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AK tips?

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  • Member since
    August 2014
  • From: Willamette Valley, Oregon
AK tips?
Posted by goldhammer on Friday, July 10, 2020 3:04 PM

I have been using Tamiya and MM acrylic with a dash of Vallejo tossed in.

Got a set of AK air for the Myrt that is on the bench.  Have never used it, and also got a bottle of their thinner as a just in case.....

Looking for feedback on ease of spraying, coverage, and cleanup.  Was thinking laquer thinner for cleaning the AB, a NEO in this case.

TIA

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Western North Carolina
Posted by Tojo72 on Friday, July 10, 2020 3:30 PM

Sometimes its takes more the just shaking, should remove cap and give a good stir to mix pigments.

Of course,lacquer thinner cleans everything.

  • Member since
    August 2014
  • From: Willamette Valley, Oregon
Posted by goldhammer on Friday, July 10, 2020 3:36 PM

Already planning on the stir since they use the same dropper bottles as Vallejo.  Appreciate the tip though.

 

  • Member since
    August 2014
  • From: Willamette Valley, Oregon
Posted by goldhammer on Saturday, July 11, 2020 12:42 PM

BK just mentioned that this stuff is made in the same facility as Vallejo......is AK Air just rebranded Vallejo Model Air??????  Or is it the laquer based stuff?  Nothing on the box or bottles says anything.

Cleanup?  Acrylic cleaner, LT, water??

  • Member since
    June 2014
Posted by BrandonK on Saturday, July 11, 2020 3:29 PM

FYI, don't use LT with Vallejo or AK. You won't like the mess it will make.

BK

On the bench:

A lot !! And I mean A LOT!!

2024 Kits on deck / in process / completed   

                         14 / 5 / 2  

                              Tongue Tied

  • Member since
    November 2018
Posted by oldermodelguy on Saturday, July 11, 2020 4:42 PM

goldhammer

BK just mentioned that this stuff is made in the same facility as Vallejo......is AK Air just rebranded Vallejo Model Air??????  Or is it the laquer based stuff?  Nothing on the box or bottles says anything.

Cleanup?  Acrylic cleaner, LT, water??

 

Gen 3 AK acrylic is supposed to be a whole new formula. I think you will find it tougher than VMA and that it behaves more like Tamiya acrylic than like VMA.. I'm just going by reviews of the stuff, I need to get some and try it myself along the way so I can speak with more confidence about it.

  • Member since
    August 2014
  • From: Willamette Valley, Oregon
Posted by goldhammer on Saturday, July 11, 2020 5:04 PM

Thanks BK and OMG......will find out tonight when I spray some on the interior and canopy frames on the Myrt.  Only thing the bottle says is to let cure for a day.

  • Member since
    November 2018
Posted by oldermodelguy on Saturday, July 11, 2020 5:40 PM

goldhammer

Thanks BK and OMG......will find out tonight when I spray some on the interior and canopy frames on the Myrt.  Only thing the bottle says is to let cure for a day.

 

I'd be real interested in hearing your finding !! I hope you will post back on that.

I need to order some up to try, it's not sold locally that I know of. But the reviews show it going down very well.

  • Member since
    August 2014
  • From: Willamette Valley, Oregon
Posted by goldhammer on Saturday, July 11, 2020 8:27 PM

Just got done.  Hase called for half Naka and half Mitsu interior green.  I added about 3-4% AK thinner just because. 

Three light coats covered well, shot at around 20PSI from my NEO.  Used about 3/4 of the large cup on the gun.  Did the entire interior, cowl, wheel wells and canopy frames

I didn't prime, as there won't be any issues once she's buttoned up (going with closed canopy).  Laid out flat without any issues. Cleaned up with tap water and a run through of a couple cups of Iwata acrylic medium cleaner, with a back flush and wipedown.

 Will see what the outside does when I get that far, as it is several colors and will require masking,  Will prime exterior, probably with MM laquer primer.

So far, I like it.

  • Member since
    November 2018
Posted by oldermodelguy on Sunday, July 12, 2020 6:24 AM

goldhammer

Just got done.  Hase called for half Naka and half Mitsu interior green.  I added about 3-4% AK thinner just because. 

Three light coats covered well, shot at around 20PSI from my NEO.  Used about 3/4 of the large cup on the gun.  Did the entire interior, cowl, wheel wells and canopy frames

I didn't prime, as there won't be any issues once she's buttoned up (going with closed canopy).  Laid out flat without any issues. Cleaned up with tap water and a run through of a couple cups of Iwata acrylic medium cleaner, with a back flush and wipedown.

 Will see what the outside does when I get that far, as it is several colors and will require masking,  Will prime exterior, probably with MM laquer primer.

So far, I like it.

 

Wow that's not much thinner !  In one of the reviews I watched the reviewer said it was not real fussy about thinner amount though, must have been right, he eye balled it and gave no %. He also tried three or four different thinners, all worked pretty well, one was the AK thinner.

In one video the guy didn't prime and masked it with blue tape later on and no paint lifted. He did a basic very generic free hand camo imitation on an old tank hull and the paint covered well. This wasn't a build, he just used the hull to demo the paint. He had experience ( not good) with the old versions of AK acrylic and noted how improved this Gen 3 seemed to be. I think it was in his review where I got the notion this paint might be more Tamiya in nature than Vallejo MA is. But it seems priming is optional with this paint at any rate. He did note the leveling nature of the paint once dry. and the very good opacity and coverage. That's the part that interests me. Thanks for your take !!

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