Hand Brushing Acrylics in a Dry Climate

I’ve seen some of your work here so this might be like a T-ball player giving baseball advice to Babe Ruth.  I dont own an airbrush yet and I probably made a mistake and bought several jars of Tamiya paints.  They are trouble to brush on in any climate.  Recently however I picked up their acrylic paint retarder.  It works really well.  Much better coverage and no brush streaks.  Can you find a suitable retarder for Humbrol or Testors systems?

Stik, if you ever decide to vacation in Hawaii, my friends and I can set you up to paint in near constant 70-80% humidity!  Just bring a model.  Or we can take you shopping for one while you are here!  

I think my car modeling friends would rather be where you are!

BTW, congrats on your retirement - and thank you for your years of service.

stikpusher

For most of my life I’ve lived in moderate humidity locations. Now I’m in Arizona, with its much dryer climate. On my first project here, I’ve been trying my hand at brush painting again, this time using acrylics, mostly Testors and Humbrol. On days when the humidity is really low, it seems like the paints dry extremely fast as your brushing them on. If I use a water moistened natural bristle brush, the paint lasts longer but I get uneven coats and streaking. Using a synthetic brush reduces this somewhat, but the fast drying is more pronounced. 

Any advice or tips to reduce or eliminate these problems? 

 

Retarder is your friend. Cut your paint a little bit usually with thinner, sometimes water depending on brand of paint, then add a little retarder to the mix. I use Liquitex brand retarder and so far that has worked in all my brands of acrylic paint I use, including when I airbrush ( to all but eliminate tip dry).. You will have extended dry times though in terms of touch or for masking ( maybe not so much in your really dry climate).

Thanks for the input guys. I’ll look into what retarder will work with the Testors and/or Humbrol acrylics. 

G, I would love to visit your islands again. It’s been almost 40 years since I was last there. Humid or not, I love the place.

I'd also use a wet palette, if you're not already doing so, Stik.

the Baron

I'd also use a wet palette, if you're not already doing so, Stik.

 

No I am not. I’ve never used one.

Today I did more handbrushing of the Humbrol Acrylics, this time with some Tamiya Retarder added. 10 parts paint to 2 parts retarder. Worked out nicely. 

stikpusher

Today I did more handbrushing of the Humbrol Acrylics, this time with some Tamiya Retarder added. 10 parts paint to 2 parts retarder. Worked out nicely. 

 

That's great ! You might try a little when airbrushing too if you have tip drying issues with acrylics, it will greatly retuce or even stop tip drying on your airbrush when that's a problem.

oldermodelguy

 

 

stikpusher

Today I did more handbrushing of the Humbrol Acrylics, this time with some Tamiya Retarder added. 10 parts paint to 2 parts retarder. Worked out nicely. 

 

 

 

 

That's great ! You might try a little when airbrushing too if you have tip drying issues with acrylics, it will greatly retuce or even stop tip drying on your airbrush when that's a problem.

 

Ive never had any problems with tip dry when airbrushing Tamiya thinned with their thinner. Or on the occasions where I thin it with lacquer thinner. But I’ll keep that in mind for future project. 

Thanks to one and all who suggested using the retarder to alleviate this situation. 

stikpusher

 

Ive never had any problems with tip dry when airbrushing Tamiya thinned with their thinner. Or on the occasions where I thin it with lacquer thinner. But I’ll keep that in mind for future project. 

Thanks to one and all who suggested using the retarder to alleviate this situation. 

 

Somehow when I think acrylic I tend to exclude Tamiya acrylics lol !! They're really a hybrid/ suito/  lacquer/acrylic. Strange animal but they do work great indeed.