I am just getting into the use of Acrylics mainly because most kits have color call outs on brands of acrylics, but I’m always confused about what thinner to you use for the following:
Tamiya Acrylic paint
Vallejo Acrylic plaint
Mr. Color paints ( I’m not sure these a acrylics), but their no enamels.
Mr. Hobby Acrylics
I’m buying more Hobbyboss, Tamiya, Trumpeter , Eduard and Airfix Kits than any other. the newer kits don’t have color call outs of enamel-based paints.
THANKS A MILLION FOR ANY INFORMATION YOU CAN PROVIDE ON ACRYLICS and recommended thinners.THANKS…Lavarre Uhlken
I use the thinner produced by the brand. So, I use Tamiya thinner for theirs, and Vallejo for theirs. I figure that gives me the least likelihood of having problems, and I figure it all adds up to the same thing in terms of thinner use. If I used one bottle for all the paints, I’d still be using the same amount of thinner. There likely is a cheaper solution. I understand Tamiya thinner is mostly alcohol and water, but I’m not so sure that is the case for all, so I don’t worry about it and spend a few extra dollars for peace of mind.
Tamiya acrylics are alcohol-based and Vallejo acrylics are water-based. Your best bet is to use the manufacturer’s own thinner. It’s not expensive at all. I spray only Tamiya acrylics. I’ve painted eight 1/35 AFV models since I bought a 250 ml Tamiya thinner bottle for $7 last year. There’s still 150 ml thinner left.
Yup… Unfortunately with acrylics, there is no ‘one size fits all’ thinner as can be done with enamels using generic hardware store paint thinner. You are best off using each paint line’s (often quite pricey) own brand of thnner. And as stated above, some are not compatable with other acrylic paint lines.
Like others said, you need to use the brand thinner, or you’ll have big problems. In addition to what others said, this is the right thinner for for Gunze Mr. Color Lacquers:
…and this is the correct thinner for Gunze Hobby color Aqueous:
Once you’ve learned and gotten familiar with a certain brand, you can start to experiment with alternative thinners.
Yup, use the matching brand of thinner to your paints. That way, if you later on get the urge to start following all the “internet tips” to save money, or to “work better”, you will at least know how the paint works in the as designed method.
Nothing worse than trying to figure out which component is messing you up than knowing you don’t have a single thing in the mix that is “as designed” Don’t get me wrong, tips are great, and saving money is also. But you have to have some baseline to work from. And you would realllllllly hate it if you got an airbrush all gummed up because someone said to “save money and thin with alcohol” and the paints you have aren’t compatible with it.
As others said, do not take shortcuts and use that stuff because so and so says it works for him.
Do yourself a favor and stick to the manufacture’s thinners for each. I’m not a fan of acrylics but Tamiya sprays out very nice and even. I have heard positive reviews on Vallejo but have only used the amour line which is very thick and excellent for hand brushing figures and other smaller details.
