Thinning Tamiya Acrylics for washes or airbrushing

Welcome to FSM ajthomas.

For spraying with my airbrush I just thin with water even though the Tamiya thinner is a good product. For most colours I find that you don't even have to thin them, they are airbrush ready. As far as washes go, I will leave that answer to someone else, I never do them.

Hi, and welcome to the nut house---er---the FSM forum! Enjoy your stay, and come back often.

For washes, I would suggest either thinning with the Tamiya thinner, or with straight Isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol. Washes need to be able to flow freely, usually via capillary action, into all the tight spaces, cracks, lines, etc. on the model. A simple water thinner will tend toward preventing that from happening given its natural surface tension. If you really have to use water, then add one SMALL drop of dishwashing detergent to the mix to counter the surface tension property in the water. Too much detergent, and you might as well start washing dishes with all the suds you'll generate.
The wash itself should be the consistency of coffee. Just a few drops of paint, and a lot of thinner. You'll have to keep stirring it to keep the pigment from settling. Experiment to find what works best for you. Hope this helps.
Gip Winecoff

PS Robert---You need to try a wash just once. You'll be amazed at your results. And then add a drybrushing and your pastels, and WOW! (I can even say it backwards, "WOW!). The detail will jump out at you....
Gip Winecoff

Oh I have tried them Gip ..... personally I don't like the results.

I prefer the results achieved with drybrushing, graphite and pastels.