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AFV Painting & Weathering
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Paint thinning questions
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Metro Manila, Philippines
Joined: August 28, 2003
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Posted: Friday, September 19, 2003 - 02:32 AM UTC
How do you thin Games Workshop acrylics? I tried them out after reading an article recommending them, but have to brush them on thick and straight from the bottle (which leaves nasty brush marks! ). If I put in any water at all, they lose all adhesion properties whatsoever, to raw plastic or (Gunze Mr. Surfacer) primer.

Also, I've been getting funky bubbles when I thin Tamiya enamels (specifically, Olive Drab)with hardware store paint thinner Is it the thinner or is the paint going bad? Any help with either of these would be really nice!
AJLaFleche
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Massachusetts, United States
Joined: May 05, 2002
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Posted: Friday, September 19, 2003 - 02:56 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Also, I've been getting funky bubbles when I thin Tamiya enamels (specifically, Olive Drab)with hardware store paint thinner Is it the thinner or the paint going bad? Any help with either of these would be really nice!


Neither. They are not compatible. The thinner is solvent based and the paint is water based. If you've added thinner to the paint in the bottle, you'll need to dispose of the paint. It's not pinin'for the fjords! 'Its passed on! This paint is no more! It has ceased to be! 'It's expired and gone to meet 'its maker! 'It's a stiff! Bereft of life, it rests in peace! ...pushing up the daisies! It's kicked the bucket, it's shuffled off its mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the bleedin' choir invisibile!! THIS IS EX-PAINT!!
It's deader than the fabled Norwegian Blue parrot.
#:-)
jrnelson
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Iowa, United States
Joined: May 23, 2002
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Posted: Friday, September 19, 2003 - 12:26 PM UTC
For your acrylic paint I would try thinning it with rubbing alcohol (iso-propyl) or winshield washing fluid. I have never tried using the window fluid, but have heard it works well.

For your Tamiya enamels, I would use their "airbrush" thinner. Definately more expensive than the cheap hardware store thinner, but should work better. I did not know that Tamiya made enamel paints.. I was under the impression that all they did was acryllic stuff.. Learn something everyday...

Jeff
capnjock
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United States
Joined: May 19, 2003
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Posted: Friday, September 19, 2003 - 05:35 PM UTC
Windshield washer works great for acrylic paints(at least Polly scale and Model Master). I use a mix that is about 30% washer and am very pleased with the results.
capnjock
Merlin
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United Kingdom
Joined: June 11, 2003
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Posted: Friday, September 19, 2003 - 06:46 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Also, I've been getting funky bubbles when I thin Tamiya enamels (specifically, Olive Drab)with hardware store paint thinner


Hi there

I've never used Tamiya enamels. Maybe cellulose (laquer) thinners would be compatible?

My golden rule is to test how to thin new types of paint before I risk putting them anywhere near a model...

All the best

Rowan
GeneralFailure
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European Union
Joined: February 15, 2002
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Posted: Saturday, September 20, 2003 - 08:50 AM UTC

Quoted Text

It's not pinin'for the fjords! 'Its passed on! This paint is no more! It has ceased to be! 'It's expired and gone to meet 'its maker! 'It's a stiff! Bereft of life, it rests in peace! ...pushing up the daisies! It's kicked the bucket, it's shuffled off its mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the bleedin' choir invisibile!! THIS IS EX-PAINT!!
It's deader than the fabled Norwegian Blue parrot.
#:-)


I think AJ means you can't use it any more.
tazz
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New York, United States
Joined: July 21, 2002
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Posted: Saturday, September 20, 2003 - 10:08 AM UTC
when i used tamyia paints out of the air brush,
i thined it with rubbing alcohol
and it worked good.
but i got like grit on the model,
thats because the paint was drying fast
so u have to hold the brush a liltte closer to the model.
that the worst thing about modeling is thining paint its the biggest pain in the butt ever lol
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Metro Manila, Philippines
Joined: August 28, 2003
KitMaker: 190 posts
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Posted: Saturday, September 20, 2003 - 07:27 PM UTC
Thanks guys! I tried using a new bottle of Tamiya Olive Drab and Tamiya enamel thinner - these seem to have helped. I think the bubbles were from the water I used to clean my brushes after applying acrylic paints - evil water droplets! Like jrnelson said, we all learn something new everyday... #:-)
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