Tamiya thinner

iso alcohol, 99%

QUOTE: iso alcohol, 99%

Not always ... it causes the finish to turn out flat. 91% isopropyl alky (not 99%) is what I normally use, but I normally want a flat finish. If you want gloss Tamiya's thinner is your best bet, but if you want flat you can use alky with no problems. 50% alcohol and 50% water might prevent the finish from being flat but I haven't tried it.

Scott,

Do you notice any difference in the 91% Iso and the 70% Iso alcohol mixed 50/50 with water?

I am not sure which one I have but I believe it is the weaker 70% if I remember correctly.

Mike

I only used the alky / water mix once with MM acrylics, and the finish was about the same as I got with just 91% alky. The tip-dry problem wasn't as pronounced though and it dried a little slower.

but don't use water with tamiya paints

Have you experienced any crackling problem with thinners others than Tamiya's?? That's muybiggest fear using a different thinner??

Saul

QUOTE: Have you experienced any crackling problem with thinners others than Tamiya's?? That's muybiggest fear using a different thinner??

No, I haven't had any cracking problems at all. Probably 90% of what I paint is airbrushed using Tamiya acrylics thinned with 91% isopropyl alcohol and a couple of drops of retarder. The retarder slows down the drying time so I don't have such a problem with dry tip on my airbrush. It sprays fine, goes on smooth, and the only down side I've noticed is that the surface is always flat.