Enamel on AFV kit question

Modeling Subjects Armor
1

I’m currently using Tamiya spray paint for my base coat and primary color on a AFV. I have a couple of rookie questions concerning it: am I correct in assuming it’s enamel? If so, can I also do a wash with MM enamels? If so…and here’s the funny part…can I cut the MM enamel with something other than enamel thinner? I know that sounds goofy but I live in a remote location and I can’t get enamel thinner. I was able to get some Turpentine but it seemed to fragment the MM paint into it’s constituent parts. SO can I cut it with alcohol? Nail polish? Diet Coke? Basically I want to use tamiya then wash with MM…with no enamel thinner. Is it possible?

Regards and thanks to all!

TJ

2

Tamiya paints are not enamels, so you’re ok there with that as your base coat. You can do washes of enamels over that and it shouldn’t attack the underlying paint. I would strongly advise against cutting enamel paint with anything other than enamel thinner…otherwise you’re going to get a very unpredictable result as you witnessed with the attempt using turpentine. You definitely can’t cut it with alcohol or nail polish (acetone). HTH.

3

The best thing to thin enamal paint with is lacquer thinner. Paint thinner also works well. Turpentine is mainly oil and pine spirits, it doesn’t mix well with enamel paints.