Acrylic paints

seemed to have stopped the larger sizes

Most acrylics can be thinned with water, but you'll get better results if you use something with lower surface tension. Windshield washer fluid usually works well; don't worry about the tint, it's too faint to have any effect on the paint, even on white paint.

Water *will* work, but don't forget about the larger variables. It really matters what *type* of water. Plain tap water usually leaves a lot to be desired. Try to use distilled water. Here in the U.S., it is available in grocery stores in plastic gallon jugs, for under a dollar. Also, the humidity has a *big* impact on how well paints will spray.

Many people sing praises for Polly Scale acrylics.

should only use Tamiya thinners with Tamiya acrylics and water with anything else. This seems to work for me. The new xtra acrylics seem quite happy with POTW.

David

Greg Heilers wrote in news:Pbamd.27350$ snipped-for-privacy@newsread1.news.pas.earthlink.net:

Tamiya's carrier is alcohol based so I usually thin it with denatured alcohol and get very good results. I never really measure closely but it's about a 50/50 ratio. And I'm one who sings for Polly Scale because I have never needed to thin it and it covers extremely well with very thin coats. Cleans very easily, too. I prefer it over Tamiya any day, which ends up being most days.

TF

Tamiya is good paint, I've had fine results with it. Their proprietary thinner is isopropyl alchohol. I've had fine results using drug store 70% percent alchohol. Tried the 91%; it tended to blush. Others have suggested the windshield fluid and denatured alchohol (methanol, methylated spirits) and these work well too. Try it all and see which you like.

It's my understanding that Tamiya still produces the larger bottles but very few places wish to stock them any more. The problems of course are space and the fact that people will go for the cheaper size without considering value. What a world...

The Keeper (of too much crap!)

snipped-for-privacy@aol.comedy (Keeper) wrote in :

I rarely empty the Humbrol tinlets I use. Usually the paint dries out before I'm halfway through the 14 ml tinlet, so I've no use for the larger containers (for most colors, at least). I suspect this goes for most modellers, hence no market for larger bottles, even if they are more economical.

Many thanks to all for the answers! Think I will get some Tamiya thinners for the paint I already have, and then switch to Xtracrylix from then on. On the subject of tin/bottle size, I have some VERY old bottles of Tamiya paint from years ago when I last did any modelling, and most of them are still fine to use now.

Thanks again, all the best

Graham 'Rip' Townsend

Cheaper size??? My shop switched to the smaller price but kept the original price! Thanks a lot..............

-- John The history of things that didn't happen has never been written. . - - - Henry Kissinger

Thanks for that David. Could you tell me what the correct Xtracrylix colours would be for the spotted camouflage kit worn by German troops / tankers during WW2?

Cheers

Graham 'Rip' Townsend

Sorry - I am fine on RAF rescue yellow and most us colours but not armour :-(

Ever tried making the Revell Peterbuilt Fire Engine. I got through 5 cans of Red with that one. I expect a similar useage when I tackle the Wrecker soon :-(