Am I using Tamiya lacquers right ?

[keveuh]

Thanks everyone for your answers. You guys do have great paint jobs ! And I see the Zero paints + 2K clear give unmatched results !!!

My question though: do all of you use an airbrush to apply paint ? Or do you use it straight from the can ?

I have painted that Honda NSX outdoors of course, I don't remember when but it might have very well been a humid or very cold day. And I think that should be the cause then because of the few cars I have painted with Tamiya TS it's the only one that got this problem.

And YES I got my hand on the holy grail a.k.a Tamiya white spray primer. I wonder if I should use it through the airbrush to waste a minimum of it, or I guess I could simply get later some Gunze Mr white base, but does it have micro filling properties like a "nomal" grey primer ?

Thanks !

[SilverMk2]

I generally use an airbrush now, but I can get similar results with a can. The big advantage in the airbrush is you can use less paint and you can mix your own paints. Typically these days I'll use the Testors lacquers or Tamiya base colors. Then mix an automotive clear to go over those. I used to use the Testors clear as well with great results, but they must have changed the formula in the last two years. Putting bare metal foil or any tape was lifting the clear off in spots when removed. The tamiya clear is nice too, but a little soft IMO. It can't match the shine of the automotive clear or toughness.

[keveuh]

Originally Posted by SilverMk2

I generally use an airbrush now, but I can get similar results with a can. The big advantage in the airbrush is you can use less paint and you can mix your own paints. Typically these days I'll use the Testors lacquers or Tamiya base colors. Then mix an automotive clear to go over those. I used to use the Testors clear as well with great results, but they must have changed the formula in the last two years. Putting bare metal foil or any tape was lifting the clear off in spots when removed. The tamiya clear is nice too, but a little soft IMO. It can't match the shine of the automotive clear or toughness.

Do you mean tamiya x-22 or TS-13 ? I have both but never used any of them yet, I'm not sure how good tamiya acrylics are for body parts.

[SilverMk2]

I use the TS spray cans thru the airbrush for body paint. You just have to spray the paint thru a straw into an airbrush jar. Its perfectly thinned as it comes out for airbrush spraying. I use some of the various blacks and German grey thru the airbrush for interior stuff, but don't clear coat those.

[stevenoble]

I thought I'd make a list of the paints I use and don't use and also what I use them for. It's just the way I paint, so if other people do it differently then that's fine too, everyone has their 'own way' of painting..

Primer

Halfords grey for checking my work, Tamiya grey and white for final primer.

Body work

Zero Basecoats, Mr Color and Tamiya TS.

Interiors/engines/chassis parts

All of the above and also Tamiya acrylics and Vallejo colours.

Metal finishes

Alclad II

Clear coat

Zero 2K, Finishers Auto Clear, U-Pol 1K

All hand painting

Vallejo Model Colour, Tamiya enamels

Clear colours

Alclad II

Some that I don't use and why

Tamiya TS-13 clear, because I had too many melted decals in the past.
Tamiya X-22 clear, because it takes ages to dry and marks when handled.
Tamiya acrylics (gloss finishes) take an age to dry and rub off when handled.

That's basically all the paints I use for my models. If I ever find anything new I always give it a try and see what it's like. But I find I can usually 'get by' with my old favourites most of the time and can find something to fit a particular finish that I require from what I've listed above...

[keveuh]

Steve, that's the kind of info I'd like everybody to give to really know what people use and don't use, that's super useful I think.

And so it seems if you use any gloss paint for interior/engine/chassis you'd rather use some mr color paints instead of tamiya acrylics, that's good to know too.

Do you use satin colors thought ? For example for cars at least x-18 satin black is often required, or do you use another brand for that color or maybe a completely different color ?

[stevenoble]

Originally Posted by keveuh

Do you use satin colors though ? For example for cars at least x-18 satin black is often required, or do you use another brand for that color or maybe a completely different color ?

The Mr Color lacquer range has a fantastic Satin Black which I use all the time. Or I sometimes use Zero base coat Satin Black..

[keveuh]

Originally Posted by stevenoble

The Mr Color lacquer range has a fantastic Satin Black which I use all the time. Or I sometimes use Zero base coat Satin Black..

Ok well I know which satin black to get then