tamiya acrylics delayed once again

Milairjunkie

randypandy831:

anyone know how to mix up gull gray? 

For FS26440 (USN upper Light Gull Gray);

1 part XF-20 : 1 part XF-2

I would give it a test shot before committing though!

Back to the original subject of this thread, we got several colors refilled in at our LHS this past week. Looking at the label I noticed a slight difference on the label, the new ones state conforms to ASTM standards. If this was the hang up I can't see why it took so long! Also the e-mail we got from our distributor said more colors are on the way.

troublemaker66

 

Milairjunkie:

 

 

randypandy831:

anyone know how to mix up gull gray? 

 

 

For FS26440 (USN upper Light Gull Gray);

1 part XF-20 : 1 part XF-2

I would give it a test shot before committing though!

 

This may be a dumb question but, is there a site that has color mixing formulas/info? That would be a really handy thing to have.

 

i've search a couple of them and there is no straight color match witch i know of but none state a mix for the color. im sure someone knows something. 

troublemaker66

 

randypandy831:

 

.i was talking about a tamiya mix though. i got MM enamal both in flat N gloss and im out of thinner. i got lots of tam acrylics and two fresh X-20 bottles. 

 

What color is X-20? Can`t find it on the Tamiya color charts...they skip from X-19 to X-23 on their site. XF-20 is flat  medium gray so is X-20 semi-gloss medium gray? I don`t use their semi`s too much so I don`t know if the colors are the same, just different finishes.

 

X-20 is their thinner. X-20 is their enamel thinner and X-20A is their acrylic thinner. even though i stated X-20 i got X-20A. no one ever says the A.

troublemaker66

 

This may be a dumb question but, is there a site that has color mixing formulas/info? That would be a really handy thing to have.

Try this one...

http://www.ipmsstockholm.org/colorcharts/stuff_eng_colorcharts_fs.htm

It has the mixtures of the US colors

troublemaker66

What color is X-20? Can`t find it on the Tamiya color charts...they skip from X-19 to X-23 on their site. XF-20 is flat  medium gray so is X-20 semi-gloss medium gray? I don`t use their semi`s too much so I don`t know if the colors are the same, just different finishes.

X-20, or X-20A to give it's full number code is Tamiya acrylic thinner.

With regards to paint charts, there are quite a few out there, but many just give straight equivalents & don't go anywhere near mixes although there are a few that do;

http://www.paint4models.com/  gives straight equivalents including FS numbers & most common brands.

http://www.ipmsstockholm.org/colorcharts/stuff_eng_colorcharts_us.htm Urban's color reference charts give equivalents & mixes - it's very useful

http://www.colorserver.net/ give on-screen chips for FS colors & is pretty comprehensive.

There are a load more out there - to get the gull gray mix for Tamiya, just Google "gull gray+Tamiya" & you'll get about 11,000 hits, the relevant one being the third search result on the first page.

randypandy831

troublemaker66:

 

X-20 is their thinner. X-20 is their enamel thinner and X-20A is their acrylic thinner. even though i stated X-20 i got X-20A. no one ever says the A.

Milairjunkie

troublemaker66:

What color is X-20? Can`t find it on the Tamiya color charts...they skip from X-19 to X-23 on their site. XF-20 is flat  medium gray so is X-20 semi-gloss medium gray? I don`t use their semi`s too much so I don`t know if the colors are the same, just different finishes.

 

X-20, or X-20A to give it's full number code is Tamiya acrylic thinner.

 

With regards to paint charts, there are quite a few out there, but many just give straight equivalents & don't go anywhere near mixes although there are a few that do;

http://www.paint4models.com/  gives straight equivalents including FS numbers & most common brands.

http://www.ipmsstockholm.org/colorcharts/stuff_eng_colorcharts_us.htm Urban's color reference charts give equivalents & mixes - it's very useful

http://www.colorserver.net/ give on-screen chips for FS colors & is pretty comprehensive.

There are a load more out there - to get the gull gray mix for Tamiya, just Google "gull gray+Tamiya" & you'll get about 11,000 hits, the relevant one being the third search result on the first page.

Len

stikpusher

troublemaker66:

 

This may be a dumb question but, is there a site that has color mixing formulas/info? That would be a really handy thing to have.

 

Try this one...

http://www.ipmsstockholm.org/colorcharts/stuff_eng_colorcharts_fs.htm

It has the mixtures of the US colors

Len

thanks everyone! 

i got sick of google and used Bing and came across this. 

http://www.ipmsnymburk.com/tamiya%20mixing/MixTamiya.pdf

Sick of Google? It is the best search engine bar none.

But it is always a good idea to try different search engines at the same time to cast a wider net.

i been having good search results with bing lately. 

stikpusher

But it is always a good idea to try different search engines at the same time to cast a wider net.

True Carlos but there is a reason all the IT people I know recommend Google.

troublemaker66

randypandy831:

i'll give it a try since i got two untouched bottles of tams lacquer. 

anyone know how to mix up gull gray? 

sorry for all the questions. i got it in MM enamel but im out of their thinner and got two fresh bottles of X-20. 

 

I`m not trying to rock the boat here but, I use plain old laquer thinner with my MM paints and NEVER have trouble. The name on the can is Klean strip...got it at walmart or Home Despot, forget which. It`s a half gallon can I think and I transfer it with an old turkey baster. It cost around 14 bucks and lasts a pretty long time. They sell it in pints and quarts if you wanted to try it.

Sorry about questions? That`s what this place is all about...

Indeed.  I've still manage to make many mistakes on my models since coming back to the hobby that I read about here before making them (seems experience may still be the best teacher), but I've also avoided a fair number due to forum advice!

Tamiya acrylics aren't water based (like Vallejo, for example.)  X-20 is alcohol based with a retarder and flow aid built in.  Tam acylics therefore thin really well with lacquer thinner.  The store based stuff is a bit harsher than the hobby lacquer thinner, but works the same way.  I don't have any experience with Tamiya lacquer thinner, but use Gunze Mr Leveling Thinner all the time now, and I've read they're pretty much interchangeable.  The Gunze product has a pretty strong retarder.   I've sprayed XF-59 and XF-23 with Mr Leveling, and the finish was superb even with my low airbrush experience.  I use the Klean Strip green can to clean the airbrush.

If you're going to go to the trouble of spraying lacquer thinner, though, then I'd point out that Tamiya acrylics and their lack of availability don't matter nearly as much.  Mr Color paints spray just as well, have a much larger color selection, and are readily available.  I'd even say the gloss finish on Mr Color gloss paints is superior to Tamiya (can't tell any difference at all with semi or flat). 

NervousEnergy

troublemaker66:

randypandy831:

i'll give it a try since i got two untouched bottles of tams lacquer. 

anyone know how to mix up gull gray? 

sorry for all the questions. i got it in MM enamel but im out of their thinner and got two fresh bottles of X-20. 

 

I`m not trying to rock the boat here but, I use plain old laquer thinner with my MM paints and NEVER have trouble. The name on the can is Klean strip...got it at walmart or Home Despot, forget which. It`s a half gallon can I think and I transfer it with an old turkey baster. It cost around 14 bucks and lasts a pretty long time. They sell it in pints and quarts if you wanted to try it.

Sorry about questions? That`s what this place is all about...

 

Indeed.  I've still manage to make many mistakes on my models since coming back to the hobby that I read about here before making them (seems experience may still be the best teacher), but I've also avoided a fair number due to forum advice!

Tamiya acrylics aren't water based (like Vallejo, for example.)  X-20 is alcohol based with a retarder and flow aid built in.  Tam acylics therefore thin really well with lacquer thinner.  The store based stuff is a bit harsher than the hobby lacquer thinner, but works the same way.  I don't have any experience with Tamiya lacquer thinner, but use Gunze Mr Leveling Thinner all the time now, and I've read they're pretty much interchangeable.  The Gunze product has a pretty strong retarder.   I've sprayed XF-59 and XF-23 with Mr Leveling, and the finish was superb even with my low airbrush experience.  I use the Klean Strip green can to clean the airbrush.

If you're going to go to the trouble of spraying lacquer thinner, though, then I'd point out that Tamiya acrylics and their lack of availability don't matter nearly as much.  Mr Color paints spray just as well, have a much larger color selection, and are readily available.  I'd even say the gloss finish on Mr Color gloss paints is superior to Tamiya (can't tell any difference at all with semi or flat). 

troublemaker66

 

 

 I thin my Tamiya paint with 99% alcohol and have absolutely no problems.

 

Do they sell 99% Isopropyl alcohol? I use 91% and they also sell 70% but I have never seen 99%.

GreenThumb

troublemaker66:

 

 

 I thin my Tamiya paint with 99% alcohol and have absolutely no problems.

 

 

Do they sell 99% Isopropyl alcohol? I use 91% and they also sell 70% but I have never seen 99%.

Len, Mike usually uses ethyl alcohol, not Isopropyl. There is a definite difference in how they behave. ethyl seems "wetter" than Iso, and using ethyl, you can thin the paint out a lot further than you can when using Iso.

We can get 99% Iso here in Australia, but it's almost as expensive as the genuine Tamiya X-20A

Phil_H

Len, Mike usually uses ethyl alcohol, not Isopropyl. There is a definite difference in how they behave. ethyl seems "wetter" than Iso, and using ethyl, you can thin the paint out a lot further than you can when using Iso.

We can get 99% Iso here in Australia, but it's almost as expensive as the genuine Tamiya X-20A

I tend to use the brand specific thinner when I paint, as I don't build that fast and the cost winds up being negligable.  The big bottle of Mr Leveling Thinner has now thinned paint for two 1/32 scale builds, and I've hardly dented it.  At this rate I'll replace it in 2016. 

Having said that I do have some 99% Iso, but that's in my computer parts drawer (my other hobby.)  It's used to clean thermal compound off the top of CPUs when changing the cooler.  Got it at Frys, so if you'd like to try it for thinning paint look at Frys, Microcenter, or good old Radio Shack.

Phil_H

Len, Mike usually uses ethyl alcohol, not Isopropyl. There is a definite difference in how they behave. ethyl seems "wetter" than Iso, and using ethyl, you can thin the paint out a lot further than you can when using Iso.

We can get 99% Iso here in Australia, but it's almost as expensive as the genuine Tamiya X-20A

troublemaker66

 

Phil_H:

 

Len, Mike usually uses ethyl alcohol, not Isopropyl. There is a definite difference in how they behave. ethyl seems "wetter" than Iso, and using ethyl, you can thin the paint out a lot further than you can when using Iso.

We can get 99% Iso here in Australia, but it's almost as expensive as the genuine Tamiya X-20A

 

Mike just said he uses 91% Iso. To be honest Phil, I only ever heard ethyl alcohol as petrol additive. I wouldn`t even know where to buy it. I`d have to take your word on the ethyl. I`d sure like to test what you`re saying though...couldn`t imagine something that could work better than the Iso has for me and if there was, I`d surely switch, as long as I had access to it. I guess the Iso alcohol dries faster than ethyl? Is there really a big difference between the two? I`m learning a lot from this thread!

 

Yes I have 91% Iso but that is more for cleaning. Phil is correct, I thin Tamiya acrylics with 70% Ethyl alcohol. It works good I think.

GreenThumb

troublemaker66:

 

Phil_H 

 

Yes I have 91% Iso but that is more for cleaning. Phil is correct, I thin Tamiya acrylics with 70% Ethyl alcohol. It works good I think.

I bought my ethyl alcohol at Rite Aid drug store. The label says, "Ethyl Rubbing Alcohol 70%"

GreenThumb

I bought my ethyl alcohol at Rite Aid drug store. The label says, "Ethyl Rubbing Alcohol 70%"

 

I've been told many times that ethyl works better then iso.

Tamiya   is an acrylic lacquer(or Lacquer acrylic if such a thing exists) , it makes no sense to thin it with alcohol

whoever came up with that idea has no idea why im sure ,   their lacquer thinner (yellow top)works best , even the Tamiya website recommends it for best results... and it definitively does give the best results by a mile !.. The Tamiya Lacquer thinner is designed for plastic , it's not pure  strong Lacquer and contains more than pure Lacquer , so  be careful using a plain harsh Lacquer from the  hardware store, .

.. to be honest Tamiya is  barely an acrylic , but it does contain some acrylic binder so I guess they feel that is enough to call it acrylic paint...lol

stymye

Tamiya   is an acrylic lacquer(or Lacquer acrylic if such a thing exists) , it makes no sense to thin it with alcohol

Yes these look horrible from thinning Tamiya acrylics with 70% ethyl alcohol.

GreenThumb

 

stymye:

 

Tamiya   is an acrylic lacquer(or Lacquer acrylic if such a thing exists) , it makes no sense to thin it with alcohol

 

 

Yes these look horrible from thinning Tamiya acrylics with 70% ethyl alcohol.

Absolutely Ghastly!

GreenThumb

stymye:

Tamiya   is an acrylic lacquer(or Lacquer acrylic if such a thing exists) , it makes no sense to thin it with alcohol

 

Yes these look horrible from thinning Tamiya acrylics with 70% ethyl alcohol.