Tamiya Acrylics still not on the shelves

El Taino

I keep hearing the lack of color range in the MM Acryl line. I know we all have different modeling needs but can't help wondering, which are those colors? For my WWII and modern jets I'm pretty well covered with Acryl. Could it be from store to store? My LHS has Acryl colors on top of the shelf because there are no slots available for them on the traditional shelf. Even those slots with a label 'RESERVED FOR FUTURE PRODUCTS' are filled with colors. German Luftwaffe colors even German uniform colors and others. Since Acryl and Polly S are both from Testors, maybe they leave certain colors out on purpose???

In my sea of Acryl colors, I  might sea a few lonely Polly S jar because most of the colors I need are right on the Acryl shelf.

i do agree on the modern and luffwaffe. i with they would make more RAF in there acrylic line. even japanese. i was hearing they are going to discontinued polly scale? i know they make more raf in that line. 

randypandy831

 

M9130:

 

How do the MM acrylics compare?  Do they cover well?

 

 

 

i been using MM acrylics with no problems. very thin from the bottle. only thing they lack is the color range. you will need to do a prime when using mm acrylics. masking tape will rip it right off your model. 

tamiya has more bite. without a prime the masking tape doesn't do anything. 

That's a deal-killer for me right there. 

I keep hearing the lack of color range in the MM Acryl line. I know we all have different modeling needs but can't help wondering, which are those colors? For my WWII and modern jets I'm pretty well covered with Acryl. Could it be from store to store? My LHS has Acryl colors on top of the shelf because there are no slots available for them on the traditional shelf. Even those slots with a label 'RESERVED FOR FUTURE PRODUCTS' are filled with colors. German Luftwaffe colors even German uniform colors and others. Since Acryl and Polly S are both from Testors, maybe they leave certain colors out on purpose???

In my sea of Acryl colors, I  might sea a few lonely Polly S jar because most of the colors I need are right on the Acryl shelf.

M9130

How do the MM acrylics compare?  Do they cover well?

i been using MM acrylics with no problems. very thin from the bottle. only thing they lack is the color range. you will need to do a prime when using mm acrylics. masking tape will rip it right off your model. 

tamiya has more bite. without a prime the masking tape doesn't do anything. 

My ebay orders for Flat Black and Flat White arrived yesterday. Woo hoo!

REgarding x-20, I'm now making my own.  70% isoprpyl and a small shot of acrylic retarder in an old x-20 bottle.  Works like the real thing.  Necessity is the mother of invention.

DoogsATX

 

 

 

From what I understand, Tamiya's are labeled an "acrylic lacquer", whatever that means! And I know for a fact they label their rattlecans as "synthetic lacquer".

Whilst it's true that the spray cans are labelled "Synthetic Lacquer", the bottled acrylics have never been labelled "Acrylic Lacquer".

When you get up to those temperatures in an enclosed environment with low humidity, it would be hard to avoid "dusting".

DoogsATX

 

El Taino:

 

My point being, just because Tamiya Acrylics work with LT, doesn't necessarily means that all of a sudden is a Lacquer paint disguised for years as Acrylic. The dusty effects has to do more with working pressure and distance from the subject being sprayed than thinning agents alchemy. Just my 2 cents as well.

 

 

From what I understand, Tamiya's are labeled an "acrylic lacquer", whatever that means! And I know for a fact they label their rattlecans as "synthetic lacquer".

Re: the dusting, I'm very certain that environment plays a role, too. I LOVE the way Tamiya paints airbrush, but this summer they've given me nothing but headaches. Every flat paint has dusted to a comical degree, no matter how thin I go, how close I get, or how I adjust the PSI. I think it's just too friggin' hot (garage is usually hovering around 90-95 degrees when I paint right now) and the atomized paint is cooking. 

I hear you about the weather Doogs, I paint usually in the morning and this season here in MN has been hectic. I had to postpone a few builds including the 1/350 USS Nimitz because it is too big to paint indoors and humidity is terrible in my garage. One can even see the garage floor getting moist.

About the acrylic lacquer, my new XF-71 has on the label Isopropanol + Glycol Ethers. Don't know if Isopropanol is present in the MM Acryl, but the label does mention Glycol Ethers as well. I have used Tamiya sprays once or twice during this year, I'm not really familiar with their spray line (Tamiya).

Cheers!

El Taino

My point being, just because Tamiya Acrylics work with LT, doesn't necessarily means that all of a sudden is a Lacquer paint disguised for years as Acrylic. The dusty effects has to do more with working pressure and distance from the subject being sprayed than thinning agents alchemy. Just my 2 cents as well.

From what I understand, Tamiya's are labeled an "acrylic lacquer", whatever that means! And I know for a fact they label their rattlecans as "synthetic lacquer".

Re: the dusting, I'm very certain that environment plays a role, too. I LOVE the way Tamiya paints airbrush, but this summer they've given me nothing but headaches. Every flat paint has dusted to a comical degree, no matter how thin I go, how close I get, or how I adjust the PSI. I think it's just too friggin' hot (garage is usually hovering around 90-95 degrees when I paint right now) and the atomized paint is cooking. 

El Taino, You're probably right, I'm not a chemist so I don't know for sure. I wish I could find the article that I read a couple of years ago that explained all of it in VERY detailed scientific terms. In a nutshell the article said that it was NOT a vinyl acrylic like Vallejo or Life color but rather a hybrid of sorts.

I'll see if I can dig the article up. 

Kenneth

I have Lacquer Thinner in a container where the Thinner for Acryl comes in. Only that I wrote with a Sharpie on the top LT to identify it. After many uses and small spills, my Sharpie markings were almost gone. As a result, I thinned a brand new jar of Light Ghost Gray Acryl with LT. It was the smell that gave my mistake away. It did worked with no adverse reaction. My point being, just because Tamiya Acrylics work with LT, doesn't necessarily means that all of a sudden is a Lacquer paint disguised for years as Acrylic. The dusty effects has to do more with working pressure and distance from the subject being sprayed than thinning agents alchemy. Just my 2 cents as well.

K-dawg

It's like a whole different paint (basically is)... I base coat most of my models with Tamiya thinned with lacquer thinner and it provides a smooth hard shell that does not grain or dust up like it does when used as an acrylic.

Just my 2 cents... take it as that. :^)

That is really interesting.  I have notices that the Tam Flat colors do in fact "dust up"  That is a great way of describing it.

The finished color is great, but the surface finish is a leaves a little to be desired.  I chalked it up to my lack of air brush experience or becuase it was a flat color that I was spraying.  I might have to try thinning with a lacquer.

Later this month, I will be paining an aircraft with MM gull gray, so I can have a better comparison.

John

To the fella asking about the X-20 thinner. It may not be that particular thinner that they have a problem with, it may be the yellow cap Lacquer thinner. To be clear, i'm just speculating here. I'm sure the supply problems from Japan on bottles, ect are very real as could be the label issue. The importation "powers that be" might have finally figured out that Tamiya Acrylics aren't actually acrylics but a Lacquer paint that happens to be water soluble. It's pretty common knowledge in modeling circles that Tamiya paint airbrushes OK when thinned with water/alcohol or their own acrylic thinner but they spray AWESOME when thinned with lacquer thinner... It's like a whole different paint (basically is)... I base coat most of my models with Tamiya thinned with lacquer thinner and it provides a smooth hard shell that does not grain or dust up like it does when used as an acrylic.

Just my 2 cents... take it as that. :^)

If I give up and start to go model master acrylics, will isopropyl be a viable thinner?

Has been so far for me...

M9130

How do the MM acrylics compare?  Do they cover well?

I just sprayed MM "Interior black" this week.  I am a rookie with Air Brushing but it sprayed fine.  Coerage was good and it looks nice.  It was a pretty small area but I had no issues compared to spraying Tam Arcylics.

I thinned using Tamiya Thinner, but the paint was already pretty thin.  Nothing scientific with thinning, just eyeball till it looks right.

I don't like the bottles and metal caps, but overall I was happy with the results.

I am probably gonna pick up some MM light gull gray and I'll try that in a few weeks when I am ready for it.

Good Luck

John

How do the MM acrylics compare?  Do they cover well?

alcohol with flow aid seems to be working actually pretty good. 

I'm trying ebay now.  There's quite a bit on there, I hope it's legit.  Lost an auction last night for a collection of 40 bottles of flats in various colors.

I really wish Tamiya would talk to it's loyal customers about the plan going forward.  This is very frustrating.

kirk4010

I lucked out and found some X-20A! 

 I was on vacation (visiting the in-laws).  My brother in law took me and my son to see Cars 2 and afterwards for some Ice Cream.  We were at small Mom and Pop Ice Cream stand and I notice a Model Train store next door.   I ask my son if he wants to check out some model trains (of course he does!)  We walk in and it is mostly trains, but they have a section for kits, also Tamiya and PollyScale Paint racks mostly full.   I found several of the big plastic jugs of Tamiya X-20A, I grabbed one and bought a bunch of misc. Tamiya and Polly Scale paints.  You never know what you are going to find out there!

 

blah...i should have checked the model train shop when i was around one. 

I lucked out and found some X-20A! 

 I was on vacation (visiting the in-laws).  My brother in law took me and my son to see Cars 2 and afterwards for some Ice Cream.  We were at small Mom and Pop Ice Cream stand and I notice a Model Train store next door.   I ask my son if he wants to check out some model trains (of course he does!)  We walk in and it is mostly trains, but they have a section for kits, also Tamiya and PollyScale Paint racks mostly full.   I found several of the big plastic jugs of Tamiya X-20A, I grabbed one and bought a bunch of misc. Tamiya and Polly Scale paints.  You never know what you are going to find out there!

richardzoo84

I traveled to Tulsa, OK today to search for Tamiya paints. I went to the Hobby Town USA and they had maybe 24 bottles of colors I cannot use. I then went to Owasso, OK and he is loaded. The only colors he does not have are flat white and flat black. Those are the two colors I need. I am trying out Model Master Acrylic and Enamel paints in those colors. I have never used them but will play with them tomorrow. I have been using Floquil as needed. 

I have asked around and no one seems to know when the next shipment will be in. I did just happen to find a stash of Tamiya thinner I had forgotten about a few days ago in a drawer. I hope the problem is resolved soon. 

 

i have a load of tam paints but don't use them because X-20 is the best thinner period. i been using MM acrylics a lot recently with no problems. they dry fast so clean right after.

i have gunze paints on order. excited to give them a try. a lot of people love em.

Thanks for the update.  I'll be watching!

I did score yesterday in Norman OK. I found the 23ml flat black. I purchased the final bottles. I hope this will last me until a new shipment arrives in the US. I am thinking about looking in Canada or overseas for Tamiya products. I will let everyone know how it works out. 

richardzoo84

 The only colors he does not have are flat white and flat black.  

Yup, that's what's missing the most 'round here.  I grabbed the least 3 flat whites and and LHS thats an hour+ away form me last week.

I traveled to Tulsa, OK today to search for Tamiya paints. I went to the Hobby Town USA and they had maybe 24 bottles of colors I cannot use. I then went to Owasso, OK and he is loaded. The only colors he does not have are flat white and flat black. Those are the two colors I need. I am trying out Model Master Acrylic and Enamel paints in those colors. I have never used them but will play with them tomorrow. I have been using Floquil as needed. 

I have asked around and no one seems to know when the next shipment will be in. I did just happen to find a stash of Tamiya thinner I had forgotten about a few days ago in a drawer. I hope the problem is resolved soon. 

Maybe I should move to Canada! :) 

Signed,

No joy in Nevada

Kentucky Colonel

Here's what Internet Hobbies says,

 

IMPORTANT! TAMIYA IS ONCE AGAIN BEING FORCED BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT TO RE-LABEL THEIR PAINT LINE. THERE MAY BE OUTAGES OF CERTAIN COLORS WHILE TAMIYA IS IN THE PROCESS OF COMPLETING THIS PROJECT

Sigh of relief. I feel your pain, but if this is a USA problem, then I guess I can leave off panicing. My store seems to have no troubles with supply.

Our LHS is fully stocked.

Here's what Internet Hobbies says,

IMPORTANT! TAMIYA IS ONCE AGAIN BEING FORCED BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT TO RE-LABEL THEIR PAINT LINE. THERE MAY BE OUTAGES OF CERTAIN COLORS WHILE TAMIYA IS IN THE PROCESS OF COMPLETING THIS PROJECT

Sorry, my computer is being a ****. I wrote a message asking if anyone knew the specific problem with X-20, and if it was actually dangerous or not. Instead, my computer decided that it only wanted to publish the quote. Anyways, I then made a not-so-funny joke about how over-strict our government is about safety regulations when it can't even figure out its own budget (no partisan commentary intended). Hopefully my computer will actually publish my post this time.