As I e been reading about people mixing up a batch of a specific color but its left me with a question as I try myself: how are YOU actually measuring out portions?

I use disposable cups with the volume measurement markings but it is always so hard to tell exactly how much you get in of anyone color. When a mix recipe calls for two parts of one color and three parts of another color how are you actually dividing these parts out accurately and without doing huge or tiny measurements?

Thanks!

Hi Jake,

I use disposable pipettes with graduated markings. I find them accurate enough, after all we aren't involved in high end chemical analysis where this would definitely matter.

All the best,

Paul

I use eye droppers and measure by the drop.

Ratios are easy to figure out, but I usually don't mix in batches of less than 10 total drops - which usually makes for simple math.

At any rate, the eye droppers are cheap to get at Walmart. I use the ones with the glass tube and removable rubber bulbs that come in three-packs. You can pull the bulbs off and clean out the glass tubes very easy.

I also keep a note pad and write down my mixes. I have a piece of paper tacked to the wall near my painting bench with color mixes I use often.

Very often I mix right in the paint cup on my airbrush. I start by adding the thinner first, then the drops of paint, then mix / agitate by drawing the paint and thinner into and out of the eye dropper. I then fill the eye dropper full of thinner and set it aside. When I'm done spraying, I use this fist dropper full of thinners to wash the paint the cup (with more thinners, as needed) and also the eye dropper.

Just my way...

Understanding this one-part, two-part thing drove me nuts when I was getting back to the hobby years back. To me, its still very much approximation -- eyeballing the mix as I do it, either via droplets or as I swath the brush around the mixing bowl. Yes there were times when I got to mix too much paint but I finally got through some level of consistency over time. Like Mike said, it is of great help to keep notes of your ratios -- so that it gets to be a repeatable process. Personally, I'd rather focus in knowing what mix of colors make a certain shade, how to lighten or darken one, etc.

Cheers,

Tat

All you really need to remember is that all your "parts" need to be the same size,weather it's drops or volume.
I build mostly 1/72nd and smaller,so I don't mix very large amounts of paint.8 to 10 total drops of paint plus reducer is more than enough to paint a 1/72 hull.
What size are the drops? Good question.I use the old paint brush handle that I stir my paint with.It takes a little practice but you can count the drops as they drip off the stick.Hold the stick straight up and down and you will get very uniform drops.
As for thinner,I was lucky enough to find some pipettes whose drops closely match the size of the drops that fall off my paint mixing stick.
That being said,if,after spraying I find I need to touch up any spots,I use the same system to mix up more paint.But I use a tooth pick to measure the drops(smaller drops,still all the same size=smaller amount).After the touch ups have dried you cannot see them so that tells me the mix is the same,regardless of amount mixed.
So if the parts you are using are all the same size,be they gallon cans or drops off a paint brush handle,and if you use the same colors and ratio,you should be able to mix the same color time after time.
This post turned out to be a lot longer than I thought,but I hope it was clear,and I hope this helps you out.Jeff T.

Most of the standard colors I use for airbrushing I have premixed. And I never bothered by ratios. I simply mix the colors I need together for my preffered shade. And I mix them by eye. Add thinner till I feel it is thin enough for the Airbrush. And then I taste it....

Actually no that last step I don't do. But as for ratio's there are about a million reasons why a shade of color can differ so as long as I'm close it is good enough. It gets altered anyway during weathering.

It's not that complicated,I just eyeball the paint to the consistency of milk.Never had a problem with my paint application

Well put -- I agree 101%. Cheers, Tat

I use a syringe as you cannot get much more specific than that and you can have a multitude of syringe sizes allowing the mixing of very small or large quantities with accuracy.

Sorry if I was too wordy.I've made My living for the past 35 years repairing and refinishing cars and trucks,where close enough just aint close enough So I'm a little anal about paint mixes.Old habits die hard I guess

Robert...Your comment about tasting paint brings up a question that has been asked on this site at least a million times.....Which is better,Tamiya or Vallejo? Model on,Jeff T.

I have always compared the mix to a photo of the intended paint. I generally use disposable pipettes. The only problem is, they are a one shot deal. I find that I simply tip the jar of paint into a clean creamer cup. I've always been good at eyeballing colors. Take it slow and easy. Remember, companies must also rely on the +/- rule. Also, most land vehicles were touched up(if not completely repainted)in the field. They had to use whatever paint they had on hand.

Well a lot of people will prefer Vallejo but just like the paintlayer itself it leaves a very fragile aftertaste.
I personally prefer the Tamiya paints. With a few drops of X22. Thinned with it's own thinner. Very strong flavor... will put hairs on your chest.. And if you already have fur there it will make it near indestructible.

I see we think the same way.A shot of fine single malt for You Sir Jeff T.

I wouldn't mind a nice glass of Oban. In fact... I'm going to pour myself one. Cheers

I mix when needed the same way for more then 40 years. I use the cheap 2 pack of eyedroppers. I use a fine tip magic marker and a 6 inch ruler to make one line at 1/2 inch, and one line at 1 inch. I use a separate eyedropper for the thinner just in case I need to mix more either more paint or more thinner.
Joel

I have to agree with Anthony,
Always done the same with no problems,but it has to be like milk.Too much thinner,watery,not enough,clogging.

Tom