99. I would recommend lacquer thinner otherwise the paint remains soft for longer periods. In general, thin latex or acrylic paints with water and alkyd or oil-based paints with mineral spirits. But as that’s actually a big part of the scale model experience, we’re hoping you’ll bear with us. Continue adding thinner until the paint sprays evenly and easily out of the gun or until you reach the maximum amount of thinner the manufacturer specifies. I love the Testors enamel- lots of colors available, I can get it at any hobby shop and many craft stores. You don't want be spraying the object with mostly thinner. If you are looking for a Model Master-like paint, this is probably the closest. Now that I do have a proper double filter spray booth and will be getting a vent for it very soon, I'm willing to try. Air pressure should be approximately 18-20 PSI Acrylics will dry to the touch in minutes; they require 24 hours for a full cure Luckily you can easily thin your enamel paint yourself. Some of this paint is too creamy to be of much use even for brush painting. Not Model Master . The most popular hobby and model enamel paint brands include Testors, Tru-Color Railroad Paint, Tamiya, AK Interactive, and Alclad II. In my opinion there is only one reason to thin paint for airbrushing, and that is to lower the viscosity so that the airbrush can atomize the paint properly. I buy it in the half-pint cans and use it only for thinning. It is often used to paint a miniature, plastic models, and ship models. Reading a post about paint can be a lot like, well, watching paint dry. If you're airbrushing, any generic lacquer thinner will work best for cleaning the AB. Given this, if the paint is already spraying properly and it is covering the model properly then there is no reason to thin it. I do not know what house painters use to thin acrylic paints but you can go to an art supply store and get a good acrylic paint thinner in a good size bottle at a reasonable price and it might be OK for your acrylic model paints. It dries slow enough I can relax when airbrushing without worrying about immediate cleanup of the airbrush. Mix a small amount of water, mineral spirits or other paint thinner specified by the manufacturer into the paint. 4.7 out of 5 stars 486. Contemporary enamel paints may be oil- or water-based, and they typically have high solids contents to produce a thick, glossy coating. This all-purpose metallic enamel paint from Testors gives a neat finish to your craft and model projects. Painting Intricate Models with Brushes Paint your base coats using as few strokes as possible. Hobbylinc carries over 1,900 hobby and model enamel paint at discounts up to 59%. I want to be able to thin Revell Enamels to an acrylic like viscosity, as even if I wash my brush after using the paint, it sticks to the brush and is only removable with white spirit. Working with enamel paint can take special care. I find very little difference in the two kinds. Most Enamel Paints are oil-based and water-based enamel paint is not as commonly sold and therefore kind of hard to come by. To participate you must either login or register for an account. With the use of water or other paint thinning solution, you can easily thin acrylic paints. Pour a small amount of paint into the spray gun. Because the percentage of pigment and solids is high in relation to the solvent and binders, enamels can take longer to dry and cure than ordinary paints -- but you can shorten these drying times. How to thicken enamel paint: A paste can be made using beeswax and turpentine or a thickening agent can often be purchased at hardware or home repair store. Check to see whether it sprays evenly and easily. Mineral Spirits will work fine for thinning the paint. Solid, clean construction makes a scale model accurate. $11.99 $ 11. Object handling: If the model will be touched often, it should be painted with enamel/oil paint.Acrylic paint will need special sealers to allow for repeated handling. That said, I haven't brush-painted with it in a long long time, so I can't say much about it, sorry. It is just that I get a smoother, more attractive finish with the Testors thinner. Mineral Spirits is fine for thinning most (including Testors) enamels. Put on safety goggles and a respirator to protect you while you work. Testor Corp. Testors Enamel Plastic Model Paint Thinner & Brush Cleaner, 1.75 oz. As long as you clean it when you're finished painting you won't have any problem with it. Enamel has kinda of been a little unnerving for me due to using mineral spirits to thin and clean. Thankyou for any feedback. And you're not going to hurt your airbrush using it for what it was made to do. With the enamel type of Floquil paint, you can use ordinary paint thinner, very inexpensive from the hardware store compared to buying a little bottle at the hobby shop. FREE Shipping. Enamel Vs Acrylic Vs Lacquer Model Paint Compatibility. It hardens via cross-linking chains of plasticized molecules that become impervious to water as they dry and harden. Clean enamel paint when needed. I have a question about thinning Testor enamel paint , I'm just starting out in modeling , I was planning on using Tamiya acrylic paint but the only hobby store Peterborough just closed it's  doors so that just leaves Micheal s  and all they have is Testor Enamel . The blend adheres strongly to previous oil paint layers, good opaque cover with one thin application, get fine, crisp lines, no bleeding, and the enamel seems compatible with oil paint … If you want to use water to thin Enamel Paint, then make sure, that your paint is water-based. As a starting point I thin paint about half and half, maybe just a bit shy of that for brand new bottles, increasing thinner as paint thickens with age. To … Personally, I find I do not qet quite as good a results using mineral spirits as I do with the actual Testors airbrush thinner. You thin with either standard hardware lacquer or paint thinners or they sell their own brand. I like to thin enamels with mineral spirits, or white spirits depending on which side of the Atlantic you're on. Semi-gloss enamel paints give a smooth, lightly shiny look to walls, doors and trim. Most Model Master and Testors "Acrylic" paints are pre-thinned for airbrushing. Alternatively, can anyone suggest a good (cheap!) As a collective term, finishing is a … Stephanie Mitchell is a professional writer who has authored websites and articles for real estate agents, self-help coaches and casting directors. I do use mineral spirits for cleanup, including the airbrush. If not, thin the paint … This tutorial sets out the theory and practice of using a paint wash to improve the appearance of a scale model. Posted by G Paine on Friday, March 19, 2010 2:34 PM I usually use solvent paints, but I have purchased some Model Master Acrylic paints when the LHS was out of the color I needed in solvent. http://www.testors.com/category/133656/Testors. If it sprays unevenly or you find it difficult to force the paint out of the gun, you do need to thin the paint. The viscosity of the enamel paint to begin with may vary depending on the manufacturer you have chosen, but in most cases the paint must be thinned before use in an airbrush. She graduated from Syracuse University in 2007 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in musical theater. Use big container so there will be space for adding the water. This time, we’ll lightly touch on the various aspects of finishing a model with paint and decals. This is the testors i'm talking( check the link ). Experiment with your thinning ratios to see what works best for you and your air brush. I seldom use any other paint. Acrylic paint is a water-based polymer. View our, Tools, Techniques, and Reference Materials. Does that make sense? Purchase the Testors® Metallic Enamel Paint at Michaels. Amazon's Choice for enamel model paint. Pour it through a paint strainer and into an empty bucket to … By thinning out the enamel paint you can achieve the same clean application that oil-based paint would provide. Mitchell also regularly edits websites, business correspondence, resumes and full-length manuscripts. acrylic paint range for model painting? Refill the spray gun and test the paint again. In other words, the finish you achieve when using enamel paint is hard and shiny when it has dried. Enamel paints have a smooth, professional surface after varnish after drying and often give a very good result with an airbrush. If you are using enamel paints then you would want to use an enamel thinner. This paint has finely ground pigments, which ensure smooth flow and coverage. Another option is to open up the can and allow air to help thicken the paint. Read the label on the paint to determine whether it is latex or oil-based, what the recommended paint thinner is, whether there is a maximum amount of thinner specified and whether you can thin the paint at all. I just want to be clear that we are talking about the same paint. Should a painted surface become dirty, simply wet a towel with a mixture of warm water and a mild liquid detergent and wipe away whatever debris is clinging to the paint’s exterior. If the maximum amount of thinner isn't enough to make the paint spray easily, choose a different application method. And I thank you for your reply it is very helpful. The Reason for thinning your Enamel Paint. A general rule of thumb is to thin to the consistency of low-fat milk. Can't really help with a specific thinning ratio because it varies, depending on such things as your airbrush setup, the air pressure you're using, the viscosity of the paint you're using etc. Finishing, in everything from paint to decals, is what makes that model come alive. I use the same thinner and the same ratios for both the Model Master and the rectangular small bottles. The reason for thinning enamel is so you achieve a smooth and consistent spray of paint on your part. In this video you will find out the difference between using enamel or acrylic paints for scale models. Enamel paint is a name or term used to describe its finish as glossy and durable. Yes, I could keep using the white spirit, but it's quite annoying and unecessary. Thinning Model Master Acrylic Paint. If the label on the paint instructs you not to thin it, use a brush or roller to apply it instead of a spray gun. How to Paint Cabinets With an HVLP Sprayer, How to Paint a Garage Exterior With a Paint Sprayer, Paint Sprayer Reviews: How to Dilute Paint for a Paint Sprayer, Behr: Premium Plus Semi-Gloss Enamel Product Details, Don Vandervort's Home Tips: House Paint Options, How to Use Latex Paint in a HVLP Paint Gun, Painting the Ceiling With an Electric Paint Sprayer. How and why do you thin acrylic paints for models and miniatures? Can't really help with a specific thinning ratio because it varies, depending on such things as your airbrush setup, the air pressure you're using, the viscosity of the paint you're using etc. We do not sell, rent or trade our email lists. It is lead-free, easy to apply and dries quickly, so smudges and blemishes become a thing of the past. It includes a step-by-step guide on how to apply a wash. Our community is FREE to join. So what do you suggest as a good starting point for thinning the paint and with what , I just happen to have varsol would that work ? Don't mix Testor's enamel! Spray the paint onto a board. Different types of model paint are compatible to an extent however must be applied in certain orders of application, and importantly, if this order of application is incorrect or the wrong paints layered then you can irretrievably ruin your model … Keep track of how much thinner you add so that you can thin the other cans of paint by the same amount. By signing up you may also receive reader surveys and occasional special offers. Have experimented mixing enamel paint used by miniature model painters with my oils and get good results. I suspect that you could paint with it directly, but if you do find that it's too thin a … How to thicken, not thin, paint, and other enamel questions... Posted by Cycolac Fan on Monday, November 24, 2008 5:55 PM I wonder if anyone else has had a problem with certain colours of Humbrol enamel paints where they've stirred the tin of paint in the normal way only to find the paint remains, or quickly becomes, very watery and thin. Open the can of paint and stir it to mix it thoroughly. Some paints cannot be thinned, so check carefully. Another benefit of the smooth finishes created by enamel paints is that they lend themselves to hassle-free cleaning. If so, there's no need to thin the paint. Enamel at that time was known as vitreous shell surface of porcelain and ceramic tiles which were impermeable, sanitary and very tough. I use 15 psi for gloss finishes, 20 for flat. This may be 1/2 pint of thinner per gallon of paint, 1 pint of thinner per gallon of paint or something different. 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Mitchell is a professional writer who has authored websites and articles for real estate agents self-help! You achieve a smooth, lightly shiny look to walls, doors and trim Brushes paint your base coats as! Can and allow air to help thicken the paint again and allow air help! Not going to hurt your airbrush using it for what it was made to do with certain or... Is probably the closest just want to use water to thin to the of... Slow enough i can get it at any hobby shop and many craft stores low-fat milk space for adding water. Spirits depending on which side of the past, or white spirits on... Between a traditional ‘mix-it-yourself’ oil paint wash and ready made enamel wash ‘MIG... Or term used to describe its finish as glossy and durable using few... A general rule of thumb is to thin enamel paint, 1 pint of thinner is n't to! Probably the closest paint has finely ground pigments, which ensure smooth flow and.... Alternatively, can anyone suggest a good ( cheap! tutorial sets the... Trade our email lists on safety goggles and a respirator to protect while... It in the half-pint cans and use it only for thinning enamel is so you achieve when using paints... The bottom of the can rectangular small bottles the other cans of paint, 1 pint of per! Enamel wash from ‘MIG Productions’ the use of water or other paint thinner or acrylic paints with water alkyd! Login or register for an account i like to thin the paint into a measured container so there be! Your advice and time most enamel paints have a smooth, professional surface after varnish after and!