I'm 70 miles from the closest hobby shop so have to order all my paints and supplies online. This is OK when I can put together a substantial order but shipping kills me when I only need a few new paint colors. I do have a real art supply shop in the area that carries lot of acrylics in tubes. Can these be thinned and used on plastic models or it there a problem?

Hi Dennis,
i use artist acrylics more than anything else. They are more fragile than enamel or lacquer.
To get past their fragility I thin them with Future floor polish. I think it's called pledge floor care now. It makes the paint much more durable.
For airbrushing you want to mix up a container of 50/50 water/glass cleaner like windex. Add a couple of drops of liquid dish soap. With this you can thin your paint further and also clean your airbrush. Thisnis also yr flow enhancer. For a final rinse of your airbrush, use rubbing alcohol.
If your are going to do a pin wash, a filter, or any other wash, do not add Future. It makes the excess hard to remove.
I've done my last seven models with the same 10.00 worth of acrylic paint. I use a color recipe book, also available at art stores, to get me close to the desired color, then add what I think I need to get the camo color I'm looking for.

The only non-acrylic paint I Use is for metallic surfaces. But have seen metallic acrylics out there, recently.

It's all pretty easy and very inexpensive when you get used to it. I keep a lot of disposable plastic containers around. You can find them at the grocey stores in about the same size as. Your average bottle of Tamiya paints.

Best wishes,

Gary

You should be able to, the trick will be to get them thinned and mixed properly, by mixing, I mean the consistency. And a primed surface would be a must. The only potential drawback I can see is that if you thin with water only, the paint might wear off easily or not lay down well. I'd pick up some acrylic thinner and play with the mixing ratios to see what works best, some flow enhancer probably wouldn't hurt either. There is a guy on another forum that uses artists acrylics exclusively and seems to get good results. The potential for savings is quite good if you can get the basics down and can mix your own colours. Let us know how it works out.

Kimmo

Dennis,
I often use "artist" acrylics on my models. I usually do the base coats with hobby paints, since they adhere to plastic better, but then I use the heavy body (tube) acrylics for drybrushing, weathering, etc. With some retarder mixed in, the acrylics allow for some blending and such, since the drying time is extended. My advice, much the way I learned, is to play around with them on an old kit, or such, and test out how your techniques will work with the new mediums. BTW, the Liquitex "soft body" acrylics in the plastic bottles make nice glazes or filters when thinned a bit, since these colors are usually transparent anyway.

Have fun,
Stephen

the Figurine paiters like a lot the Jo Sonja's Acrilycs for artist becose have a nice fine pigment's and have a nice Flat finish

I have had success with them. Thinned with vallejo airbrush thinner... Also my brand mixes well with vallejo paints too. Havent tried airbrushing those colors tho.