I’ve been practicing airbrushing fine lines because I plan to apply a German worm camo pattern in the near future.
My problem is as follows:
Using Tamiya acrylics thinned 50-60% (my normal thinning ratio), I cannot airbrush fine lines. It seems the paint is too thick for a low psi (5-10 psi) using my Iwata HP-B plus (0.2mm nozzle).
Using Tamiya acrylics thinned 75-85%, I can airbrush fine lines. However, the heavily thinned paint makes fine lines look very dim and faded.
I know that enamels use finer pigments. So should I airbrush fine lines with enamels? If you can airbrush crisp fine lines with acrylics, let me know how you do so!
I don’t use Tamiya paints. Most of my paints are Gunze Acrylics. I find that a higher pressure actually helps, somewhere around 14-16 psi, with a 70/30 thinner to paint ratio. Also, you will need to build up your fine lines with multiple passes if you thin your paint too much.
I haven’t been using Tamiya acrylic all that long, but have good results thinning the following ways.
71% alcohol and a couple of drops of Liquitex Flow Aid. Tamiya does accept considerable thinning, I thin to around 30-40%, still get good coverage. I too find that the best results are to be had at 12-16 psi, that gives me a better spray pattern and flow on the surface. Too little pressure seems to not break the paint up enough, I have better results with a finer spray mix.
I have used Liquitex Slow Dri, in some complicated instances that seems to assist with preventing partial drying prior to reaching the surface. Also Tamiya X20-A seems to work well, I think it might have some flow aids and/or retarders in it.
Wait i’m confused. it says X-20 is Enamel Paint Thinner mainly spirits, X-20A is the Acrylic which is alcohol based.Here is an old post,so which is best used with which ?
Oops…a typo. I corrected it. I use Tamiya lacquer thinner for spraying camo patterns and X-20A (acrylic thinner) for spraying a base coat. The reason is (1) Tamiya acrylics can be heavily thinned with lacquer thinner, and (2) I don’t need to thin heavily for a base coat and want to minimize the use of lacquer thinner although I have a spray booth.
Yes, Tamiya acrylics can be thinned with lacquer thinner or X-20A. Using lacquer thinner results in a slightly smoother finish. X-20 is enamel thinner and can’t be used with acrylics.
I read somewhere an article where the builder sprayed the fine worm lines with Tamiya acrylics at 20-30 psi. I personally can’t get the control with acrylics as I do with enamels which I spray about 50/50 mix at 5-10 psi. I would assume you need more psi to cycle the acrylic paint then.
X-20 is enamel thinner (very much like mineral spirits). X-20A is acrylic thinner. Tamiya Lacquer thinner is called just that, it doesn’t have an “X” number.
Phil H - That sounds correct, at my local shop I see X-20A and Tamiya Lacquer Thinner, (there is no “X” designation for that product. But I’ve never seen them carry X-20, so I can’t remark on just what it’s application is.
You won’t often see X-20 in the US as it belongs to Tamiya’s enamel paint line, which (as far as I know) isn’t sold in the US. The enamel paints come in squat rectangular-sided jars like the Testors paints of old. If you do see them, they may be a grey import.
As far as I know, Tamiya Lacquer thinner is only sold in the 250ml jugs
Heck, I somehow thought Tamiya lacquer thinner was called X-20. I was wrong. It simply says “Lacquer Thinner” with no product number. I’ve corrected errors in my above posts. Sorry about confusion.
This is Tamiya lacquer thinner. I still have 4 unopened bottles.