last night i used some xtracolour enamel paint on a project, this stuff seemed very thin, but i assume its mixed for airbrushing, is this right? also it has dried very glossy, is this to help decaling? before anybody asks i gave the tin an almighty shake and stir ( sorry 007) and there was no clump of pigment at the bottom, should i just carry on and flat coat after decaling etc.

Did you hand brush it?
I used this paint almost exclusively until Colourcoats came along from White Ensign Models, See my review HERE You should also get the info you require on Xtracolor paints. If not send me a PM.
Mal

Yes... they dry glossy, so you don't need to add a gloss coat for decals. Yes they do take a longer time to dry, but this gives them a longer time to self-level, for a smoother finish. As for how thin they were, couldn't answer that, since I usually thin them for airbrushing anyway.

i did airbrush it and although it was thin from the tin i added a drop of thinner as well, its the first time ive used this paint and i was wondering if it was supposed to be like this or whether i had a dud tin,i pre shaded last night and will carry on tonight with this paint (RLM 76) im taking a lot of pics as i go of this project and have put some in my gallery, its the arado 234 when i get a minute ill put some pics up in the aircraft forum

OK Phil, now we can be on the same page.
I thin mine with lacquer thinner. Over there it's got a different name and I got a senile attack and can't remember it. It helps speed up the drying time. Normally they take a long time to dry, but the lacquer thinner cuts it down to a round 24 hours. then you can spray another coat with out problems. BUT I would wait longer if you are masking. I normally let all my paints cure for several days, before I ever mask. When thinning I usually/normally just do it by eye, no magic formular, as I find each tin seems to be a little different.
I normally use the old fashion eye dropper system.... I fill my cup about 1/2 way with thinner, then add the paint, mix it, then spray a few test patterns on card/foam board, and adjust accordingly. I really don't have a special mixing ratio, but basicly spray all my paints a lot thinner and with less pressure than 90% of most modellers. The small amount of lacquer thinner has never caused any problems for me on any manufactures plastics.

Good luck. It's all practice and experiment till you get the feel for them..... If they weren't so hard to get over here, and so expensive when you do, I'd use the more for when I do aircraft. Totally ends the needs for gloss coats.

I understand the White Ensign makes a good line of paints along the same lines as extracolors, (gloss and semigloss) but haven't used these, so can't comment on them.

OH Phil the above applies to the old original extracolors..... the ENAMELS..... I have never tried the newer acrylics, so can't comment on their use.

hi! the way you thin your paint is pretty much the way i do it ( i'm a painter by trade and when i thin paints down on jobs i tend to do it by "feel") instead of an eye dropper i use an old vinegar bottle with a bit of airbrush pipe stuck on the top. here are some pics of what i did with the extracolour last night the vinegar bottle/ thinners dispenser is in the first picture

Thanks Phil, that's a good idea on the vinegar bottle.
Paint job looks pretty good so far, can't wait to see it finished...
Just make sure you let them fully cure..... as a painter you understand that.