Thinner for Floquil paints

Tools, Techniques, and Reference Materials Painting and airbrushing
1

I just bought a batch (45 bottles ) of various brands of model paints at a flea market for $20. All of them where in good condition except 3. WOO HOO!

In the lot where 8 bottles of Floquil. Since they are not marked with a type paint ( enamel,acrylic etc.) I have no idea what thinner is used for them. Any help would be appreciated.

Also there is a bunch of Model Master enamel. I’m assuming those can be thinned with mineral spirits ? yes/no

I am used to Tamiya Acrylic and small bottle Testor’s enamel is why I am asking.

2

Back in the day, Floquil made their own thinner called Diosol. I’ve been using laquer thinner to thin Floquil paint for years. Test first, because different brands seem to use different formulas. I’ve also used acetone to clean brushes.

Be careful about the Model Master paints. Some are acrylic and clean up with water. Others are oil based enamels and use regular paint thinner (mineral spirits).

Good luck with your find!

3

TY for the info Master Cylinder. I’ve tried mineral spirits on a little sample of the Floquill and that definitely is not the answer. Next up is your suggestion on the laquer thinner. I will get to that experiment next week after Hurricane Dorian blows through here. Right now I am locking down the old place and haven’t much time for modeling. The nice thing about the Model Master is each bottle is labeled as to what kind of paint it is and I got both Acrylic and enamel in the lot. I am familiar with Model Master having used both kinds so there is no problem with those,

4

I believe the older Floquil was lacquer, but they have changed their chemistry many times. If it does not say what type of paint on the bottle you will just have to try some testing.

The old enamel MM, before they offered acrylic, can be thinned with mineral spirits or turpentine- those are my goto for enamel MM today, and has been for many decades.

5

The old Floquil in the little metal tins can be thinned with LT.

6

Thanks for the memory jolt, couldn’t remember the name Diosol to save my life. Like you I found lacquer thinner to work with Floquil too. I’d interchange them by what I had on hand. I always liked Floquil paints and always cleaned up with lacquer thinner since it was cheaper than Diosol…

7

Diosol;

Well,haven’t heard that name for years. But when I couldn’t get it I used Ditzler Light lacquer thinner.They had three, with Heavy being in paint jargon, " Very Hot "

8

For my remaining Floquil stash I use either DuPont lacquer thinner, or Tamiya lacquer thinner, I see no difference between them in use.

Patrick

9

TY all for the replies. it looks like LT may be the thing but it will be a while before I can try it because I’m prepping for hurricane Dorian .Lots to do since I live right in the path of the storm.

10

Ahoy Jay. I remember Floquil with great fondness. Diosol was their brand of thinner but Lacquer thinner always worked for me. If you have some Floquil ‘Old Silver’ in your batch, you have treasure. Old Silver was the ‘go to’ paint to put an all-metal finish on airplanes.

11

Alas I was hoping for the much storied Old Silver but it was not in the box. I did find 2 bottles of Floquill Aluminum in there. Most of the paint is railroad colors in various shades of brown and grey.

12

waiting for a hurricane is like waiting for death by turtle

13

Hopefully the hurricane will turn and go where ever, out to sea would be good.