I am working on an On30 tank car that requires a medium green for the frame, or at least in my imagination it does. The only hobby shop within a reasonably distance doesn’t stock model railroad colors other than Floquil. So, I bought a mini jar of medium green Tamiya.
In the bottle, it is really thick but the label says this paint can be brushed as is or thinned for airbrushing. I tried brushing first and I did not like the result at all. I stripped it off and repainted (by brush) with paint thinned appropriately for airbrushing. Still excessively thick paint, AND it is at least two shades darker than when I airbrush with the same thinned paint. However, it airbrushes beautifully.
I had to repair a broken stirrup step and ! attempted to brush paint the repaired area with the thinned paint and it is still too dark, even after flooding the painted surface with thinner. I’ve been using automotive windshield washer fluid for thinning Polly Scale and Model Master acrylics for airbrushing with good results. It works well for Tamiya too.
Anyone have a similar experience and can explain the difference in shades? It certainly CANNOT be used to brush paint right out of the bottle like the label suggests. You will see every brush stroke unless you flood the painted area with thinner.
I’ve had an airbrush in my hand professionally for over 30 years mostly custom cars and bikes only recently new to model painting and I have never sued windshield washer fluid and have never heard of anyone else doing it either.I have used 70% Isopropyl Alcohol as a reducer and deionized water. I have only used Tamiya a few times and have never had an issue with it. It is possible you got a bad batch of paint. Actually happens fairly often s paint does have a shelf life which LHS owners choose to ignore.
I have some Tamiya paints, which is what my LHS carries. Some of it is quite old, used, stored and used again. I only have brush painted with it full strength, unless it was for a wash and have had no problems with it being too thick. Never have airbrushed. Don’t understand why paint thinnned the same should be a different color, unless it is just thicker due to the method of application.
I use Tamiya paints almost exclusively, and haven’t had a problem. One thing I have noticed is that the pigment has a tendency to settle at the bottom of the jar, and usually requires a good stir with a toothpick to mix to the proper consistency.
What I think may be going on here is that you’re getting the low-pigment paint at the top into your airbrush, and then dipping the paintbrush into the jar and getting the pigment-heavy (i.e. thicker) paint at the bottom. When it’s mixed correctly, it should require a drop or two of paint thinner to airbrush properly.