Newbie Problem with Airbrushing Acrylics

You can also use distilled water to thin. It won't evaporate as fast as alcohol so might help a little. Tap water might have minerals disolved so it wouldn't be a good choice for thinning.

Are you getting good results with 40% thinned paint? If so then you've found your solution. You don't need to cover with one coat. The balance is getting the paint thin enough so it doesn't clog the brush, but not too thin so it runs. You can then concentrate on getting consistent results from this as a starting point. The ratio of thinner to paint can vary by a lot.

As far as the Polly S airbrush thinner goes, it does seem strange that it is(still is) labeled for Polly S instead of Polly Scale. They are two different formulations, and the Polly S line has been discontinued. I use the Polly S airbrush thinner with Polly Scale paint without any problems. The Polly S thinner is probably very close to Windex or windshield cleaning fluid in composition so it should work for both line of paints. I've had Model Master Enamel do the same thing when adding model master airbrush thinner so it's probably because the paint was starting to cure while sitting in the jar you mixed. I've found that adding thinner to paint really kills the storage life.

Other options are using acrylic retarders or flow aid agent to help with your clogging problems, but if you can get consistent results with your current approach then you don't need to bother with this. Polly Scale has an excellent finish, large selection of well matched colors and binds to the plastic well, unlike Model Master Acryl.

I use a mixture of Gunze, Tamiya and Lifecolour Acrylics, thinned with Tamiya acrylic thinner at about 50/50 to 60/40 thinner to paint.

The above has never given me any problems, even at low air flow rates.

I think there is a certain degree of finding paint brand, or brands that work for you and your airbrush.

Karl

tom, i have never had success with but a few colors from poly scale or mm acryl paints. i switched to tamiya and have never experience clogging. i have to stop after about 5 or so minutes and clean away the tip dry. i recently had adhesion problems with tamiya, but its an isolated case. the only draw back is the color selection. i mix most of the colors. i'm currently brainstorming about building a "homemade" spray booth so i can use enamels as well. when i had success with polyscale or mm acryl paints, i usually thinned 50/50 with distilled water and strained the paint with womens pantyhose. hope this helps. later.

Tom,

It sounds to me like you have the right thinner for that paint, but maybe not.

Mike

Ohmygosh, I never would have thought there was a difference. You're saying that the two don't go together. But, the Airbrush thinner bottle says, "For airbrush Application of Polly S Water Base Acrylic Colors." The paint jar says, "Polly Scale Model Railroad Colors - Water Base," and the Testors website lists the paint as Acrylic. I bet you're right though cause mixing the two leaves a mess. I've left a question at the Testors website. I'll be anxious to see what they say. Thanks for your help. ...Tom

Is the thinner polly scale or PollyS? PollyS is a latex, Polly scale is acrylic.