Tamiya Acrylic and AB Question

QUOTE: 1. Can you use 70% Isopropyl Rubbing alcohol to thin Tamiya Acrylic instead of Tamiya thinner? If not what can i buy in bulk to substitute for Tamiya Thinner.

Yes, that's what I tytpically use although the Tamiya thinner does work better. If you use alcohol I'd also recommend adding some acrylic retarder to the paint cup.

QUOTE: 2. Does anyone have the recipe for the solution using Simple Green for cleaning out an air brush. I know you need distilled water, simple green, and perhaps one more thing but I did not write it down. What are the ratios. Thanks.

2 parts distilled water
1 part Simple Green
1 part Windex

Scott, what kind of acrylic retarder? If Tamiya thinner includes the retarder, could I mix that with the Isopropyl? If so, at what ratio? Could I use 99% Isopropyl mixed with distilled water (for some reason I have two nearly full bottles...) to create the 70% solution? I knew I should have paid more attention during chemistry, but Susie had to go and wear that sweater!

Right now I'm using the Tamiya thinner and acrylics, and tonight was the first time I actually used the AB in anger. I only painted the kettenkraftrad for my Do 335A, but I must say I'm hooked on ABs! Wow, what an improvement! Smooth and even coverage, and I used a much smaller amount of paint, to boot!

QUOTE: Scott, what kind of acrylic retarder? If Tamiya thinner includes the retarder, could I mix that with the Isopropyl? If so, at what ratio? Could I use 99% Isopropyl mixed with distilled water (for some reason I have two nearly full bottles...) to create the 70% solution? I knew I should have paid more attention during chemistry, but Susie had to go and wear that sweater!

You can either just use the 90% as-is or mix it about 50/50 with water. A lot of people have good luck thinning Tamiya paints with water but I didn't so I just use alcohol. Either the 90% or 70% will work fine.

As to the retarder, I think they are probably all pretty much the same. The brand I have is Createx but only because it's the first one I saw. Liquitex and Golden also make some and there are probably other brands.

DON'T use a lot of it! Only a couple of drops is all that is necessary to slow down the drying time. If you add a lot it will take days for the paint to dry (been there, done that!)

QUOTE: Right now I'm using the Tamiya thinner and acrylics, and tonight was the first time I actually used the AB in anger. I only painted the kettenkraftrad for my Do 335A, but I must say I'm hooked on ABs! Wow, what an improvement! Smooth and even coverage, and I used a much smaller amount of paint, to boot!

They do make a difference. Once you get accustomed to using them there is no going back. Personally I just wouldn't consider painting any other way.

Thanks Scott (again!). I've seen those names before on another thread, but couldn't remember them, and my cursory search wasn't turning up a name only references to acrylic retarders!

My LHS doesn't stock much in the way of supplies like that, I'll try the local Michaels. It's next door to Home Depot and I have to go there today, anyway, SWMBO has her "honeydo" list out. I'm off work for a week rebuilding a deck (and modeling) and finishing up some landscaping (and modeling).