I noticed MR Hobby has a line of lacquer paints.. also paints by a company called Gaia. Do lacquer paints require any special treatment, or preparation before spraying.. or can I just thin them 50:50 with Tamiya lacquer thinner, for example, and just spray them like I do with their acrylic paints?

Also, do they give better results as far as spraying cars and motorcycles where you're trying to get a nice deep glossy finish?

Hisham

Have yet to try laquer paints my self, but have read about them though.
Primer is very important. Laquer paint are hot(Lot of solvent) and can eat the plastic if not proberly primed.

Never spray laquer over enamel as it will dissolve the enamel.

If the paint is not prethinned, Tamiya laquer thinner should be ok. Can't help you with the ratio.

Laquer paints should give a more glossy look. No doubt I will try it on one of my car models in the near future.

Thanks for your reply, Jesper... So, would the MR Hobby Surfacer be OK as a primer.. or should a special primer be used? I want to order a couple of colors to try them out and I need to know what to order with them.

Hisham

Lacquer dries quite a bit faster than enamel. Think acrylic and how you spray that in your arid climate.

Lacquers don't "coat" like other paints. They blend so you can sand without fear of having to "feather" edges.

Mr Surfacer will suffice. The key is to not put the lacquer paint on too heavy.

I use an automotive primer decanted and sprayed from an airbrush.

Any non enamel or non acrylic primer is good. Do you have access to any US or UK brand spray cans?

Unfortunately, no... all I have is Mr Surfacer.. that's what I always use.

Hisham

I always thought that all MrColor paints are laqcuer and so their Primers are, too?

If yes.. you can spray them over any acrylic paint. I use Vallejo, Tamiya, MrHobby and MrColor alltogether and never had any problems, just don't float the acrylic paint with MrColor paints (thin coats)

Mr. Surfacer will be fine as the primer. It would be better to use Mr. Color Levelling Thinner to help with your environment factor.

And make sure you wear a good mask and have excellent air flow. Atomized lacquer is NASTY DANGEROUS lung-eating stuff!