After reading many good things about Humbrol enamels, I think I’m going to begin using them. Plus, they’re about $1 cheaper per unit than Model Master enamels. My question is that when I thin the paints to airbrush them, what thinner should I use and to what ratio should I thin the paint? TIA
I’ve mixed Humbrol enamels (some years ago), and used about an 80(paint):20 (thinner) with good results. A lot of the mixing is really going to depend on your airbrush, pressure, and what you are trying to achieve.
A regular mineral spirits thinner should do the trick.
Gip Winecoff
humbrol thinner, even white spirit is fine…some of the colors are fine but humbrol proposes lots of mixing for accurate shades, however with a bit of weathering and light/dark applied it will yield just fine unless you are too picky and use spectrograph to get the right shade…lol
I’ve had very good luck with Dupont fast dry enamel reducer #3812S - works very well with both Humbrol and Model Master - I buy it by the gallon (Last one was 16.95 - which beats 2.50 for 2 ounces at the hobby shop) - that should last me about a year or so - check your local auto supply store or the phone book under auto paints - I’m pretty sure you can get it in pints and quarts too
I thin the Model Master 50/50 and Humbrol 30/40 percent paint to 60/70 percent thinner and spray it at 12 to 20 psi - If I’m going to paint narrow lines I raise the ratio of thinner to paint by about 10 percent - You’ll need to experiment to find out what works best for you - good luck
All I own is Humbrol Enamels and find them very good , I thin them with about 50% thinner , I just use general purpose thinner because I get it free from work. I haven’t had any problems with this method.