Hi Folks,

So recently I have decided to give a try to both AK and Ammo acrylic paints as I really like their color range.

I have studied the vids online and so far I managed to lay down nice base coats (both primer and base colors). So as a next step I started experimenting with finer lines, details, but looks like I just cannot make it. I have tried with both my 0.2 and 0.4 airbrush, although it does not really matter as I have to screw in the needle adjuster anyway to avoid spraying too much at a time.

My issue is that the paint starts to dry on the tip of the needle/nozzle very quickly and I have to clean it like every 5 minutes and as a result the pattern and the paint amount is very inconsistent. It also tends to clog but some shaking helps sometimes.

The airbrush I use is a new H&S Evo which I clean properly after each use. I am sure it works as it should since I have tried with Tamiya acrylics and it worked perfectly even with very thin lines.

But with Ammo or AK I am unable to paint even a 0.5 cm line with nice overspray. I used around 15 PSI and slight thinning for light coats (1:1) but based on the videos I should be able to use it just straight out of the jar and by lowering the pressure I should be able to paint fine lines...

So I’d really appreciate your comments please.

Cheers,

Adam

i saw a video on that issue, 1 can be to much air pressure. go down between 10 and 15 psi. or add a retarder to slow down the ionization.

good luck

Thank you, I think I have tried that but maybe my AB was too clogged already by then.

Unfortunately I am not aware of any retarder for Ammo or AK paints...

Cheers,

Adam

I've used Vallejo airbrush thinner with them with no problem. Also, Golden makes an airbrush medium (looks white, but dries clear), and that works fine with all but my Tamiya acrylics.

I have used Vallejo flow improver with AK and works fine, just had the chance to try once but there was a noticeable difference for me.

Low pressure and Vallejo retarder did it for me...had the same thing happening...the only thing I need now is a steady hand, suggestions?

H.

I have started using Ammo almost exclusively and thin with Ammo Thinner using a Grex 3.5mm airbrush and have no issues. But for acrylic paint, I find it takes longer to dry on the model.

I have AK retarder. AK737

Liquitex products work in all acrylic paints. To cure drying and clogging, get some Slo-Dri retarder and some Flo-Aid surficant. They will change your airbrushing forever.

For Ammo paint on my latest project, I thinned using Mr. Color Leveling Thinner. The stuff used for lacquer and it worked great. Nice and smooth. I have not tried it with AK paints yet. However, it does not work with Vallejo or Hataka paints so don't try it!

Also the Golden products are great. There have been some special mixes on line where people mix water, the flo-aid and retarder with some IPA to get great thinners.

Why do I feel like I'm the only modeler in the world who is Ammo and AK challenged?





What ratio do you thin the Ammo paint to? I have the Leveling Thinner and I use it with both Tamiya and Mr Color acrylics with perfect results... but it would be nice to be able to use Ammo.. first, because they have such a wide range of shades of colors... and second, it's much easier to get water based acrylics shipped by airmail.

Hisham

Why do we need extra products to make something work correctly ?

Just sayin

Do Tamiya paints spray right out of the bottle? You have to use Tamiya Thinner(Lacquer or Acrylic) or alcohol to airbrush them properly.

Naturally you will need thinner I think Anthony means that with Tamiya you don't need to use any extra stuff like paint retarder or flow improver or anything else... you just use Tamiya paints and Tamiya thinner and you're set.. no clogging or any other problems.

It's all different opinions and points of view

Hisham

True,but not thinner and retarder or AB Flow improver.

Retarder and Tamiya thinner with a drop of lacquer thinner as well. Never clogs my ab. Good for all acrylics.

Hello Lads, thank you all for your comments.

My aim would be using these paints without any additional extra stuff - just like on the tutorials.

I will have a look at the AK retarder - I had no idea they have one (I presume that also works with Ammo paints). But it would be nice to have for the hot summer

Maybe I just used too much pressure in the beggining and even though I lowered the pressure after that, it was clogged already.

Next time I will set it to 10 Psi before starting.

Just to run the numbers - could some of you please share what parameters are you painting Ammo/AK with (thinning, nozzle size, pressure).

I will keep on experimenting, I am sure it should work well if so many people can use it

Cheers,

Adam

Hei guys

I got some Mig-Ammo Colourmodulation sets. When I use them with my airbrush it clogs sometime. I thin it extremely down with Ammo-thinner, but it doesn't help much... Gonna buy a retarder...

And while spraying the top of the mixture in the airbrush-cup gets a white residue. I think it's white colour, because at the end when I stir it up in the cup, the colour gets lighter. That's odd...

Too bad Tamiya doesn't produce a similar colour range in eye-droppers. Would be my first choice


Ammo-Paint: 1/1 ratio in Tamiya HG airbrush 0,2mm with 10psi

Ammo paint - straight from the bottle, .35 mm airbrush, 15 PSI.

So my related question for the paint pros is this: Any negative impact of adding retarder directly to the pain bottle to I have pre-mixed paint right from the bottle?

I find that I do get better results with a tiny bit of retarder, but it's such a waste to mix a big enough amount in a small container to have enough to go in the AB--especially when I only need basically a few drops of paint for what I'm doing. Mixing directly in the AB has never seemed to work at all.

I do find that Vallejo paints tend to dry out in the tip, thus I have a mixture of Vallejo Primer and Retarder on pre-mixed when I need to thin Vallejo and Vallejo Air for airbrushing.

Use a few drops of Mr Color Leveling thinner with your AK or AMMO paints. Mix it in the cup of the airbrush, and it will change your life. 15-20 PSI and you will be fine. This product will completely simplify the spraying process with these paints. The only 'issue' with doing this is you are losing the 'non-toxic' properties of the paint...
You can see the results I get at http://www.theworkbench.com.au/

I just sprayed this with AK 178 straight out of the bottle, no thinner or anything. Sprayed flawlessly.

Im an airbrush dummy. This is quoted from my friend's father, an auto body worker...

"Because we don't spray paints in a controlled environment. The temp and humidity where you do your painting is different than mine. And that has an effect on spray painting.

The additives, be it a flow-aid or retarder, are used to counteract the effects of environmental conditions not poor equipment setup.."

I tried using Mr Color Leveling Thinner with some Mig Ammo primer I have and it actually worked very nicely.. no dry tip at all.. I would paint a little, then leave the AB with paint in the cup for 10 - 15 minutes, then come back and paint some more and it was spraying fine without any clogging. I diluted the primer 1:1, so it was a little thin, but still it worked fine.. I already use the leveling thinner, so I don't have a problem with the smell.. but now maybe I can use Ammo paints. I'll try it with AK paints today and see how it goes.

So, just wanted to thank you guys for suggesting this idea.. I never would have thought to try the leveling thinner with water based acrylics

Hisham