Yesterday I went to my local hobby store for Tamiya lacquer thinner and some paints and the rack was just about empty.
When I asked why, he replied because of the tsunami and that distributors are running out or are out.
I then went to 2 Hobby Towns with the same result. [:^)]
So I headed home and straight for the computer. Not any better. All my hobby stores in my FAVS are in the same predicament. Tamiyas website isn’t any better.
It took a google search for the lacquer thinner and I went through 4 pages to find an art store that had it and I bought 2 thinking I better stock up.
Luckly i always stock up on my paints. I always have spare tins, ranging from 1 for the colours i use a little to 5 or 6 for the ones i use alot. But can’t say i have noticed anything here. Went to my LHS the other day and the Tamiya paint rack was full, and i think thats the first time i have seen that there.
I picked up a tip from a Osprey Modelling master class book. Thats to thin tamiya with a certain brand of car screen wash. I found thios has worked a treat, and the screen wash lasts ages, still on my first bottle.
I almost always buy two jars of paint. I just know I’ll run out in the middle of a build. I use Testors Model Master paints, so out-of-stock hasn’t been an issue for me.
Does it contain ammonia? Because I was using Windex to clean up after Tamiya (and all acrylics, really), and I’m convinced that it corroded the paint cup of my Iwata. I still use it, but immediately flush with a cupful of lacquer thinner and another of water.
Doogs, i am not sure actually. I have been useing it for a couple of years and never had a problem. And i also use it for cleaning my airbrush after useing Tamiya. It doesn’t smell like ammonia, but i will have a look when i get back to camp.
For any other Brits interested, its halfords screen wash. Its the stuff you are meant to add water to and comes in a blue bottle.
Doogs, I’ve been using the same stuff as Bish both for Tamiya and Model Master Acrylic fir years now without problems. It seems to be mostly water with a little alcohol added to keep it from freezing. It’s cheap and saves me the trouble of mixing tap water with more expensive alcohol from the drug store/chemist. I’ve no discolouring from the blue dye- haven’t tried the pink stuff though.
The stuff retails here in the States for about a buck for a gallon jug. And if you don’t like how it works just use it in your car. [;)]
The shortages predate the earthquake and are related to changes to labeling to comply US Consumer Product Safety Commission (not EPA) standards. This is reflected mostly in label updates and not a reformulation of products.
As far as the thinning of Tamiya…unlike MM which is a pure acrylic, Tamiya is a hybrid of laquor and acrylic.
Tamiya will thin with water, windex (3% ammonia solution), isopropyl alchol or laquor thinner. Each one of these solvents has a different vapor pressure (evaporation rate) and a different effect on viscosity (the amount required to thin to a specific level). I have tried all of the above and IMO the best effect on viscosity (very little used) and does not affect drying time adversly or adheasion is laquor thinner.
Now…I will admit I am still using Tamiya LT to thin. I go through a jar large bottle every two years or so. I also clean my airbrush with LT but use the Home Depot paint department can at ~$3 a quart
The Gunze paints are also a hybrid paint as I remember and could be why the Gunze solvent work well with Tamiya
I wouldn’t call it a hybrid - it’s just an acrylic formulation which uses an alcohol base. The fact that you can use a lacquer thinner (or water or a number of other options) as a thinner does not change the fact that it is based on acrylic compounds in its binders.
What it does mean is that it’s reasonably flexible in what you can use as a thinner (and you can add denatured alcohol to the list [:D]) I have also heard of people using (“slow acting”?) automotive lacquer thinners with Tamiya acrylics - this may be cheaper than using hobby branded thinner.
I have found (Tamiya) lacquer thinner to have a definite edge when airbrushing Tamiya’s gloss acrylics. I find that the slightly increased drying time gives the paint more time to level before it starts to “skin”, giving a glossier finish in comparison to standard Tamiya acrylic thinner.
Ye, it is an auto parts store. Sorry i mis understood. When you said you used the same stuff, i assumed you meant same brand. My bad. I think halfords is a UK only chain, which is why i was a bit surprised.
