I think I figured it out – Acrylics that is.

Good going Scott!!!  once you figure it out the rest is easy... I tend to use Tamiya thinner on everything but Vallejo paints (distilled water does the job for those)  I know there are a lot of other things that can be used such as alcohol but the results with the Tamiya stuff really makes it worth the money... especially if you buy the BIG (250ml) bottle of Tamiya thinner.  It's only $2 more than the tiny 30ml bottle.

MM makes a thinner that works very well too if you are ever in a jam and can't get the Tamiya thinner close to you.  Here it is available at the Hobby Lobby down the street.  They also make an excellent dried acrylic remover too for the mixing bottles and such.

Congrats on the move to acrylics!

Welcome to acrylics! I have been using them for years now. I use Tamiya and Gunze-Sangyo and the only issue I've ever had is the paint sometimes dries too quickly. If that happens add just a drop of retarder (any kind will do) and you're good to go. I, too use Tamiya X20A thinner with both kinds of paint and have found them to be excellent.

Rich

Tankmaster7 wrote:

go away! steer clear of acrylic land! Seriously, I'm glad you like acrylics, but I'm a huge fan of enamels.

enamels are great, they cover well, and, to me anyway, seem a lot tougher, but now everybody seems to be moving to acrylics. MM, Tamiya, Testors, just to name a few of the ones I use.

Say all, I have been using Tamiya acrylic with great results for the past year. Some may remember my 1/72nd scale T-45A Goshawk and F/A-18E posted on the Aircraft Forum, both painted entirely with Tamiya!  Coundn't be more pleased with them.  However, I have been a Testors Model Master fan since I cut my teeth into this hobby many, many moons ago.  I even got excellent results from their "old formula" acrylics..who knew?!  Specifically, I just love the notion of going to the paint rack, grabbing the specific FS colors I need, without having to mix the Tamiya. Also, like their enamels, the Testors MM Acryl line has all the FS colors I need for my modern jet color schemes.  The only problem is;  I haven't, until reading this exciting post, been sucessfull with the MM Acryl, thinning for finelines.  Excited about Scott's results, I have already broke out the Tamiya thinner and I'm planning a trip to the LHS for some MM Acryl to try it out.  But before I do, has ayone tried this method to thin Acryl for fine line spraying?  I'm an acomplished airbrusher, used just about every acrylic on the market with great results..except "MM Acryl."  If I can get Acryl to spray "sustained" finelines with minimal tip-dry, pre-mature trying in the color cup, easier cleaning...I will be in modeling utopia!  OK, thats taking it a little too far...sorry.    

PS: Previous thinners and results when used with MM Acryl with poor results:

1. MM Acryl's own brand thinner

*Emmediate and constant tip-dry.  Paint dries rapidly, even in covered airbrush colorcup after thinning.  Sprays a fineline for a few secounds, then ol' "Murphy Law" kicks in agian with the tip dry at the critical moment during spraying....nice.. 

2. Water (distiled)/ Alcohol mix + retarder

*Same rsults as previous with more rapid tip-dry, paint rapidly drying in airbrush.

3. Straight distilled water

*Profanity, anger, frustration, use of an alcoholic beverage needed..."Radio Edit"

4. Windex

*Poor adhesion, gritty, pebbely finish (various thinning ratios used), same results as #3.  All the above.

Tankmaster7 wrote:

go away! steer clear of acrylic land! Seriously, I'm glad you like acrylics, but I'm a huge fan of enamels.

Tanky, you would say that, you're hooked on the fumes!

Karl

plasticmod992: I have posted this many times here, but have you tried a retarder? I use Tamiya, but, like you I would like to use MM Acryl. I never had any luck with acrylics until I tried adding just a drop of retarder, or extender to my paint cup. It makes the acrylic dry slower - hence no tipdry, no pebble finish, and no fast drying - the paint flows into the recesses - much like an enamel would do.

I use Createx retarder, but I think any kind would work as well. It made all the difference in the world for me.

Rich

Retarders work great for the other modeling acrylics, except, it seems for MM Acryl

MusicCity, what type of expirences have you had with shooting finelines using Acryl?  Do you use Acryl's brand thinner or have you developed an alternate method?

Hey, I got some of that.  I'll give it a shot as well and will report back here.  What I'd like to do, with everyones continued involvement, is do an unofficial "consumer reports" of sorts on the use of MM Acryl, and other finishing products...."by modelers for modelers."  Kind of the way FSM does a review of kits and products in their magazine.  Especially of controversial products that seem to generate repetitious debate or spark continued discussion amoung modelers.  In the case of MM Acryl, lets try to get a handfull of designated experienced modelers to do a series of test spraying of the product.  We'd test manufactuer recommended use, alternate thinners, retarders and later, come to some sort of conclution based on the results to determine what works the BEST for our scale models.  Then we can send a report to FSM (if they want to participate) to act as our liason to the actual manufactuer.  Man, the impact it would have!  Most importantly, this would serve as direct, comprehensive, feedback from real modelers who use the product.  I know that companies spend big money on focus groups and do similar tests, but not with FSM behind them, I think.  What do you guys think?  Again, the purpose of this is to directly benifit the modeler.   It would be like the modeling world's Siskel & Ebert, if you will. LOL!

FSM Staff, if you are reading this, tell me what YOU think as well, I am very interested in this venture! This could be a FSM magazine FIRST....I can already see the column under the "News and Products" section of the magazine....

"The FSM Consumer Report"

Post your thoughts or email to: gwilliamsindy@aol.com