OK-- seems like a rookie question, but with the Search feature hosed, I figured someone might be able to give me a quick answer. I went to repaint my P-39 last night…as the Tamiya OD acrylic was too dark, so I added some MM Acryl “Sand” and a little “White” to lighten things up- and went to spray. I have never had to thin the Tamiya before in order to get a smooth coat- and only added a few drops of the MM stuff-- but my finish is a bit grainy which leads me to believe it wasn’t thinned enough.
So 2 questions–
What could I have used to thin up the acrylics a bit?
Can I fix this without having to sand and attempt to mix the same shade of OD for another coat???
I used to do some side research in paint pigments years ago (not hobby paints, but they were acrylics). As I recall, various additives are available to “stabilize” paint. In unstabilized paint the pigment particles will naturally begin to adhere to each other over time and settle out into a hard-packed bottom. Polymers and additives are used to keep the pigment stable so it will remix into a fine, even suspension.
The stabilizing agents used by one manufacturer will not necessarily be compatable with those from another manufacturer. When you mix paint from different sources, you may get an unstabilized suspension, leading to grains, higher viscosity, etc. If this is the case, I doubt any thinner will help much.
I try to mix colors from the same manufacturer, or at least test a mixture before airbrushing. I put a couple of drops of each color on a sheet of plastic wrap over white paper, mix them together with an old brush, and spread the paint thin on the wrap looking for grains, clumps, or incompatable mixing.
I have observed this phenomena only in acrylics, which are suspended in a polar medium like water. I don’t think I have ever had a problem mixing enamels, though I’m not saying it can’t happen.
Never thought of that-- it makes perfect sense. Hmm… so I need to go pick up some MM OD as the place that sells Tamiya is 45 minutes away [:(]
So mixing bad…and I imagine painting late at night when things such as this are more apt to happen with a tired person is bad as well. Had a heckuva time cleaning out the Badger as well…but got it all clean. That Needle Juice can’t come quick enough as far as I’m concerned…