premium Top coat. Decals next, then more gloss coat. Weathering next, using enamel based panel accent line filler like Tamiyas. Then final matte coat either AK interactive airbrushed on or Mr Super spray can.
Ok the question(s):
When I do the panel lines I invariably get unwanted oily staining beyond the panel lines that does not come off with thinner. Per some you tube videos, I try and wipe off the excess panel line accent with an enamel type thinner, like turpentine or mineral spirits. Other you tube videos however show them using X-20a to clean off the excess panel line accent. It seems like that would risk destroying the acrylic gloss coat and paint below. I know x-20a is mainly alcohol.
Any ideas why I have issues, and how to avoid them in that panel line accenting stage, still using Tamiya acrylic paints for the painting.

Oh, I also tried the washes made of oil paint that had the linseed oil soaked out first, and that method was no better than the Tamiya panel line accent method.

 

[Edbert]

I've not had trouble getting the Tamiya panel liner off of X-22 or LP-9. Soak a Q-tip in mild turpentine, blot about 60% of it off and rub softly, very softly at first and add a little more pressure until it comes off. One thing that can go wrong is too much thinner or too much pressure will remove the part you want to leave in, so sometimes I blot 75% of the thinner off the bud.

I've had the panel liner stain the acrylic paint without the clear 1st, but that is not what you indicated. Are you letting the panel liner dry completely? If so, maybe leave the thinner there for 20 to 40 seconds then rub?

The oil washes are more forgiving, I think the Tamiya product is a bit hot. But if using oils you get a 1-2 week dry time so I do not use them often.


Edit: I stopped using X20A to thin my Tamiya paint, settled on MLT which is a lacquer, so maybe that is part of the reason? I hated 7th grade Chemistry, so I stay away from the topic in general

I've settled on this brand of thinner, but think there's a hundred others that will work well.

 

[Jim62]

I haven't been at the bench in a while but I started doing clean builds a while back and my technique for panel lines went a different direction that I personally like. I use Tamiya acrylics as well. I stopped using primer, it's not needed. I put the the panel liner on the bare plastic. Very easy to clean off excess with mineral spirits. Then when it's time to paint I make sure not to apply the paint to heavy, so it's thinned pretty good. This allows the darkness of the panel lines to come through but in the same color as the paint. The way it should be, instead of dark black outlines. It's more subtle but works for me. If you are weathering and doing washes then I'm not sure it would work well for you but you could practice in on a paint mule and see what you get.