Tanky - I use almost exclusively acrylic when spraying.. my favorite is Vallejo acrylics.. they go on smoother than... well you get the picture. adhere well (I use the vallejo thinner which has a retarder and adhesive helper in it) and never have problems... I use MM acrylics too with similar results (just be careful masking over some of them) and lastly I have used a few of the Tamiya ones and had no real probs...
with acrylics I defnitely use needle lube, it prevents a lot of the tip dry and clogging you get with them... soak the airbrush parts in lacquer thinner about every 20 to 30 hours of brushing and you are set!
I do recommend having a spare needle handy in case it happens again. I learned my lesson much the same way you did and immediately ordered 3.. one in the brush one one as a spare... the other is just there for emergencies...