Hi Samson,
Thanks for the tips.
"
Whatever brand of paint you use use the same brand for thinners, flow improver ( especially important when using vallejo paint lines )"
From what I've been reading, it would seem that the "airbrush flow improver" is used (mainly? or only?) for acrylic paints, because it seems that its main goal is to decrease the fast drying time of acrylic paints (and it seems it also helps to reduce the paint viscosity), which apparently dry quite fast. Correct?
That is not the case with enamel paints. Yes, they dry faster than oil paints, for instance, but apparently not as fast as acrylic paints.
As I don't intend to use acrylic paints, but instead use Humbrol enamel paints (for spraying base coats mainly, on top of which I intend to keep using my brushes for hand painting with oils), would you know of a Humbrol made thinner and airbrush flow improver? I've done some research, so far have found none of these.
It's easy to find the Vallejo one, but I wonder if it works with enamel paints.
As for the Vallejo thinner, it seems its composition is essentially made of water and alcohol. And water I know it's a no-go with enamel paints. As for alcohol, I never tried it. And of course it depends on the percentage of alcohol that this Vallejo thinner may contain.
For all the years I've hand painted with Humbrol enamels, I've always used a regular synthetic thinner, and it works fine for the purpose, which is thinning down the viscosity of the paint as it comes from the can. It also mixes well with Humbrol enamels, never had a problem. After all, Humbrol enamels are synthetic enamels, if I got it right.
Now, I know others do use white spirits, as a thinner for enamels. I do have some, but usually never use it to thin down my Humbrol enamels. As a matter fact I only use it to do a deep clean of the brushes.
"
Also take note even some acrylic paints and cleaners can give off a pretty bad smell"
Lol... Yes, I realized that the only one or two times I used a Tamiya acrylic red paint for painting a metal motorbike in 1/9 scale many years ago. Wow! The smell was really strong, even painful! Believe it was the main reason why I never used acrylics again
I know the more recent water soluble acrylic paints are different, another generation I guess, but I'm happy with my Humbrol enamels so no reason to change.
And then more recently, since I joined PF I re-discovered oils, and that's what I've been using for the final hand painting of my figures and busts.
For other projects, such as the occasional military, or civilian vehicle, or aircraft, or even smaller scale figurines (1/35), I'm still using my Humbrol enamels.
So I guess I'll use a lot of Humbrol enamels with my airbrush.
With the exception of the primer I've been using, that "Mr Primer Surfacer", from Mr Hobby (been using the 1000 so far, but may try the 1200 and/or the 1500, either black, or white, or light gray as the 1000), that I mention above, which I thought it was an acrylic primer, but which, according to Brad above is probably a lacquer-based product. And so far, the only cleaner I was able to use successfully, to clean my brushes after priming with that primer is that "Mr Color Rapid Thinner" I also mention above. I haven't used it to thin down the primer yet, as it's not that much viscous and flows pretty well without the need of being thinned down, just as it comes from the jar. Have only used it to clean the brushes so far. So guess it would be the right (and probably the only) product to clean my airbrush after using it to spray some of the same primer.
Thanks!
Cheers!
