Why do I like Tamiya spray paints so much?

[pnolan48]

I run either lacquer thinner or acetone (surprisingly effective, cheap, and not as toxic) through my airbrushes. If I'm lazy, paint sometimes coagulates on the needle, and in the needle body, requiring a minor teardown. I do hate that, so I try not to be lazy. But I'm usually airbrushing very late at night, with a few beverages, so fumes can make me lazy. It's the realization that oh crips, it's 1 AM and I have to get up at 6 AM, so, well, I'll tear down the airbrush tomorrow at 10 PM sort of thing.

I also like the fact that Tamiya paints seem to be compatible among themselves, unlike some other brands, or even different versions of the same brands (psst--Pollyscale over the years). I made a perfect US Coast Guard buff by mixing sand beige with transparent orange, just as a lark. It worked perfectly.

[chicken45]

I second the acetone!
Works great in cleaning the needle tip.

[peteski]

I second the acetone!
Works great in cleaning the needle tip.

Acetone does work well. It is one of the ingredients of most lacquer thinners.

[sizemore]

I like the Tamiya paints, especially the Semi-Gloss. Although the gloss and satins don't like Walthers Solvaset. It makes the paint tacky and leaves "water marks" hopefully it cleans up when I get to flat/clearcoat.

I also use Acetone for cleaning the airbrush, makes it quick and easy with the water based paints. No need for teardown.

The S.

[pnolan48]

...
I also use Acetone for cleaning the airbrush, makes it quick and easy with the water based paints. No need for teardown.

The S.

Unless you let acrylics dry in the airbrush. Acetone won't dissolve that.

[sizemore]

Unless you let acrylics dry in the airbrush. Acetone won't dissolve that.

I keep a 3oz. bottle of acetone with quick change cap handy in the "paintshop" (ok really its a desk drawer). When I'm done painting I just switch them out and spray (on full blast) into a white rag until it comes out clear. I then take a Q-Tip with acetone and clean the bottle connection too. Only takes a few minutes if that.

If the brush gets gummed up I go with a complete teardown (set aside the gaskets) and throw it in the "strip joint" (...a vary large square mason jar) filled with Chameleon paint stripper.

Quick change bottles make it easy, and I recommend it highly.

The S.

[NCDaveD]

+1 as well on the Timaya primer. It covers everything I've had to paint, including a resin kit that laughed at several different primers. It doesn't seem to fill in details, coats evenly and everything seems to bond with it, acrylics and enamels.

I no longer use my airbrush for priming, just pull out the Timaya rattle can and have at it! Sometimes it is worth paying the extra dollar for something that works, and works well.

NCDaveD