I’ve been having problems with paint lifting and I want to airbrush an enamel primer coat. I use acrylics exclusively, but have a few jars of MM enamel. Can this be thinned with white spirit for airbrushing? I really hate to have to airbrush enamel, but I’m limited in rattle can availability. I’ve tried Kylon in the past but the stuff is horribly grainy.
Yes you can thin MM Enamels with white spirit for airbrushing. If you want a better thinner, get Testors Universal Enamel airbrush thinner which gives it a little more bite. Unless there is some mold release agent left on the plastic, you will not have any adhesion issues. In this respect, enamels are far superior to acrylics.
Yeah, Testors thinner is good stuff, I used it in the nineties, now we have a Polish company name Wamod that makes similar stuff cheaper. In a pinch I believe you could use lighter gasoline to thin the paint. I used it to make enamel-based washes, but it tends to distort the color a little (makes the paint well, lighter - no pun intended!). I guess it wouldn’t matter for a base coat though. Good luck with your projects
Paweł
Hawkeye Hobbies makes a pretty good thinner,its cheaper then the Modelmaster
I prefer Testors Airbrush thinner if I can get it, but it is a bit hard to find lately. Real paint thinner is almost as good, but avoid the new synthetic stuff sold as generic paint thinner. It is crap.
Hold out for containers labeled “mineral spirits” or “turpentine”.
The crappy stuff can be identified by its milky appearance, not water-clear. However, it is often sold in opaque poly bottles, so you can’t see it until you buy it and open it. 
So I won’t buy it if it just says “paint thinner”.
Yeah, and if you see the words “green”, ecologically friendly, recylceable, and stuff like that, do not buy it, it’s crap, as Don said.
I have plain ole clear mineral spirits. I had bought some “green” stuff by mistake. It was the consistency of syrup and milky while. Returned it. I’m not going to buy a thinner just to airbrush an enamel primer. Like I said I don’t want to spray enamel at all but I need something for my acrylic to bite in to.