Hello everyone,
I have a quick question, I just came back home with a couple bottles of Michales Craft Smart Acrylic paints.
Has anyone used these for airbrushing there models? If so what did you use to thin them with, and what was the ratio used.
I do have Tamiya and testors but the craft acrylics have almos no ordour, a necessatiy for me as my wife is very senstive to paint fumes.
Thanks
Never tried it, but someone finished a Harrier a few months ago in the aircraft forum using that technique. Can’t remember who it was, though.
It was JTRACING who posted. AV-8B Harrier II plus was the subject, last April. Can’t figure out how to post the link, sorry.
I have air brushed craft acrylics thinned with Future, water, and Testors Universal Acrylic thinner but you have to use a primer cause I have found that craft acrylics don’t adhere well to bare plastic.
Some time back member Bick turned me on to craft acrylics, tried a few, some seemed a bit grainy and not a great finish, some were just fine. The “Craft Smart” brand is the best craft acrylic I’ve found, only tried a few colors, but they airbrush quite well when thinned at the appropriate amount.
I’ve thinned with water and lacquer thinner, the lacquer thinner gives it sufficient “bite” for good plastic adhesion, no lifting experienced when pulling masks/tape. It also brushes really well, when covering small parts.
Cleanup is done by a couple of water rinse sprays, followed by lacquer thinner, then a dis-assembly and thorough cleaning of airbrush internals. Speaking based on my experience with the product, I like Craft Smart quite well.
Still, as much as I like the product for small jobs, for overall model finishes I will stick with Tamiya acrylic. It’s the only one available at my LHS, I know some guys use other brands and like them, but for my shopping convenience I’ll continue with Tamiya. Don’t mess with success syndrome I guess.
Patrick
Thanks Everyone for the great tips and help 
I did find the post by JTRACING of there Awesome Harrier, using the same paints I picked up at Michaels. Too bad I got impatient and didn’t check the forum first! I just painted the primary hull of my Klingon model, with the craft paints. I mixed it with Wind-ex, hope that works? I will let you all know. Thanks Again for the help.
So you spend your disposable income on a model kit. You take hours out of your life putting it together, filling seams, adjusting fit, (hopefully) creating a perfect build and then you want to go an paint it with cheap craft paint that isn’t made for styrene? I don’t get it at all. It money the only thing people value? Do you no value the work you put into a build enought to break down and buy some dang model paint?
Uh, yup. His money, his kit, his time, his decision.
TG, go look at JT’s Harrier before you knock it.
Tomcat, I’ll refer you to the expectations of people posting on the forums, regarding civility, manners and consideration. Easy to find, go back to the forums directory, there you’ll locate the outline.
Please keep in mind that the forums are for people communicating information and ideas, none of which are intended to be taken as “stupid,” or labeled as such.
Offensive language and hyper critical negative judgements lead to nothing positive. Contributions to the forums and the member’s are expected to be respectful and civil, if you find yourself in dis-agreement with a post then either express your thoughts with restraint, or simply move on to another that you do find worthwhile.
I’ve lived too long and I’m too old to tolerate your hostility. I’ll thank you in advance for honoring the forum rules, please mind your manners.
Patrick
TG I agree with you completely, just don’t think the tone is good at all.
But I am so careful of my time that I usually purchase new paint for most model projects. And I’m not wealthy, far far from it.
I couldn’t care less what offends you. If you’re offended by something you’re the problem. Not me. Who am I to offend you with my thoughts? You are really going to let a stranger have that much control over your emotions? If you don’t like what I have to say, move on. It’s really that simple.
Thank you for your question. I am new to modeling also and was looking at all the paints. Trying to figure out what the difference was also. I was getting over whelmed trying to figure it out. LOL. Sometimes I wonder about products I buy if it the name I am buying or if it is actually a better product. Good luck hopefully you will let us know you personal review / thoughts on this paint. Karl
Yes EXACTLY!
Did you read what I said in my post?
The issue is that I do have the great model paint, Tamiya, Testors etc. But since I have no spray booth I have to paint in my basement. I did use the Tamiya which is awsome but the Tamiya thinner nuked my basement with the strong chemical ordour and the area were I worked for hours, not including the ourdour throughout my house. This is why I’m trying out the craft paint. No ordour and I have had some very good success with it. If I can get some good sugestions and help on trying this out then I can paint all year round. I did buy some cheap test models to test on $5-$6 so there is no reall loss.
JR223, I had posted that lacquer thinner works well with the Craft Smart acrylic, for giving good adhesion to the plastic. But if you’re painting without a spray booth for outside venting and fumes are the consideration, then the lacquer thinner isn’t the way.
If you do a lot of masking for additional colors, the straight craft acrylic likely won’t give you the bite you need, otherwise if applied and left to cure for 24-48 hours I find it does work well thinned with water or alcohol. The alcohol odor isn’t all that offensive and disappears quickly.
Since you use Tamiya, maybe you have some X-20A thinner and that might work well with the Craft Smart, worth a try anyway. I hope you’ll check back in when you find out how it works, I wish you success with it.
Patrick
jr223, please don’t be discouraged by the naysayers! I use craft acrylics almost exclusively and, frankly, I don’t think anyone could tell what I used to paint my models when they’re finished. The only colors that I haven’t found satisfactory in craft acrylics are gold and silver. All other colors can be mixed. And, for me, mixing colors is part of the build process. The two most difficult issues for me were 1) tip dry and 2) adhesion of craft acrylics to styrene. I’ve found (others have reported too) that GAC200 (GoldenArtistColors) added to the mix helps greatly - just a couple of drops in my AB paint cup. Too, I use airbrush medium and/or Future to thin - Future was made to stick on linoleum and plastic floor tiles and is simply clear acrylic. I’ve posted before on using a Cotton Bud or QTip to help with tip dry (tip dry happens with all paint but is more common with acrylics - craft of branded). I haven’t used (or even heard of till your post) Michaels Smart Craft Acrylics but I will pick some up on my next visit to Michaels. There aren’t many on these fora who use craft acrylics and those of us who do like them. I have some Tamiya, Testors Acryl, and Vallejo on the shelf but like craft acrylics. Use whatever you like and what works for you.
You know what’s really MORE “stupid” to me?
Newly joining a modeling forum where, in your first few posts, you make yourself a pariah by acting like a grumpy old man. Congratulations; that’s gotta be some kind of record here, lol.
I regularly use craft store paints and have been published in articles that featured award-winning models finished with, yes,…sigh…“stupid” craft store paints. [proplr]
I guess we award-winning, published Master Modelers will just gave to stick together with our stupid paints…
So cool. I hope to be you when I grow up.
I’ve seen it recommended in the magazine as well as in the forums to use additives such as retarders and flow-aide to improve AB and paint performance. Is there any adverse behavior from adding the GAC200 to the mix? I’ve had problems with some paint adhering to the plastic, in addition to a persistent tip drying problem…
Thanks!
I haven’t tried the Golden GAC200 yet, I have been using Liquitex for some time, both the Flow Aid and the Slow Dry, but not at the same time. For extended spray sessions the Flow Aid does appear to control tip dry well, and Slow Dry seems to help with allowing acrylic paints to level out nicely for a smoother finish.
I think Tamiya X-20A is a good all around additive for the Tamiya acrylic line, it smells like alcohol to me. I’ve heard that it might include additives to help prevent tip dry and improve flow out, sure seems to work well for me. If I’m concerened about plastic adhesion I add some lacquer thinner, (just 2 or 3 drops in the metal cup,) the flow out when sprayed is quite good and it really sticks solidly.
I tried Vallejo Model Air for a while, it’s good, but their flow improver and tip dry reducer caused the paint to remain a bit soft for several days. Gave a nice finish though, once finally cured.
Hope it helps.
Patrick