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mixing various brands of paint

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  • Member since
    May 2016
mixing various brands of paint
Posted by rbtvgo on Saturday, August 5, 2017 5:55 PM

I work with Vallejo....no problem, use their thinner.

Model master.........use alcohol or their thinner

Tamaya........use their thinner or as I have read, lacquer thinner which tamaya sells or get at Lowes or Home Depot.

Italeri......doesn't matter what I use.....it's just disagreeable.

In searching for exact fs colors not all brands cover the territory so your forced to search. That being said I find that my main issue then becomes dealing with the particular paint brand that resolves the FS issue but then creates issues of dealing with the paint brand.

My thoughts at this point, frustration considered, is to settle on one or two paint brands and determine how to deal with the FS issue, ( I.E. mix two thirds of this color and 1 third of another color).

I'm beginning to think that given scale issues, fading colors in an aircrafts life, and variations in paint schemes between two or three aircraft in the same squadron at the same time that fs is a relative guide and from a modelers perspective knowing your materials is more important then being precise in color matching.

I think I've come to my conclusion on the issue but I'm interested in what others have to say about dealing with this.

 

thanks

rbtvgo

  • Member since
    January 2013
Posted by BlackSheepTwoOneFour on Saturday, August 5, 2017 10:50 PM

Well, mixing Testors Model Master Acrylics with PollyScale acryics wouldnt be an issue since Testors bought out Pollyscale anyway. 

When dealing with trying to get the correct color by FS#, I just make a determination on which one looks better for the subject - ie: Model Master Gull Grey vs Pollyscale Gull Grey vs Aeromaster Gull Grey vs Tamiya Gull Grey - well you get the idea. :)

Some might be off a shade or a very close match but whatever I choose works for me, I'll be happy with it.

  • Member since
    July 2013
  • From: Chicago area
Posted by modelmaker66 on Sunday, August 6, 2017 1:21 AM

I don't build kits for contests or awards so I believe I have artistic licence when it comes to color, fading, weathering. Like Black sheep says, it is your preference. If you try to be perfect you will be very dissapointed. I build for myself.

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: Twin Cities of Minnesota
Posted by Don Stauffer on Sunday, August 6, 2017 11:33 AM

I believe being able to mix paints is a real benefit for a modeler.  I have some friends who just will not try it, others that do.  I know I find it a real benefit.  I do it for two reasons- one is to alter-generally lightening a color during weathering.  I also like to lighten flat blacks just a bit- I know you can buy grimy blacks, but why buy two shades of flat black when it is so easy to lighten it yourself. I find a mix of schwartzgrau and flat black about 1:1 makes a nice realistic black.

The second reason I mix is when I cannot find the color I want in a commercial paint.  I have yet to find a mix for buff of tan that looks exactly like the buff used on late nineteenth century and very early 20th ships (funnels and upper works).  Also some of the FS colors seem to be too saturated to me and cry out for mixing in a little gray to reduce it.

 

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

  • Member since
    May 2016
Posted by rbtvgo on Sunday, August 6, 2017 5:33 PM

Thanks for all the replies. I think at this point that fs is a relative issue and as Don said, mix it yourself.

Truth be told I work best with Tamaya and Model Master. I want to love Vallejo but thinning is an issue that drive me to distraction. When the bottle is new, no problem. When it sits for awhile now I have thinning issues.

Tamaya for some reason just seems to be the easiest to work with. Likewise Model Master. This of course is just my opinion.

I read some articles where they spray at 25 psi and thin with water. If I tried that I'd be cleaning out my airbrush for 30 minutes.

I think I knew my answer before I asked but never the less I appreciate the input.

 

rbtvgo

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