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Problems with Tamiya Fine Surface Primer and Tamiya Acrylics

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  • Member since
    May 2008
Problems with Tamiya Fine Surface Primer and Tamiya Acrylics
Posted by White Snake on Monday, September 8, 2008 10:21 PM
I am working on completing the Tamiya 1/35 Willys Jeep, using Tamiya Acrylics.  I have primed all of the pieces using Tamiya's Fine Surface Primer (Grey).  I have noticed that when hand painting the smaller pieces, such as accessories that are primed, when applying the Acrylics the paint doesnt apply very well to the pieces.  Can anyone advise if I am doing something wrong, or should not have primed the pieces that I am hand painting with Acrylics?  The pieces that I hand paint are being painted straight from the bottle.  I was under the impression that no thinner needed to be used when hand painting.  Airbrushing the Acrylics is going great.  No problems there.  But, hand painting with Tamiya Acrylics on primed parts is giving me a fit!   Advise will be most appreciated!

On the Bench: MiniArt 1/35 U.S. Soldier Pushing Motorcycle

  • Member since
    February 2008
  • From: Van Alstyne, Tx.
Posted by bspeed on Monday, September 8, 2008 10:53 PM

any pictures ?

 

maybe the primer is soaking up a bit of the first coat you are putting on ..??

  • Member since
    August 2008
  • From: Singapore
Posted by NiKe on Tuesday, September 9, 2008 7:17 AM
I primed my model with the Tamiya Liquid Surface Primer too, and Tamiya acrylics too. Well, I am working on my first model, I'm waiting for the paint to dry. I don't airbrush, but I was told that the acrylic paint will work better if thinned, I use Tamiya Acrylic Thinner. I also had the same problem, the paint dosen't seem to adhere well, a bit "slippery". I'll see the results, and update you.
  • Member since
    May 2008
Posted by White Snake on Tuesday, September 9, 2008 3:15 PM
Also, is it ok to use Testor's Lacquer based Dullcote in the end, even thought I used Tamiya Acrylics?

On the Bench: MiniArt 1/35 U.S. Soldier Pushing Motorcycle

  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: CA
Posted by novice111 on Tuesday, September 9, 2008 4:09 PM
I have a box of Windsor Newton's acrylics left over from high school, I find them to be pretty good in painting small areas and pieces for plastic models. It's more amenable and it might even be cheaper the model paints. They cannot be easily washed out with windex (unlike Tamiya acrylics), but prolonged liquid mask will lift the paint.
  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: Sydney, Australia
Posted by Phil_H on Wednesday, September 10, 2008 12:24 AM

 White Snake wrote:
... I have noticed that when hand painting the smaller pieces, such as accessories that are primed, when applying the Acrylics the paint doesnt apply very well to the pieces. Can anyone advise if I am doing something wrong, or should not have primed the pieces that I am hand painting with Acrylics?  The pieces that I hand paint are being painted straight from the bottle.  I was under the impression that no thinner needed to be used when hand painting.  Airbrushing the Acrylics is going great.  No problems there.  But, hand painting with Tamiya Acrylics on primed parts is giving me a fit!   Advise will be most appreciated!

White Snake

Can you give us any more information about what is happening when you brush paint?

The single worst thing about brush painting Tamiya acrylics is the paint's tendency to skin over too quickly. This results in the brush dragging up previously applied paint in lumps (we call this "roll-up") when you brush back over a just-covered area. This thread may shed some light on how to reduce this. /forums/989749/ShowPost.aspx

 NiKe wrote:
I primed my model with the Tamiya Liquid Surface Primer too, and Tamiya acrylics too. Well, I am working on my first model, I'm waiting for the paint to dry. I don't airbrush, but I was told that the acrylic paint will work better if thinned, I use Tamiya Acrylic Thinner. I also had the same problem, the paint dosen't seem to adhere well, a bit "slippery". I'll see the results, and update you.

NiKe,

If you are following the instructions in the abovementioned thread and your paint appears to be going on too thinly and not adhering, you may be picking up too much thinner before dipping your brush in the paint. Your brush should be moist, but not waterlogged with thinner. If it is, soak up some of the excess by touching your brush to a paper towel before dipping in the paint.

 White Snake wrote:
Also, is it ok to use Testor's Lacquer based Dullcote in the end, even thought I used Tamiya Acrylics?

Yes, you can. It''s recommended to start off by applying a few light mist coats, allowing to dry in between before applying heavier coats. It may attack the underlying paint if you go too heavy too soon.

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • From: South Central Wisconsin
Posted by Daywalker on Wednesday, September 10, 2008 7:31 AM
I have had mixed results when brushing Tamiya acrylics.  Usually, they don't cover well and dry with an uneven texture.  I love airbrushing them, work very well in that capacity.  If you can do it, try Vallejo acrylics.  They hand-paint extremely well.  Only difficulty is picking out which colors you need. 

Frank 

 

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: Sydney, Australia
Posted by Phil_H on Wednesday, September 10, 2008 9:02 AM

Way back when Tamiya acrylics first hit the market in the early 80's, they brush-painted beautifully straight out of the bottle. With the right brushes, they went down silky smooth and brush streaks simply laid down flat and levelled out on their own. You had to look closely to see it was brush painted and not sprayed - this is no exaggeration.

Then some years later, IIRC some time in the late 80's, they changed the formula and we have the Tamiya acrylics we know now... Dead [xx(]Banged Head [banghead]Censored [censored]

  • Member since
    January 2016
Posted by Old Pappy on Wednesday, September 10, 2008 10:59 AM
I've tried every trick offered in this forum for hand/brush painting with Tamiya acrylics, to no avail. Some claim to get good results, but I can't duplicate their success, and I'm frankly not interested in trying if it's gonna be THAT much trouble. You wanna brush the paint right out of the jar, stick with enamels or use more brush-friendly acrylics like PollyScale, Model Master or Vallejo. They brush very well, but usually require two coats, as they are likely thinner than enamels. The MM line of pre-thinned (for AB-ing) acryls brush great, but will definitely need multi-coats. The few Vallejo colors I have used have been the same, but they brush sweetly and brush marks vanish completely.

In an airbrush, Tamiya is a great paint.
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