Artist Paints Like Delta Creme Coat ect. For Model Painting

Thomas E. Johnson · Post by **Thomas E. Johnson** » Sun Jul 30, 2006 4:05 pm

I've heard of folks using these paints, thined with future, or similer meidium for model painting. Are hey as good as traditional model paints like Tamyia, ect.?

Devin · Post by **Devin** » Sun Jul 30, 2006 4:15 pm

I use the Liquitex acrylic paints more and more recently. You get a lot more for your money than buying specific made modeling paints, and there are hundreds of colors to choose from.

You will have to practice with them to get decent results. They have different spraying, thinning and drying needs that modeling paints.

-Devin

Ron Smith · Post by **Ron Smith** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 12:59 am

Devin wrote:I use the Liquitex acrylic paints more and more recently. You get a lot more for your money than buying specific made modeling paints, and there are hundreds of colors to choose from.

You will have to practice with them to get decent results. They have different spraying, thinning and drying needs that modeling paints.

-Devin

Liquitex and Createx both make "airbrush medium" for the initialthinning of artists' acrylics.

If I remember next time I'm down in the basement I'll write down the name of what I use to clean my airbrush. I cut it 20:1 water:cleaner and I haven't taken my airbrush apart in two years.....this stuff is that good.

Devin · Post by **Devin** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 7:20 am

Ron Smith wrote: Liquitex and Createx both make "airbrush medium" for the initialthinning of artists' acrylics.

If I remember next time I'm down in the basement I'll write down the name of what I use to clean my airbrush. I cut it 20:1 water:cleaner and I haven't taken my airbrush apart in two years.....this stuff is that good.

Ah yes, airbrush medium. I do use that (now you can tell how long it's been since I've fired up the airbrush!). I also use some of the Liquitex brand drying retarded in my mix, as well as a few drops of Future to help with the leveling.

One thing to remember is that Liquitex makes two types of paints, a tube line that is very thick, and a thinner bottle brand. The bottle stuff is obviously easier to get thinned down to go through the airbrush, but I've used the tube stuff HEAVILY thinned and have had no problems.

For acrylics, I use Simple Green, cut with water, to clean my airbrush and everything else I need to clean. Works great.

-Devin

spikesliew · Post by **spikesliew** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 9:39 am

Hmmm... in a stroke of brilliance i tried Daler Rowley's System 3 acrylics thinned with Tamiya's thinner.

Spent the rest of the afternoon cleaning up the clogged airbrush...

Apparently the pigments are kinda too big for airbrushing, i suppose.

Has anyone tried this out with different results?

Be warned!

Ron Smith · Post by **Ron Smith** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 10:24 pm

Devin wrote: For acrylics, I use Simple Green, cut with water, to clean my airbrush and everything else I need to clean. Works great.

-Devin

This stuff full strength is to Model Master airbrush cleaner as The Terminator is to Barney Fife.

Ron Smith · Post by **Ron Smith** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 10:31 pm

spikesliew wrote:Hmmm... in a stroke of brilliance i tried Daler Rowley's System 3 acrylics thinned with Tamiya's thinner.

Spent the rest of the afternoon cleaning up the clogged airbrush...

Apparently the pigments are kinda too big for airbrushing, i suppose.

Has anyone tried this out with different results?

Be warned!

You made one of the most common mistakes with acrylics and assumed any acrylic thinner would work. Tamiya acrylics and their thinner are alcohol based, most artists' acrylics use glycol ethers as their thinners and will often turn to gooey snot when mixed with certain alcohols.

Quick and dirty:
Alcohols as thinner- Tamiya, Gunze Sangyo.

Glycol ethers as thinners- Model Master Acryl, Polly Scale, Mr. Kit, Aeromaster, Delta (and most other crafty types), Liquitex (and >ost other artists' types), Badger Flex, Minwax clears, Model Shipways.

Water and their thinner only- Vallejo and Andrea (closer to latex house paint in formulation and NOT comptaible with alcohol or glycol ethers except the alcohol based metallics).