Brush Painting Tamiya Acrylics

I love Tamiya paints but always picked up Vallejo or Citadel for my brush painting. I recently picked up some Tamiya flow retarder and found that by mixing a few drops of retarder along with Tamiya lacquer thinner in a pallette it makes the Tamiya paints a decent brush paint. I still prefer the Vallejo or Citadel but if I don't have a particular color or I am using a Tamiya mix this does the trick. Of course dipping your brush in some thinner is always a must as well.

Thanks for this really useful tip!

I have just returned to making aircraft after a 40 year gap. Acrylics are new to me, and I was finding them a tad too thick for brushing, thinning slightly makes them easier to apply, with longer time to work them.

Best regards

Thankyou for all the help guys :)

Harshman II

After that, let it dry for 5mins and then apply the 2nd layer.

I would suggest longer than five minutes. Preferably 8 hours or more. Any time within the first hour, (if not the first four hours) after applying Tamiya acrylics, it will be dry to touch, but will not have cured and is still soft. Five minutes is well within the period in which the paint may roll-up if you attempt to overcoat it

Personally,I would recommend applying one coat and then leaving it at least overnight before recoating.

For tamiya acrylic of large surface paint brushing, use Paint 3:2 thinner ratio. When paint for 1st layer, please take note, it  will not achieve homogeneous color. Most important is the paint finishing needed to be even. Do not be too concern about color homogeneous. After that, let it dry for 5mins and then apply the 2nd layer. This time, you can take note on homogeneous color finish. Which area is not cover properly, try reapply but while at same time, look out for even surface too.

If needed, 3rd layers or even 4 layers if neccessary. If there is only abit of uneven surface finishing is ok. When the paint is dry or cured if will achieve total even surface and looks nicer.

White color is the most difficult to paint brushing. It will need at least 3-4 layers to achieve homogeneous color.

Ah yes, Triaruis mentioned what I forgot....pre dampen your brsh before the firt time you load it with paint.  It makes the brush easier to clean and avoid the dreaded dry clumps coming off the brush.

Brian

Try this method:

Pour a small amount of retarded 90% isopropyl alcohol or Tamiya thinner into a small container. Dip your brush into this before loading it with paint, and before each time you load it with paint. Wipe the brush clean after every fifth or sixth time you reload it, or whenever the paint isn't flowing well.

Always paint to a wet edge, meaning paint toward the last area painted, not away from it, and don't overlap brush strokes. Flow the paint to where you want it, rather than using the brush to put it there. Basically, the idea is to get the paint on the surface just before the bristles arrive. This also means having the right amount of paint on the brush, but you'll get the feel of these things with practice.

Keep the humidity as high as practical, and don't have a fan blowing anywhere near where you are painting.

Generally I go with about a 3:1 or 3:2 ratio.  Yes this means very light coats which require a bit extra work, but it is a price I am willing to pay to not have to go out and buy another whole brand of paints just for brush painting.  You just have to be careful at this ratio because it can be so watery it will flow very easily....usualy into palces you don't want it.

Brian

P.S.  I should note this is what I do for figure painting....I have yet to brush paint large coverage areas using this method so can't really comment on it's ability in that manner.