Mixing and Thinning Different Brands of Paint?

I know this is as old as the hills, but that comment is hilarious. 

I doubt I would ever be inclined to mix brands together, but I learned a while back, that ordinary Isopropyl Alcohol (the stuff bought in a local pharmacy for pennies by the gallon) is chemically speaking all you require.

So my advice, is just use that, and stop wasting money on cute little bottles of excessively expensive hobby thinner.

Jon, are you useing the ready mixed stuff or the one you mix yourself. I use the latter, have done for a couple of years. I have never had any problems and still on my first bottle.

Hey Jon,

Not that I've noticed - I put some Model Air in the AB cup and add few drops of gloss varnish, not loads but just enough, maybe 5 or 10% gloss to paint?

I could be way out on how much I'm adding (i.e. too much or too little) but the paint does dry HARD with a glossier finish. Paul at a LHS recommended that method to me as he is a big Vallejo stockist and user of it too.

The correct amount is something to research perhaps? You could spray a piece of Styrene with untreated Model Air then spray a section next to it with some added gloss and play around with quantities? 

I don't use Model Air very often - usually for thin lines on cammo schemes as I have some odd colours in Model Air - I am yet to try it for 'all over' basecoats but I haven't noticed any shift in tone. I do know that when I first tried it on its own it didn't dry to any great hardness and I wasn't that impressed but the addition of the Gloss has turned that around

As for Halfords Windscreen wash? Each to their own but I wouldn't want to put it near any of my builds although I'm sure it's fine as I do know people who use it. I know nothing of it's qualities so for the time being I'm sticking with the tried and tested!

ATVB

Ben

Goot tips here Bish & Hincksy

I had used Halford's Screen wash with Tamiya Acrylics, but MY results resembled pebbledash!

Never thought of Vallejo Gloss Varnisg to the paint to harden it, does it change the tone much?

Thanks guys,

That's cleared things up nicely

Many thanks,

Ben

Hi Ben,

Assuming that you are talking about Gunze's Aqueous acrylics (ie. NOT Mr Color), though they are not quite exactly the same formulation as Tamiya's acrylics, they are similar enough that they are miscible.

Tamiya's X-20A acrylic thinner  and Gunze's aqueous Hobby Color thinner are interchangeable, as are Tamiya's lacquer thinner and Gunze's Mr Color thinner.

• All four may be used with either Tamiya acrylic or Gunze Aqueous Hobby Color.
•  Tamiya's Lacquer thinner and Gunze's Mr Color Thinner can be used with Gunze's Mr Color range of paints.  Tamiya X-20A and Gunze's Aqueous Hobby Color Thinner cannot be used with Mr Color

Tamiya and Gunze are close in their chemistry. I use laquor thinner to thin Tamiya all the time. Both Tamiya and Gunze will thin with Laquor Thinner or Isopropyl Alcohol. Tamiya Thinner (#20) is mostly Isopropyl. Both Tamiya and Gunze have a Laquor Thinner.

Hope that helps

Rounds Complete!!

Cheers Jon,

Vallejo isn't so much of an issue - if I need to AB that I'll use Model Air with a touch of water and a small amount of Vallejo Gloss Varnish added from their small dropper bottles - this helps the softer Model air paint set much harder.

The main question now is can I mix Gunze and Tamiya Acrylics together? I'm sure I've read that I can but would like to confirm this.

Many thanks,

Ben

Can't comment about mixing paints from different brands, i avoid it. But when it comes to thinning Tamiya paint, i have been useing halfords creen wash for a few years now, got the tip from an Osprey Modelling book. works out alot cheaper than tamiya thinner, and lasts ages. I guess it would work for other Acrylics as well.

errr no

I haven't used Gunze, so can't comment on these.

Use the recommended thinners for each brand, You can use Vallejo A/B cleaner to thin Tamiya, but don't use IPA or alcohol with Vallejo.

ModelAIR is a/b ready, ModelCOLOR can be airbrushed with much thinning.

Vallejo can be thinned with distilled water, Vallejo Airbrush cleaner, or their gloopy thinners, but each will alter the tone slightly differently.

good luck