Hiya

Hopefully my friends will be able to help me on this.

1. What do I use to dilute Tamiya Lacquer Thinner. I appreciate compared to the stuff used to spray cars it's already pretty dilute, but I'd like it even less aggressive so it's easier to use for weathering paint.

2. IWATA IW-HP-CH airbrushes. I have one of these on my Christmas list. I've noticed the prices in the UK vary wildly from anywhere between £130 (Ebay) to £225 (Authorised UK Supplier). Before I attempt to save £100 by using the Ebay option, has anyone heard any solid information about counterfeit IWATA's in the Marketplace? I realise if they're out there Ebay is the place to find them. But I can find very little apart from unsubstantiated rumours of their existence?

Thanks.

Andy

Andy:

Don't know about how things are in the UK viz Iwata AB loolalike fakes - but never actually heard of one here in the USA! I own a couple of those HP-CS brushes - fine equipment they are, too - but it just does not make much sense to me for someone to try and rework some cheaper brush to get it to look like the Iwata item. But over here, you get into that new Iwata HP-CS brush for ca 140 - 150 USD - with some accessories - from a recognized retailer or AB supply, and occasionally less than that. EBay may "offer same for 100 - 125 shipped.

I buy lots of stuff (kits, a car and a truck, tools, AB, supplies, cameras, STUFF and JUNK ) off the evilbay over years. Very very seldom ever got burned by fakes or such (did once get a nice used laptop computer from a guy who sent me his still-set-up web-surfing porn-access machine maybe by mistake instead of another used laptop - ask me how I know what he used it for... and twice a wrong model kit - out of hundreds). Just be cautious, look at how many things a guy has sold, and what his/her ratings are, and skip anyone you get a gut feeling is "off".

Genuine Iwata airbrushes are easy to ID - the brush has clear and prominent filled etching saying Iwata eclipse HP-CS Japan (or whatever model you look at). Just not worth trying to counterfit to sell a few fake AB, IMHO!

I don't know about UK imports, customs, the VAT application (if any) but it may be worth your while to order one from someone here like Chicago Airbrush Supply Co. or such? Great products, service, and price, in my experience (and no, I don't get any commish from them! ).

Cheers!

Bob

Thanks Bob

Guess I was being overly cautious, but the price suggested there was some difference.

On q2, perhaps I didn't explain what I was trying to do. In the past I've sprayed a base coat, say german grey. Then applied a top coat of dunkelgelb. I've used tamiya lacquer thinner to gently remove the dunkelgelb to simulate wear. Problem is even tamiya thinner is too aggressive and one rub too much and I'm through to plastic. I'd like to dilute the thinner to make it more controllable. But I'm not sure what to dilute it with?

Thanks in advance

Andy

Andy;

About thinning thinner... Hmmmm. Never thought about doing that. Lacquer thinner is a cocktail of solvents.

I would try using some isopropyl alcohol on a sponge or scrubby pad to scrub off some of the dry finish - probably a lot less aggressive than that lacquer thinner is. As a rule of thumb, I figure that if I have to scrub more to get some wear going, I'm OK - easier to stop scrubbing hard whenever you get to what you want then to stop aggressive solvent action!

Bob

PS: I sort of thought that the mentioned UK retail price of ca 200+ GPB sounded pretty pricey compared to what we pay here in the USA for this import. It's of course an import for you, too. Remember that an eBay price may be for a new AB but without added kit or accessories, and or maybe the price for initial bid - and it will cost more.

Hi Andy, I will whole heartedly agree with Bob. I have done some business with Ebay over the years, and I try to deal with the sellers with 1,000's of sales and a 99.9 % seller rating. Also check the buyer's responses to the seller in the past 6 or 12 months or so. That, will give you a good idea if he or she is infact reputable, and trust worthy enough to deal with.

I just bought an Iwata HP-CS a few months ago from an online company by the name of "Chicago Airbrush". I got a package deal that came with the Air Brush, an 8 foot hose, a quick disconnect coupler, and the 5mm needle conversion up grade for something like $175.00 or so. I had saved up a few bucks to replace my Badger 150 and so I decided to go whole hog with the Iwata .... It is definately a Cadillac of an airbrush.

Good luck