What to thin Model Master Acryl paints w/?

[Adam Baker]

Did some searching on the net, and found some people say its thin enough to airbrush right from the bottle. Others say its not. The ones that thin it, some use 91% IPA, and others use distilled water.

This morning I started painting my Sturmtiger using MM Acryl paints. I wanted enamel but the Hobby Town didnt have all 3 colors, so I got this.

I put the first color in and tried painting and it was too thick out of hte bottle. So I thinned it slightly using 91% IPA, and it was fine at first, but then if I'll be darned to discover than the paint was skinning over right in the paint cup on my airbrush. Stirred it w/ a paint brush, and came away w/ a blob on the paint brush handle, and was starting to get stuff forming on the tip of the needle from the paint sludging up.

So now my airbrush is full of sludge that used to be Dunklegelb paint, and I absolutely wont be thinning acryl paint w/ IPA again.

I've got some Tamiya thinner, but I'm leery to try that b/c I've always associated Tamiya thinner w/ being almost the same as 91% IPA. Unfortunately I dont have any distilled water but I've got a decent filter on the kitchen sink that I can get at least filtered water.

So what does everyone use?

 

[nerdling]

Testors actually makes their own brand of Acryl thinner. I've always used 91% ipa and never had an issue though. Always thinned mine 2 parts paint to 1 part ipa. But I will say every bottle of acryl seems to be different. That was my main reason for switching to Vallejo and Tamiya.

 

[Adam Baker]

I was thinking about picking up the Acryl thinner, since I knew there was one, but the HT didnt have any on the shelf. I suppose I could go down the street to Hobby Lobby, pretty sure they had the thinner when I was there early in the week.

 

[razordws]

I use the Tamiya thinner and have had no issues using it with the testors acryl. The Tamiya thinner contains a retardant that helps to prevent the tip drying that you experienced.

EDit: tip drying is a fact of life with acrylics. keep a wet rag handy and wipe the tip every now and then when it starts to build up

 

[moon puppy]

Testors actually makes their own brand of Acryl thinner. I've always used 91% ipa and never had an issue though. Always thinned mine 2 parts paint to 1 part ipa. But I will say every bottle of acryl seems to be different. That was my main reason for switching to Vallejo and Tamiya.

I agree, throw rocks at MM Acrylics but if you have to use it, use Windex for thinner.

Clean the airbrush out with lacquer thinner and good luck.

 

[Adam Baker]

Unfortunately the problem I was having goes way behind just tip drying. The paint was actually congealing inside the paint cup before I even got it sprayed.

I suppose its possible that the addition of the pure IPA increased its drying speed. I'll give the Tamiya thinner a shot when I do the next color this afternoon.

This is my first time trying to use the Acryl paints, and it definitely wasnt my first choice when I got 'em. But the Hobby Town didnt have the Dunkelgelb paint. They had the other 2 colors I needed, but since I wanted to base it w/ the lightest color, this was the only option I really had unfortunately. The next closest HT is in Charlotte, and its a real nightmare to get to it. I could try Hickory, but thats a long way to go for a couple bottles of paint.

I checked out Hobby Lobby this week, but they didnt have any of the German colors in either Enamel or Acryl.

I posted this same question on a couple other forums, and the suggestion of Windex was made. That never occurred to me to try that. I also saw people mention using a little bit of Future as well, so either of those would work since i have both on my bench.

 

[agentg]

MM Acryl works well with their brand of thinner. Lifecolor thinner is exactly the same stuff so I rate them as #1 and #1 in preference.

Next will be Windex, I use it exclusively with MM Acryl clear flat and have never had an issue.

Last would be plain old distilled water using just a drop or two until it sprays. Where I live it's the last resort as the absolute lack of humidity means paint drys on its way to the model.

I have never tried tamiya acrylic thinner with MM Acryl.

G

 

[The Zod]

I have never had any problem with the newer version of MM acrylics. I will not talk about the MM acrylics from the early 1990's. I use maybe 6 to 8 drops of MM acrylic thinner for no more than half a bottle.

 

[Adam Baker]

Well, I just got a second coat down of the base color, and I used Future to thin it w/. I couldnt find my bottle of Windex, and the Future was handy.

Had zero problems, flowed through the A/B just fine and seemed to lay down good. Probably going to let it dry overnight before I start putting down the camo pattern. That gives me long enough to figure out what the camo should look like when I'm done.

 

[AndyFettes]

Im glad you got it sorted in the end.

 

[Paulw]

I usually pre mix all my paint with X 20-A and I buy eyedropper bottles and transfer paint to them. it makes it easier to mix. I used windex one time and it turned some of my lighter grays a bit bluish. If you want thinner on the cheap go with plain ole ammonia about 60/40, This didnt cause any problems with the paint I use and if you ever get some Vallejo it wont curdle it like isopropyl does.

 

[Phil]

Prob too late but use Testors own thinners for Any Model Master paint - not used MM acrylics at all - but I use MM Enamels on some things - Tamiya's thinners gives a horrid white tinge through the paint.


If you want to use Acrylics - give Gunze Sangyo Aqueous/Mr Hobby a go, they are bulletproof for spraying - and work without fault with Tamiya acrylic thinners.

http://www.bnamodelworld.com/gunze-sangyo

 

[Adam Baker]

Unfortunately when I got the paints, all they had on the shelf was the Acryl cleaners, no thinner was available, or I'd have picked up a bottle.

I've thought about the Mr. Color paints, but they have to be mail ordered, and I try very hard to not mail order paints unless I have absolutely no other choice.

 

[Phil]

Mr Color paints - just make sure you get the water based one's - leave the solvent based on the shelf - man they are deadly to your health!!!

Once you use the GSI Aqueous one's I swear you will never use any other Acrylic paint.

Prime always before any Acrylic's too.

Tamiya rattlr Fine white is the gun stuff .