Tamiya thinning

Tools, Techniques, and Reference Materials Painting and airbrushing
1

Modelers, I’ve always pretty much used enamels. I don’t really care much for acrylics but would like to use Tamiya smoke plus a few others. My problem in the past with these paints is that it seemed the surface tension of the water (which I assume is what you use to thin it) was too high. Should I not be using water for Tamiya paints? Or is there a better alternative? Alcohol perhaps?

Thanks.

2

I always use 91% isopropyl alcohol to thin Tamiya acrylics. It tends to make them dry pretty fast, sometimes too fast, so if that’s a problem add a couple of drops of acrylic retarder to the mix.

Smoke sprays pretty well. I used it a few days ago for the first time and I don’t think I added any retarder, just paint and alky.

I haven’t tried just water for thinning Taniya paints. The Tamiya thinner has a note on the side that reads somehing like “Contains Alcohol components” or something like that. It smells just like alcohol, but I think it has some retarder in it.

If you are going to hand brush them (as opposed to airbrushing them) you will really need to add retarder. I put a few drops of paint in an old film can top and add a couple of drops of retarder. Without it the paint will dry on the brush between the paint cap and the model before I can get it in position to paint.

3

Just use Tamiya thinner. It may be more expensive but a big bottle will last you for a long time and it doesn’t dry as fast as 91% alcohol, giving the paint time to settle to a smooth finish. If you do just want to use water, use distilled water (it doesn’t have the chemicals tap water has in it) and maybe add a few drops of dishwashing liquid to break the surface tension.

hope this helps

4

I use tamiya thinner for tamiya acrylic. Paint and thinner ratio should be 50/50 but I usually started 60% paint and 40% thinner and adjust the ratio till it suited me.

5

I use 91% alcohol at 50/50. Be advised that alcohol is fine for Tamiya flats, however, it will flatten their gloss paints so use Tamiya thinner when spraying these. As others have said, Tamiya thinner goes along way and you will never be wrong in using it.

Mike