I thought I would throw in my
![My 2 cents [2c]](/FSM/CS/emoticons/icon_smile_2cents.gif)
on spraying Tamiya paints so far and maybe offer some tips that might be of help to anyone spraying acrylics or other paints.
![Wink [;)]](/FSM/CS/emoticons/icon_smile_wink.gif)
I have been using Denatured Alcohol (DNA) as the thinner for the Tamiya paints that I have been trying and it has been working pretty good, but I have noticed that the paint starts to thicken in the cup after extended spraying times. I just add a little more thinner and go back to painting.
Maybe it's my brand of DNA (Sunnyside), I am not sure. Have you noticed this Greg?
I have found that 2 parts paint to 1 part thinner for normal spraying
and a 1:1 ratio for finer line spraying works well. This is the ratios
that Greg (Plasticmod992) told me about and he uses also.
I use a mixture of 2 parts filtered water, 1 part Windex and 1 part
Simple Green in a squeeze bottle and it cleans acrylics great. I have
yet to try DNA with any other paints but it would be interesting to see
how it does with other brands. Tip dry is a problem with any acrylics
but it is not too bad with this Tamiya mixture.
What you have to do is wipe the end of the needle every now and then
with a small paintbrush dampened with thinner or a cotton swab and get
that dried acrylic off. Then spraying will be better again until tip
dry once again hampers smooth paint flow.
You can cut down on tip dry some by using Badger Needle Juice or Medea Super Lube but it still happens over extended spraying sessions and is just a fact of life with acrylics.
Also, when you finish a pass with the paint keep the airbrush trigger pushed down but move it forward so only air comes out as this actually cleans the needle tip some because of the air blowing across it.
This is an old T-shirt artists trick as they have tip dry much worse than we do with modeling paints.
I have done T-shirts in the past and still have the old habit of picking the paint off the end of the needle with my fingernails as I spray air out of the airbrush to clean it. Try it, it works if you have an exposed needle such as the Omni 4000, 155, 360 and others.
Another thing that helps a lot is if you are going to let
the airbrush sit for a while without being sprayed, then shoot some
thinner through it to get that paint out of it before it starts drying
and causes problems when you pick it up 10 minutes later.
Hopefully this is helpful to someone.