My First Airbrushing with Acrylics

Tamiya use 90% isopropyl alcohol, Polly Scale and Gunze use Windex

And before you spend a bunch of $$$ on Tamiya acrylics try the Testors Acrylics. I know I will be in the minority on this forum but I much prefer the Testors acrylics. The go on more easily and come in more colors, and at least around here can be found in more places.

I've not tried the Tamiya acrylics, but I really really like the Testors ones.

Regards,

-Drew

Ive tried both, and I still use both. But I do prefer the Model Master. They have such a bigger range and more commonly know colors. With Tamiyas you often have to mix colors to get one, where Model Master usually already has it. The only thing Ive ever had a problem with Model Master is sometimes getting small lumps in the paint which need to be filtered out. Never had that problem with Tamiya,

I love Model Master Enamels...but I really am disappointed with their Acryl line. The Acryl seems to dry too fast despite retarders to slow things down to prevent the anoying tip drying, thinning problems, etc... On the other hand Gunze would be my first choice in acrylics; IMHO the best water-based acrylic on the market. Thins and airbrushes excellent with just distilled water, even does fine lines as good as enamels! Now if only I could get the stuff more readily available!

I poured the paint into my mixing container and added the thinner and mixed and shook vigorously, but they definitely want to stay separated, with the heavier paint sitting near the bottom. What the hell?


You should do the other way around. First you pour the thinner then tha paint. That way the paint won't stick to the bottom.

I've never had that problem with Tamiya. I use the alcohol and stir only. Just have to re-stir if paint sits for a time. Gunze's good too, but I prefer the Tamiya.

Im about to use Model Masters Acrylic for airbrushing my car,do i need to thin the paint and if so what should i use to thin it.Ive only used enamels for airbrushing but this time thought i would give the acrylics a try.

QUOTE: Originally posted by RabidScoobie Im about to use Model Masters Acrylic for airbrushing my car,do i need to thin the paint and if so what should i use to thin it.Ive only used enamels for airbrushing but this time thought i would give the acrylics a try.

I can't speak for anyone else, but I use very little thinner with the Testors Model Master Acryl line.

What I do is stir the paint with a toothpick, then drop two BBs in the bottle and shake vigorously. This mixes the paint pretty well. I use a pipette to transfer the paint from the bottle to the air brush reservoir. Once it's there, I usually add a couple of drops of the Tetor's acrylic thinner. The advice I got was that the paint should be about the thickness of milk, and that's worked pretty well for me so far.

Oh, when I first open a bottle to stir it for the first time, I put two drops of dishwashing soap to the paint. That's supposed to break the surface tension and make the paint flow better.

Now, I've only done one model this way, but I'm really happy with the results. I primed the model with Testors spray can light gray enamel before spraying the acrylics. This worked really well for me, but I was sure to let the model dry for several days so that the enamel didn't react with the acrylic paint.

My two cents. :D

Regards,

-Drew

Hi,

I just finished shooting two Tamiya 1/16 Scale World Figure Series, 36306 German Machine Gunner http://www.tamiyausa.com/product/plastic/models/36304.html and 36304 WWII German Infantryman http://www.tamiyausa.com/product/plastic/models/36306.html both with Tamiya Acrylic paints XF-10 Flat Brown and XF-65 Field Grey both were thinned with Tamiya X-20A.

Throughly mix the acrylics, then as Jimbolino said pour (I use a glass eye dropper) the thinner in the colour cup first. This will help in mixing.

Last step I take a tooth pick and mix both paint and thinner.

Do a test on some wood to what ever I have around to see if the thickness is right.

I am a Tamiya only man. I buy non-Tamiya tools. However, everything else from putty to thinner is Tamiya. I have tried all the most of the Testors line and have found that you get what you pay for and I can not paint the Model Master Enamels. No matter how hard I try it always comes out really crappy. Go figure...

Tamiya Vs Testors is like NVIDIA vs ATI, IBM vs Apple, Coke vs Pepsi there will never be a winner, it is all a matter of choice.

dss902