I have finaly used up my Floquil paints and diosol. So now I have no choice but to switch to Acrylic. I use a Pasche double action air brush. What is the ratio of paint to thinner? What is the best thinner? How durable are acrylics? How many coats for coverage? anything else I need to know to not reinvent the wheel?
since They all vary, consistency of milk is a good place to start Thinners usually water or some use alcohol. Number of coats depends on color.
Acrylics are very durable, and do a good job of covering so in most situations only one coat is required. Two light coats might be needed for a light color (yellow for example).
One thing to be aware of is acrylic paint dries much quicker than solvent based paint. In some ways that’s good - you can spray a primer coat and then spray the next color over it in only an hour or two. However, it also means that as soon as you finish spraying, you should immediately clean out the insides of your airbrush. Otherwise, you may find the insides completely blocked with dried, gummy paint.
I would look up the MRH e book on acrylics. It will answer most of your questions. Acrylics are a different animal than solvent based paints. There is also Scale Coat, Star and Trucolor paints that are still solvent based.
I use a single action, external mix brush to avoid (mostly ) clogging issues…
Guy
Why acrylics? I use Scalecoat for most of my painting except where some of my leftover Floquil gets used.
Scalecoat does not need a primer and covers well with one coat and leaves a shiny surface for decaling.
Rick Jesionowski
Hi there. You can thin with distilled water. And yes, it dries fast. After a few passes, I let the film dry to the touch and apply more. Thin coats will avoid runs. Using a fan helps to speed up the drying. While it dries between coats, I flush my airbrush using a second bottle filled with distilled water (just press the trigger with the nozzle against a rag). Works very well. Yes, milk is about right in terms of consistency. I always test my mix against a piece of wood. If too thick, I add the water, or the opposite.
Simon
I found this on the internet some time ago, I have not tried all; but, for the most part, the ratios and pressures seemed to be good starting points.
Same here.
-Kevin
Different brands need different thinners.
Acrylics do require more “oomph” to spray, no matter what brand, so the 15-20psi used with Floquil will not work at all with acrylics. I’ve found 35psi a good “start point” and adjust from there.
I reccommend proper ventilation and PPE when airbrushing with anything, but will note it especially required on a couple.
TruColor paints - (technically acrylic, but use acetone for cleanup.) These have become my go-to of late. Sprays nice and smooth, and only need primer if you are spraying over a darker colored car. (Like the old Black styrene MDC/BB kit cars, or “boxcar brown” molded Accurail cars.)
For this paint, proper ventilation and PPE required.
They have their own thinner mixture, which I very rarely need to use. (I’ve had to use it twice in 18 months, though I don’t paint every week.) They also have TCP-999 Rejuvinator, for rescue of old bottles that have started to have the thinner flash off.
Note: Do not let TruColor paints freeze. They really, really dislike cold. (I do not order paint from late October through early April via mail.)
My other paints are:
ModelFlex - (their formula recently changed, and not for the better imo) - I have never needed to thin, and clean up is with window washer fluid. (Their new bottles I can not get to spray smoothly, no matter how I prep the model.)
Modelers Decals & Paint (Kalbach Hobby Store) - This sprays smoothly, is thinned with very little isopropyl if needed, cleans with either isopropyl or window washer fluid.
For this paint, proper ventilation and PPE required.
Valejo - Acrylics in the “air” line don’t need thinned, I again use window washer fluid for cleanup. Non-air line I thin with Golden Airbrush Mediu
Check your needle and see how many grooves are in it on the back. The 3 groove (VLN-3) will spray acrylics best. You need to change the aircap and tip to match the needle. Paasche recommends 30 to 35 lbs pressure depending on what you are spraying.
Iwata needles are smooth. So that grooved end must be a Paasche thing.
For acrylic paints I have had really good results with the following recipe for thinner.
1/2 Cup or 4oz Distilled Water
1/4 Cup or 2oz Isopropyl Alcohol 91 or 99%
10 ml Flow Improver
1ml Retarder
I’ve never had luck with only using one coat of paint–regardless of type. No worries since it prevents the plastic from showing through the paint. I also don’t purposely paint a heavy coat knowing a second is needed.
Happy Holidays!
None of my projects is ever just one coat of paint, but are all done with multiple light coats, deliberately done that way to allow fine details to still show, and have no runs.
Last railcar I painted was at least a minimum of 6 different coats, although from Different spray angles, to catch all areas. But those light coats, at different spray angles, still allow details like rivets, etc… to show, just as painted the correct color.
I could lay down a thicker coat to do things in one coat, but then that risks flooding details, and runs/drips.