RC Tank Warfare community hobby forum

I don't like acrylics generally speaking, but I decided to use them on this project. I am using the Tamiya thinner with a 1:1 ratio mix with paint. The sprayed texture reminds me of velvet. I know Isopropyl alcohol can be used in a pinch, but that winds up doing the same. I am shooting at about 20 PSI with an Iwata HP C.
There are no moisture issues and I have a trap not only at the brush, but at the compressor outlet.
Suggestions? Something to retard the paint curing, different thinner?

-Dan

I use windex windo cleaner....cheep and works for me...

Amonia based windex? Does it retard the drying time a bit? Smooth finish?

-Dan

seem to work ok for me but I know there are much better painters on here than me as well.

I've used car windscreen wash with acrylics , it is alcohol based , slows the drying time down . You can lower the air pressure to about 12 - 15 psi as well - as acrylics behave differently

Dan,

I always use Isopropanol alcohol, when using Tammie acrylics, but there's another neat trick to get rid of that velvet look: just add 15% Tamiya clear to your mix, this will help to flow better and it gives a satin finish which helps you in the decal and weathering process.
If all this doesnt help (I'm sure it will....) Get a bottle of Tamiya Laquer Thinner and dillute your paint with that, it will break down the coarse pigments and leave you with a baby-smooth finish. Adam Wilder (a highly respected 1:35 modeller) lives by this recipe. This will be a bit more expensive, but hey, what's a few extra bucks, compared to a bad paint-job??

HTH, John.

I appreciate all the imput. Some of the Tamiya products are in short supply because of labeling and the global warming UN farce to tax the world. I couldn't get the spray can primer for months. I have always loved Humbrol for it's fine pigments and covering abilities. It's been my choice for figure painting as long as I have been painting them. The Tamiya paint does seem to be coarse pigmented. And yes, I don't want to have to strip it with Easy Off over cleaner. John: I don't think I've even seen Tamiya lacquer thinner, just the square bottle of acrylic. I will have to look for it.
-Dan

Eastern:
I don't shoot a lot of acrylics, I shoot enamels. However, because of the washes and not having to wait two or three days before moving on. I was working with about 20-25 PSI and the Tamiya was thinned with 1:1 with Tamiya thinner. I guess I will go back to my Badger 150 and the large needle. There is a LOT of surface area to cover.

If I may chime in here, I have a suggestion. Adding a few drops of X-22 clear is a great idea, but another thing to do while using the Tamiya Acrylic paints is to use tamiya Lacquer thinner Yes, I said lacquer thinner. This will take care of that velvet appearence you are talking about, along with adding the clear to the mix. It should come out just as you want.

@ Yellowshaker:

I allready suggested that three posts ago. It's a very common use in the 1:35 world to use lacquer thinner (the one with the yellow twist-cap) to dillute Tamiya paints. And as you said: It'll leave you with a baby-smooth finish...

John.