I am just about ready to start my build of my 1/16 Tamiya King Tiger but have a question about paint. I ordered a bunch of Tamiya paint in both the spray cans and the little bottles of acrylics. If I remember right the spray cans are lacquer based. Can I use the acrylics and the lacquer based spray over each other after proper drying time? I am sure I read somewhere the two did not go good with each other. To be honest this will be my first time using Tamiya paints.
I would actually prefer to use the acrylics and airbrush them as I am used to airbrushing and really like that method over the sprays cans.I just wish Tamiya sold the acrylics in larger bottles. I also wish I could find a Canadian hobby shop witha good stock of Tamiya paint. My usual places where I order from have not been all that helpfull.

I guess what I am asking is what paints do you guys use on your tanks.The spray cans or the little bottles of acrylics. Also for the acrylics can I use pure Ispropanol ( IPA ) for thinner. I have used it as a thinner with acrylic model railroad paints with great results ( badger, pollyscale ).

I would be very grateful for any comments or suggestions.

Thanks


Wayne Reid
Ontario,Canada

I use the Tamiya acrylics, and their thinner. It costs a little extra, but a little paint goes a long way when your airbrushing. Also there are two different size Tamiya bottles of acrylic, do you have the larger of the two? I also use the tamiya fine primer for metal and plastic, good stuff!

Jonathan

I've used both on my KT, no problems what so ever.

Jonathan

Thanks for the reply. I have the little mini bottles. Not one of my normal places I order from have the larger bottles. To be honest out of the five places I tried they all only had the mini bottles. I was also not able to get any of the Tamiya primer. They said they normally stock it but have not been able to get it for awhile. This usually means they just do not want to order any in. The good news is I have some water based light gray and white primer made for modeling. It is supposed to be real good on metal as well. As for thinner I was not able to find any as well. The good news is I just did a google search and found another hobby store in Canada that stocks Tamiya paint all the time. It is too bad due to the hazardous good thing I cannot order the from the USA or I would. Even in Canada to have spray cans shipped means UPS or Purolator and a high shipping fee.


Dave

Thanks for the reply as well. I was hoping someone would say they have used both together without having any problems.My plan is to use the spray cans of the dark yellow for the lower hull and other metal parts after I prime them light gray or white. I was going to use the acrylic dark yellow for the plastic parts and the acrylic dark green & red brown to do the camouflage colors.



Wayne Reid
Ontario,Canada

I did EXACTLY what you want to do. Washed everything with soapy water, rinsed, dryed and then sprayed with Tamiya Metal/Plastic primer paint. Then used a couple of spray cans of dark yellow as the base paint and then airbrushed the red and green (all Tamiya). Since this was my first airbrushing, I wasn't sure how to thin the paint. I believe it was Jason (Icecreamslick) who said open the bottle and fill it with thinner and shake. Didn't have any problems whatsoever.

Dave

That is super news to hear. I figured I was on the right track but as I was going to be using some paints I have never used before I figured it would be better to get so advice from people who have been there and done it. Most of all as I really hate having to strip off paint because it did not turn out right. I was just doing some research on thinning the Tamiya acrylics and found a number of sights that mention a mix of 1 part paint to 1 part thinner for airbrushing. Judging from the empty space in a bottle full of paint filling it with thinner the rest of the way would be real close to 1:1.

Well I guess an can breath a sigh of relieve now.I know I am on the right track.


Wayne Reid
Ontario,Canada

Hi, I have used Tamiya paint many times and it really is outstanding, fine spray possible and it lays out well when brushed, lovely smell and taste of apples! When I was in a DIY (Home Depot type) Store I saw some matt acrylic/emulsion small sample pots used to see if you like the colour and they have worked out fine! I first thought that the particles in the paint might be too big and it wouldn't flow through my airbrush but no problem at all! I sealed the finish with airbrush using PVA Wood glue. It hasn't peeled off yet! Over spray PVA with more emulsion from superstore for nice matt finish. A cheap and cheerful alternative to expensive model paint.

Hi, I did something wrong on the upload of my photos but got there in the end! PS The picture of the Hummer was taken in a heatwave and the glue holding the windscreen failed! The paint stayed on though!