Tamiya Flat Clear XF-86 - Thinning Ratio and Spraying Advice?

Tools, Techniques, and Reference Materials Painting and airbrushing
1

After finsihing decaling, I’m preparing to airbrush my model with a matte finish using Tamiya XF-86 Flat Clear. I’ve never used this product before, but my understanding is that it is specifically intended for use as a final coat (and is a different product than Tamiya Flat Base X21.)

Before I begin, I am hoping to get some advice from those who have used the XF-86 Flat Clear in an airbrush, so that I can get a good flat coat with no frosting.

  1. What is the best thinner to use for this product? I have Tamiya X-20A on hand, which is what I would assume would be best to use, but am not sure.

  2. What thinning ratio would you suggest? Normally with Tamiya acrylics I thin at an approx. 2:1 ratio of paint to thinner, to the consistency of skim milk. But with a flat clear, should it be a bit thinner than that, say a 1:1 ratio, to avoid it going on too thick and causing frosting?

  3. What PSI would you recommend? From my research, it seems approx. 10-15 PSI at a distance of 6 inches or so seems best for this sort of thing.

Thanks for your suggestions. Just want to be sure I get this right as it is the final stage of a model that has taken a long time to build! I obviously plan to do some tests first but am hoping someone can steer me in the right direction. There’s always something new to learn with this hobby!

-Kizzy

2

X-20a thinners should be fine. I’d say thin it more around 50:50. Try a higher psi like 20-25 and hold the airbrush farther away than you normally do. You are going for light mist coats, not complete coverage. It always helps to try out ur technique on a scrap piece of painted plastic first.