Argh...I still am looking for a nearby store for Tamiya acrylics...

I have used Tamiya most of my modelling years, and recently discovered mixing the paint with their laquer thinner will give you an awesome finish. For me nothing is better than that, and that's what I'm sticking with.

Just my $.02

Me too, Tamiya thinned with windex is the best to spray.

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I have used Tamiya most of my modelling years, and recently discovered mixing the paint with their laquer thinner will give you an awesome finish. For me nothing is better than that, and that's what I'm sticking with.

Just my $.02

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Hi Nathan,

I have heard about mixing Tamiya with their lacquer thinner which yields smooth finish, are you referring to mixing Tamiya acrylic with their blue capped lacquer thinner? The last time I tried with their lac thinner, I think the tamiya acrylic paint formed a ball and clogged my AB.

Mixing their lacquers with their thinner produced an immiscible oily layer which was more like a wash when out of my AB...

There must be something I did wrong, please advise.

Kiong

No no no no, The Tamiya thinner with the yellow cap! It is very hard to find but if you do, do yourself a favor and order a couple bottles(and 1 for me)! I know they sell it at luckymodel.com, but that is a chinese company and it takesa little longer to get your order. I'm sure other websites stock the stuff too.
I used to always thin my Tamiya acrylics with Iso alcohol, but always had gritty finish that I had to sand smooth half the time. I also tried thinning with windex, or water and still not completely satisfied. But once I used the Yellow cap thinner I fell in love!!

Is Vallejo worth the price? I don't have a lhs that carries it, so I'd be paying somewhere in the ballpark of $3 per bottle. For the same amount, I can order the 23ml bottles of Tamiya.

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Is Vallejo worth the price? I don't have a lhs that carries it, so I'd be paying somewhere in the ballpark of $3 per bottle. For the same amount, I can order the 23ml bottles of Tamiya.

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Vallejo is 100% worth it for figure painting- actually any sort of brush painting really. Model Air is not as easy to use as Tamiya in an airbrush though.

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I have used Tamiya most of my modelling years, and recently discovered mixing the paint with their laquer thinner will give you an awesome finish. For me nothing is better than that, and that's what I'm sticking with.

Just my $.02

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Hi Nathan,

I have heard about mixing Tamiya with their lacquer thinner which yields smooth finish, are you referring to mixing Tamiya acrylic with their blue capped lacquer thinner? The last time I tried with their lac thinner, I think the tamiya acrylic paint formed a ball and clogged my AB.

Mixing their lacquers with their thinner produced an immiscible oily layer which was more like a wash when out of my AB...

There must be something I did wrong, please advise.

Kiong

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I have used Tamiya most of my modelling years, and recently discovered mixing the paint with their laquer thinner will give you an awesome finish. For me nothing is better than that, and that's what I'm sticking with.

Just my $.02

---

Hi Nathan,

I have heard about mixing Tamiya with their lacquer thinner which yields smooth finish, are you referring to mixing Tamiya acrylic with their blue capped lacquer thinner? The last time I tried with their lac thinner, I think the tamiya acrylic paint formed a ball and clogged my AB.

Mixing their lacquers with their thinner produced an immiscible oily layer which was more like a wash when out of my AB...

There must be something I did wrong, please advise.

Kiong

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Kiong,

The blue capped thinner is for Tamiya enamels and will not mix with the acrylics. The enamel thinner is essentially mineral spirits and is not at all compatible with the acrylic paints. As mentioned above, Tamiya's lacquer thinner has a yellow cap and seems to work for both their enamels and acrylics.

You know, I have been experiencing the same grainy rough finish with Tamiya acrylics, so I was always wondering how on earth people get such smooth and beautiful finish with Tamiya acrylics...

Thanks man

Cheers
Kiong

They key to avoiding grittiness with Tamiya when using anything other than its lacquer thinner is to drop the pressure, get close to the model with the a/b and lay the pain somewhat wet. With this, you'll never experience that sandy texture on the model again.

Not to be a killjoy but the fact still remains that Tamiya paint is getting hard to find.Relabeling or not ,that is still a big problem.I have been looking for some X20a since christmas and still no one has it in stock and can't tell me when they will. Jeff

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You know, I have been experiencing the same grainy rough finish with Tamiya acrylics, so I was always wondering how on earth people get such smooth and beautiful finish with Tamiya acrylics...

Thanks man

Cheers
Kiong

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Hi Kiong,

Rob has it pretty well covered above:

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They key to avoiding grittiness with Tamiya when using anything other than its lacquer thinner is to drop the pressure, get close to the model with the a/b and lay the pain somewhat wet. With this, you'll never experience that sandy texture on the model again.

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I will add that Tamiya acrylics like to be airbrushed very thin, moreso than most people expect. If using X-20A, 2-3 parts thinner to one part paint works well. You can take it even further if you use denatured alcohol or Tamiya's lacquer thinner.

As Rob said, lower the pressure and get up close and personal. Once you get the hang of it, you'll be amazed at the difference.