I thin Life color slightly with a mix of distilled water and Liquitex flow aid. A club member told me he shoots it straight, no thinning. I have not yet tried shooting it straight.
"and lacquer thinner, this just made the paint look like curdled milk" Yeah, I have heard this from others who tried lacquer thinner.
To clean my air brush I use a mixture of 1/3 distilled water, 1/3 Windex ( I think you call it windowlean?) and 1/3 simple green which is a bio degradable degreaser, I have no idea if you can get it down in your parts.
Like the other poster said, I have found I have to build it up in thin coats. But once on you can mask over it with no worries.
The art of war is simple enough. Find out where your enemy is. Get at him as soon as you can. Strike him as hard as you can, and keep moving.-Ulysses S. Grant