Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching and commenting too! Be sure and check out my playlist about getting started in airbrushing. It may be helpful. (th-cam.com/play/PLZt56FNuWOKeOiywAlXlB-uAdF_VaJ_mj.html) Have fun!
Thank you Jon for sharing your knowledge and experience! First got into airbrushing with Tamiya Acrylics before getting Mr. Color, other lacquers and Vallejo. When my compressor packed up last year, I tried hand painting some kits in full, surprising how well they are with brush painting too!
I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Yes, they can be brush painted for sure - it just takes a slightly different approach. It's good to hear you did that! Thanks so much for watching and commenting!
This is a great video - detailed but simple language, easy to understand. And what I like the most - it has added value even years after it was captured. Good job done and thanks for it!
Thanks for all the info, I am a tamiya modeller, traditionally spray cans, but just bought my first airbrush and trying to get some understanding of the many techniques from the experience and knowledge of your vids.. Well done and thanks
Thanks for your kind words, and I'm glad you enjoyed the video! Tamiya paints are great for airbrushing because they are so very forgiving. I really love them! Thanks again for watching and commenting!
That's really a great discussion/video. Gotta agree with your preference for Mr Color Levelling Thinner. (Here in Ireland the "Levelling Thinner 400" costs about 12 euros, and the Tamiya paints about 3 euros each, but the Thinner lasts for ages, so it's well worth it). I also loved your idea of a demo of a skim milk effect in your airbrush by using actual skim milk, to see what it looks like!. Very practical... Like also your advice on the mixes between paint and thinner for our various uses. And your advice about using a respirator mask...not that every one of us use them :) (And I went to the very end of the video. Many thanks!
Thanks so much! I am so glad to you enjoyed it, and that the ideas were useful. That's especially encouraging to me. And thanks for hanging in to the end, and for watching and commenting!
That was extremely helpful, thank you for taking the time to make this show. It's invaluable to entry level modellers like my self to gain confidence and knowledge in to spray painting. When you put a lot of time in to making a kit, this next step can be daunting. Cheers mate👍
The problem with the lacquer thinners in Tamiya round jar X/XF is that is crazes the first layer if you paint on top with a second layer. For second layer you will want to use X20A. I learned that after watching this video and doing the checker on the 144th Saturn V : )
Well thank you for this video. I build model cars and always prime the parts first with stynelrez, then use Tamiya paints thinned with home brew thinner. I have Mr color leveling thinner that I use for painting the body with lacquer. You saved me a big step. Thank you. So glad I watched this.
Interesting that you say they're not so flat that they're chalky. That's *exactly* what they are in my experience! To counter this chalkiness, I usually add a drop or two of X-22 (Gloss Clear) to the mix to smooth things out. It not only produces a smoother finish, but seems to make them less fragile, too.
Great video, have saved it as I am very close to getting into airbrushing for the first time. Will be referring back to this one.... now lets go check the rest of your catalogue hehehe
Great video! I use Tamiya paints almost exclusively, and I’ve used both Mr. Color leveling thinner and X-20a. One thing I would add is that you don’t want to pre-mix Tamiya and Mr. Color. I’ve got a bottle of Tamiya X-22 Clear that’s been slowly changing color over the past year, it’s now somewhat similar in hue to Tamiya’s clear orange. Weird slow motion chemical reaction. Can’t make it smell worse, Mr.Color already smells like roadkill skunk dipped in NyQuil. Have a great evening Sir!
I have been using Tamiya Acrylics for a couple of years now. I clean my brushes and airbrush with 92% Isopropyl alcohol nut I only use the X-20A when thinning my paints. Would love to see a video on Mission Model paints. I tried to research online on what to thin it with and I had nothing but problems. everything says its premixed to spray out of the bottle.
That's a good combination for cleaning/thinning Tamiya! I tried Mission Model paints. I no longer own any - and will not. ;) Thanks for watching and commenting!
Glad it helped. :) Thanks for watching and commenting! The X-20A should do the trick if any are a bit thick. I always use an electric stirring too. It will make sure everything gets thoroughly blended. Happy painting!
You noticed that, huh? :) My team from 9th PSYOP BN (ABN) was sliced to 1/22 in summer '93 in Mogadishu. During that time, 2/14 swapped out with them. Seems like a million years ago. Thanks for your kind words, and for watching and commenting. Take it easy bro.
Another awesome video. I learn so much watching them. I have used Tamiya paints in my air brush and it is my fleet paint for my older truck fleet. And again you lay things out great and easy to under stand. Ant the Beard is truly awesome looking.
I now prefer using Mr. Color Rapid Thinner for most applications using Japanese acrylics (Mr. Hobby, Tamiya, Gaia Paints etc.) because it dries three times faster than Leveling Thinner and it also doubles as a metallic color thinner. The only downside to Rapid Thinner is that the colors tend to dry more matte than they should, so a gloss paint would come out a bit more on the semi gloss side. On Gundams (which I mostly work on) and military kits this is actually fine since most of them doesn't need gloss paint anyway, but on car kits I only use Rapid Thinner for the base coat and after light sanding I'd just layer it with regular Mr. Color thinner or Leveling Thinner for glossy finishes. The Rapid Thinner helps a lot in laying down surfacers so you won't have to wait long when checking for imperfections.
I tried MLT with Tamiya and I noticed when I put (Tamiya, Mr Super Clear) top coats on from a can, it would bubble the paint. When I switched back to the X20A the problem went away. All paints were left for 24hrs in both instances. MLT is the hottest thinner I've found, it'll clean anything.
Yeah, the lacquer clear coats can be a bit tricky with that combination. I've done it successfully, but generally I stick to acrylic clear coats to avoid interactions. Thanks so much for watching and commenting!
I mainly paint warhammer, I've only really used Tamiya for bases which I do 90% with the airbrush. Browns and greys and greens. I've stopped using them as, while I can happily spent 20+ hours painting a tiny figure, I'm really lazy when it comes to cleaning by airbrush. With standard acrylics I can clean it in seconds but with Tamiya I need to to stripit to clean it. Maybe it was the wrong thinners
I think you'll find cleaning the airbrush to be much easier using MCLT. I prefer using Tamiya and MCLT over acrylics int he airbrush any day! Thanks for watching and commenting - happy day to you!
I remember as a kid discovering Tamiya paints and it's ability to make armor models look incredible with just a brush. When I saved up enough money to buy an airbrush and compressor I was blown away. I just used to thin Tamiya with just water.
I'm so glad you found the video helpful! That is always an encouragement to hear from viewers. Have fun in your modeling - thanks for watching and commenting!
Great video! Please be aware Mr. Color Leveling Thinner will shift the XF-21 Sky toward a greener tone. Just a heads up, from painting a Spitfire Mk.I. Take care and happy modeling!
Hi jon. I have just discoverd your chanel. Thankyou for a clear and concise video. And i have subscribed, again thankyou and greetings from accross the pond australia, cheers
Odor is no longer my concern. Since I have a spray booth and a carbon filtered mask. After watching your video, I restructured my thinner stock. Mr Levelling thinner all the way! Even for my Vallejo paints.😁. For airbrushing only. For brush painting. I still use the paint manuf's respected thinner.
Thanks for watching and commenting! MCLT is great stuff. you might want to test it out with the Vallejo, if you've not already done so. It may produce unfavorable results. But if it works for you, that's great!
Yep. I also dug out a respirator we've had for a few years. It's a good one, will need new filters. I've been spraying for years without one, DUH. Just read the MSDS for Tamiya Primers, I'm now a believer.@@JonBius
@@JonBiusIt may have been a silly mistake on my part but I guess this is just for Tamiya paints, I tried the Mr Color Levelling thinner with some Vallejo acrylic paint and it just seemed coagulate and blocked my airbrush.
Yeah, Vallejo is water based. Not all acrylics are alike. Acrylic doesn't mean water based, it just describes the type. The solvents differentiate them. Vallejo uses water, Tamiya is a hybrid.
I don't use Mr. Hobby or Ammo paints, so I've never tested it. You'd need to give it a test to see how it works if you're curious. Ammo is water based, so I don't know how it would react. Mr. Hobby is (as I understand it) a hybrid acrylic more like Tamiya XF series, so it might work.
Thanks for the Video John! I use X20A and Mr. Color Leveling Thinner. I will try AK interactive thinner now. Would isopropyl alcohol mixed in at 80%/90% be good for tinting clear lenses for Gunpla?
Thanks for watching and commenting! I've never had good success tinting lenses with an airbrush. I prefer to use a dip in either colored Future (using inks), or a clear gloss paint of the appropriate color. Give that a try on a test pieces and see how you like it. HTH!
Yes it is! Good eye! I was in A Co. 9th Pysop (Abn), and we were attached to 1/22 (and later 2/14) in Mogadishu in summer '93. Always good to hear from my Army brothers!
Could you provide me with some tips for hand brushing Tamiya paints? Thinning? Typical # of coats required? Use of dry retardant? Brush clean-up? Thanks.
You can give it a try, certainly. I've found that using the X-20a or Mr. Color Leveling Thinner is hard to beat. Test it out though, to make sure it doesn't cause clumping. Good luck and have fun!
I've always used water to thin seems ok for hand painting my warbirds no problems it seems paint companies are always making new stuff that you don't need I guess my cheep way comes from growing up with not much money when I was a kid I always looked for a cheaper way .
Jon, this is a great video - one of your best. I love your approach. Your balance of different options, real world experience, pros and cons of each option, and your lack of a "one size fits all" conclusion are all welcome.
I'm a novice when it comes to painting and model kits. I appreciate all the information. I've liked, subbed, and even hit that little bell notification. Thanks a bunch! Sick outro music
Awesome, thank you so much! I am grateful! Yeah, I like that outro myself. It's some of the free music TH-cam makes available for creators. It really sounds like Satriani to me. It's not, but definitely his style. It's called Led Foot. Give it a listen... if people would tolerate a two plus minute outro, I'd use the whole song! :) th-cam.com/video/tRPfwlkMCS4/w-d-xo.html
Hello Jon, how are you? Your video was very good, it helped a lot. Here where I live, Tamiya paints are expensive, but there are some colors that are more commonly used. Mr Color Leveling Thinner is really hard to find and when you do find it the price is painfully high, unfortunately. You explain in a very accurate way, I really liked your channel and I will watch it whenever possible. Best Regards.
I am doing well Angelo - thank you for asking! I hope you are doing well too. Thanks so much for your kind words, and I'm grateful for you watching and commenting. If you have easier access to AK Interactive products, their Real Color High Compatibility Thinner is very good - I've used it with both Tamiya and Gunze paints. (And it's odor isn't quite so bad, though always wear a respirator.) Or if there are other hobby paint lacquer thinners available to you, check with online or your local modelers and see if they've used them. There might be a good alternative that's much easier and affordable to obtain. I hope that helps!
I’m the same just paint straight on and do a few coats and still looks good My mclaren 1/12 is 5 years old and still looks good Now doing the senna car with a new airbrush set up And now trying out clear coat on my carbon fibre car parts I make Do skinning real carbon over car plastics parts so instead doing the big compressor I’m trying the airbrush set up
Great video Jon...I'm making my first foray into airbrushing, and I was looking for a great source specifically for Tamiya paints...this was it! I do have a couple of questions...do you store thinned paints, especially those colors you use frequently, or do you mix as needed? If you store them, is there a practical shelf life? Secondly, do you have a recommendation on a tabletop size paint booth (either commercially available or DIY)?
Thanks so much! I am grateful for your kind words! I generally thin the paints in the color cup. However, for colors I used a lot (XF-69 was one), I would open the bottle, add some X-20A until it was just below the neck, mix it with my electric stir tool, and it was good to go. I have Tamiya paints going back 10 years like this. As long as you occasionally open them, give them a stir, and keep them in a cool dry place with the lid on securely, they last a very long time. (Be sure and clean the threads on the bottle and lid!) For long term storage, I only thin with X-20A. Paasche and Pace make good paint booths. I don't recommend the cheap folding ones from Amazon. Even with a booth, it's important to have a good respirator mask and good airflow. Take care of your lungs! Thanks again, and happy day to you!
I personally use automotive laquer ,three types .fast for varnishes normal for base coats and slow for fine detail. And as you point it out WE ALL MUST USE ALLWAYS A PROPRER MASK , laquer thinner affects your brain !it short circuits the synapsis.
Good info, thanks! I just sprayed my first car body today with Tami ya paint and the 20a thinner. Went on very nicely other than a couple snaf’us with my airbrush.
Thanks for such a clear helpful video, I watched it because I’d run out of x20A but the good news is I’ve got a full bottle of Mr levelling 400 so it’s on with the respirator and off we go. Thanks 🙏
What’s your view on brush painting, I used thinned Tamiya with really soft brushes. Regards Fred apologies just seen what you said near end of this vid 👌😎☕️
40 odd years of modelling 1/32nd ww2 aircraft including 5 scratch builts (2 Yaks 3 & 9's took me 9 years) I only used one thinner - Metholated Spirts (around 50% give or take depending on tests before use).
I'm a huge fan of Tamiya Acrylic paints. I do mainly WWII aircraft with a focus on RCAF and RAF. My question to you is when using Mr. Color Leveling or AK thinner does that change airbrush clean-up? I use alcohol as a clean up and find it works great, will it be different using a lacquer based thinner?
Not really - I think the MCLT and AK thinners actually do a slightly better job. But I use alcohol too and it all works well. I think you'll like those thinners with Tamiya Thanks so much for watching and commenting!
Just what I needed. I have used Tamiya spray cans for decades but only a few times have I used their Acrylic bottles. As you note, their color variety is decent but.... I need to spray paint some box cars XF 50 Field Blue. I have had a bottle of it around for a decade or so. I also found an unopened bottle of Tamiya Lacquer thinner after watching your video. Going to try spraying it this afternoon. Thank you. Again, your video was just what I needed.
Great video. I just bought some of the leveling thinner based on your video. Haven't received it yet. Thanks. Sounds like it's what I need. Will it work with Vallejo acrylic also?
Thanks so much - I'm glad you found it helpful! I've heard several people say they used it with water-based acrylics. But I was skeptical, and in my tests, it was... less than optimal. Some colors seemed to work OK, but then begin curdling. Others curdled immediately. Give it a test and see what you think, though. Some people swear by it, so... 🤷♂️ Thanks for watching and commenting!
Ok i need help. I don t have much Money and i need to Paint a Bandai gundam kit. I want to Paint something in purple and i have always airbrush ed with tamiya lp paints up Until now. Lp paints don t come in purple tho, so i looked at acrylic paints and reserarching and with this video i Found out u csm use x paints with lp thinner. Now i can t afford trial and error, anybody capable of giving me ratios for this combination of x paints and lp thinner?
Nice video. Would be nice if you did a video on using the Tamiya Retarder with the X20. I paint stuff like model train locomotives which start out gloss black and I am thinking retarder might help avoid pebble/eggshell finish issues. I also like to paint some items with a solid finish rather than gloss or flat and wonder how to do that.
Thanks for the kind words. You can see some use of the Tamiya Retarder in this video I did: th-cam.com/video/KPcb3PApQaI/w-d-xo.html If you're brush painting, Tamiya is not the ideal choice IMO. If you're getting a grainy finish with an airbrush, that's usually a result of the paint not being thin enough, or shooting it too close and/or too "wet". Practice will be the key in any event. HTH!
I’ve always used straight lacquer thinner from the hardware store. Worked great for the old Floquil and Testors paints. It’s also cheaper by the gallon!
Yeah, I always have a gallon of that handy myself. It is great for cleaning the airbrush, and for thoroughly cleaning synthetic brushes! Thanks for watching and commenting!
Jon, I've been building models for well over 40 years, and I can't believe where it has gone since the Testors days. Because Testors has gone the way of the dinosaurs, I've been forced into the world of acrylics and lacquers. The internet is a minefield of resources, knowledge, and information on this subject. I have learned a great deal, but your videos have been the most helpful and most informative thus far. Concerning this video on thinning Tamiya acrylic paint, since the paint itself can be thinned using lacquer thinner, could I also use lacquer thinner to thin Tamiya clear coats? ie....primer, acrylic base colors, gloss coat (thinned with lacquer thinner), decals, then sealed with a second gloss coat (thinned with lacquer thinner)....then washes and weathering?
Yes, I've used Mr. Color Leveling Thinner and Tamiya Lacquer Thinner for those and they work extremely well! Very smooth application if you don't flood it and build it up. Thanks so much for your kind words, and for watching and commenting!
Oh yes - it's an excellent thinner for Tamiya paints. There isn't a fixed ratio really, rather it depends on your preferences and the effect you're trying to achieve. For general coverage, I'd recommend starting off at a 50/50 ratio, and then adjust from there as needed. Tamiya paint is very forgiving, so if it gets a little too thin, it will still airbrush fine, just needing additional coats. Be sure when airbrushing to wear a proper respirator - protect your lungs! Thanks for watching and commenting!
I was struggling with thinning Tamiya acrylics for AB and your video really untangles things up for me, so thank you very much! Just a little more question, while using IPA as thinner, do you add some retarder so that the paint wont dry up too fast and clog up the AB? Thanks
You can do that. I generally don't though, as I've not had problems with tip dry or clogging. But a few drops won't hurt at all. My recommendation would be to try both ways a few times and see which you prefer! 😊 Thanks for watching and commenting! Happy day to you!
Thanks a lot, really helped me and I made it until the very end of the video :) What do you think about adding a thinner straight to the brand new tamiya paint jar and filling (the air gap), up to the top. I've seen this method among other modellers but it makes me really confused, because the paint is a lot thicker than 1:1 ratio. Also lots of guys use 2:1 ratio (paint:thinner), especially for XF flat paints and 1:1 ratio for X gloss paints .
I used to do that pre-thinning. It worked well, but I always needed more, so I quit doing it. I never go by ratios anymore, but rather by visual. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Wouldn't the evaporation of water in the paint should you use water to replace it? I do use thiners and found some dont seem to mix well with off brand paint,
I rarely use water to thin paints, even water based-acrylics, except for a few drops when brush painting. And I try to avoid off bran d paints and thinners - I stick to the name brand and recommended stuff in general just to make things easier. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Those who use Tamiya and water as the thinner use either distilled water or de-ionized water. And then, you have to do at least two coats. Filtered water won't do, just plain won't do.
I've not done a video comparison, but the hardware store/auto store lacquer works fine in general, but I felt the modeling specific were better for leveling, etc. You do have to be careful as some of the more aggressive lacquers can have unintended consequences on plastic/paint. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Like your "down to earth" delivery. Subject was well explained and needed for airbrush beginners like me. Building wooden,from scratch, steam powered ships for years but never used airbrushes . Looking forward to more of your videos.
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks so much for your kind words. Thinning, air pressure, and experience are the key to airbrushing successfully. Enjoy the journey! Please be sure and subscribe too. I generally have a new video out every Friday. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Hi Jon, excellent and very informative video. Thanks for that and all the others. I'm 68 and back in the hobby after a very long time. In minute 2:35 you mentioned your special mixing tool! Did you explained it in an other vid? Thanks again and best wishes from Germany, Ralf ... and btw HAPPY NEW YEAR !
I'm so glad to hear you are back in the hobby. And thank you for your kind words. This is the kind of stirring tool I was referring to: www.miniaturemarket.com/bdg-121.html (There are other brands, etc. but that illustrates it.) Thanks for watching and commenting, and happy new year to you also!
That I don't know - I have never used the Mr. Hobby Aqueous paints. Maybe check on some modeling forums or groups - they might be able to help you out. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Really helpful video on thinning Tamiya paints as after years I have finally got myself an airbrush.
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching and commenting too!
Be sure and check out my playlist about getting started in airbrushing. It may be helpful. (th-cam.com/play/PLZt56FNuWOKeOiywAlXlB-uAdF_VaJ_mj.html)
Have fun!
Just getting back into model building and this really helps
Thanks
I'm glad it helped you, and welcome back to the hobby! Thanks for watching and commenting. Happy day to you!
Thank you Jon for sharing your knowledge and experience! First got into airbrushing with Tamiya Acrylics before getting Mr. Color, other lacquers and Vallejo. When my compressor packed up last year, I tried hand painting some kits in full, surprising how well they are with brush painting too!
I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Yes, they can be brush painted for sure - it just takes a slightly different approach. It's good to hear you did that!
Thanks so much for watching and commenting!
@@JonBius I apply 3 or more coats and let each coat surface dry before applying each coat!
Very goood clear info for a begginer like me or maybe an old hand. You are the first yank i can listen to
Thanks buddy from a cross the pond
Thank you so much for your kind words - I am most grateful. Greeting from this side of the pond! 😊
This is a great video - detailed but simple language, easy to understand. And what I like the most - it has added value even years after it was captured. Good job done and thanks for it!
Glad it was helpful! And thanks so much for your kind words, and for watching and commenting. Happy day to you friend!
Thank you so much. I just bought an airbrush and it looks like you to save me a bunch of aggravation
I'm glad you found this helpful! Check out my airbrushing series of videos - they may be useful also.
Thanks for watching and commenting!
Thanks for all the info, I am a tamiya modeller, traditionally spray cans, but just bought my first airbrush and trying to get some understanding of the many techniques from the experience and knowledge of your vids.. Well done and thanks
Thanks for your kind words, and I'm glad you enjoyed the video! Tamiya paints are great for airbrushing because they are so very forgiving. I really love them!
Thanks again for watching and commenting!
That's really a great discussion/video. Gotta agree with your preference for Mr Color Levelling Thinner. (Here in Ireland the "Levelling Thinner 400" costs about 12 euros, and the Tamiya paints about 3 euros each, but the Thinner lasts for ages, so it's well worth it). I also loved your idea of a demo of a skim milk effect in your airbrush by using actual skim milk, to see what it looks like!. Very practical... Like also your advice on the mixes between paint and thinner for our various uses. And your advice about using a respirator mask...not that every one of us use them :)
(And I went to the very end of the video. Many thanks!
Thanks so much! I am so glad to you enjoyed it, and that the ideas were useful. That's especially encouraging to me.
And thanks for hanging in to the end, and for watching and commenting!
That was extremely helpful, thank you for taking the time to make this show. It's invaluable to entry level modellers like my self to gain confidence and knowledge in to spray painting. When you put a lot of time in to making a kit, this next step can be daunting. Cheers mate👍
Glad it was helpful! And thank you so much for your kind words, and for watching and commenting. Keep focused on the fun. Happy day to you!
The problem with the lacquer thinners in Tamiya round jar X/XF is that is crazes the first layer if you paint on top with a second layer. For second layer you will want to use X20A.
I learned that after watching this video and doing the checker on the 144th Saturn V : )
Thanks for watching and commenting!
Well thank you for this video. I build model cars and always prime the parts first with stynelrez, then use Tamiya paints thinned with home brew thinner. I have Mr color leveling thinner that I use for painting the body with lacquer. You saved me a big step. Thank you. So glad I watched this.
I'm so glad it was helpful! I used that combination on hundreds of aircraft - worked like a charm! Thanks for watching and commenting!
Yes I like what I'm seeing and hearing. You're well spoken and have a friendly, relaxed style I'll watch more for sure..
Thanks so much! I am grateful!
Interesting that you say they're not so flat that they're chalky. That's *exactly* what they are in my experience! To counter this chalkiness, I usually add a drop or two of X-22 (Gloss Clear) to the mix to smooth things out. It not only produces a smoother finish, but seems to make them less fragile, too.
Good solution! Thanks for watching and commenting.
Great video, have saved it as I am very close to getting into airbrushing for the first time. Will be referring back to this one.... now lets go check the rest of your catalogue hehehe
Have fun with airbrushing! Thanks so much for watching and commenting.
Glad I've finally found your channel Jon.This video has answered all the questions I have been trying. Thanks a million.
I'm so glad you found it helpful! Thanks so much for watching and commenting!
Fantastic info, thanks for the video, very relaxing
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks so much for watching and commenting!
Great video! I use Tamiya paints almost exclusively, and I’ve used both Mr. Color leveling thinner and X-20a. One thing I would add is that you don’t want to pre-mix Tamiya and Mr. Color. I’ve got a bottle of Tamiya X-22 Clear that’s been slowly changing color over the past year, it’s now somewhat similar in hue to Tamiya’s clear orange. Weird slow motion chemical reaction. Can’t make it smell worse, Mr.Color already smells like roadkill skunk dipped in NyQuil. Have a great evening Sir!
I won't even ask how you are familiar with that particular odor combination! 🤣🤣🤣
Thanks for sharing, and for watching and commenting!
I have been using Tamiya Acrylics for a couple of years now. I clean my brushes and airbrush with 92% Isopropyl alcohol nut I only use the X-20A when thinning my paints.
Would love to see a video on Mission Model paints. I tried to research online on what to thin it with and I had nothing but problems. everything says its premixed to spray out of the bottle.
That's a good combination for cleaning/thinning Tamiya!
I tried Mission Model paints. I no longer own any - and will not. ;)
Thanks for watching and commenting!
Thanks for this video! I will start paint brushing my Bismarck model for the first time. This is a verry helpfull video about thinning the paint.!
Glad it was helpful! Thank you so much for watching and commenting!
Thank you for this. Very helpful. My Tamiya X-20A arrived a few weeks ago. Glad my 5 year old Tamiya paints are still good.
Glad it helped. :) Thanks for watching and commenting!
The X-20A should do the trick if any are a bit thick. I always use an electric stirring too. It will make sure everything gets thoroughly blended. Happy painting!
This is very useful info. Looking forward to trying Mr Color Leveling Thinner out on my next project.
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching and commenting!
The video and information I’ve been needing for years!
I'm so glad you found it useful! Thanks for watching and commenting!
Learned a great deal about a subject I thought I knew about. Thanks
I'm so glad to know it was helpful! Thanks for watching and commenting!
Very effective and informational video. By the way, Climb to Glory!
You noticed that, huh? :) My team from 9th PSYOP BN (ABN) was sliced to 1/22 in summer '93 in Mogadishu. During that time, 2/14 swapped out with them. Seems like a million years ago.
Thanks for your kind words, and for watching and commenting. Take it easy bro.
Yeah, I was in 1st Brigade from '16-'19. I kinda miss it up there, but life goes on.@@JonBius
Another awesome video. I learn so much watching them. I have used Tamiya paints in my air brush and it is my fleet paint for my older truck fleet. And again you lay things out great and easy to under stand. Ant the Beard is truly awesome looking.
Thanks so much! I am glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching and commenting!
I now prefer using Mr. Color Rapid Thinner for most applications using Japanese acrylics (Mr. Hobby, Tamiya, Gaia Paints etc.) because it dries three times faster than Leveling Thinner and it also doubles as a metallic color thinner. The only downside to Rapid Thinner is that the colors tend to dry more matte than they should, so a gloss paint would come out a bit more on the semi gloss side. On Gundams (which I mostly work on) and military kits this is actually fine since most of them doesn't need gloss paint anyway, but on car kits I only use Rapid Thinner for the base coat and after light sanding I'd just layer it with regular Mr. Color thinner or Leveling Thinner for glossy finishes. The Rapid Thinner helps a lot in laying down surfacers so you won't have to wait long when checking for imperfections.
Thanks so much for watching and commenting!
Thanks so much for the quality of information in this video, great content and a great presentation of the content as well. Keep it up!
Much appreciated! Thanks for watching and commenting!
That was really comprehensive and helpful. Thanks a lot, and you got a new subscriber.
I'm so glad you found it helpful! Thanks so much for your kind words, for subbing, and for watching and commenting! Happy day to you. 😊
Great video!
Glad you enjoyed it Thanks for watching and commenting. 😊
Very helpful! Thanks.
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching and commenting!
I tried MLT with Tamiya and I noticed when I put (Tamiya, Mr Super Clear) top coats on from a can, it would bubble the paint. When I switched back to the X20A the problem went away. All paints were left for 24hrs in both instances. MLT is the hottest thinner I've found, it'll clean anything.
Yeah, the lacquer clear coats can be a bit tricky with that combination. I've done it successfully, but generally I stick to acrylic clear coats to avoid interactions.
Thanks so much for watching and commenting!
Very informative. Nice to know the STANK factor. Thank you.
Thanks! I'm glad you found it helpful. It is important to consider stankiness! 😊
Thanks for watching and commenting!
Really great tutorial. Much appreciated👍🏼
I appreciate that! Thanks so much for watching and commenting!
Great video once again!! Funny thing is your "go-to" thinner just arrived in the mail yesterday.
How about that? Enjoy it! Thanks for watching and commenting!
Thank you for the video. I wanted to know what to use.
I'm glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching and commenting!
Thank you this really helps thank you👍
I'm so glad it's helpful! Thank you for watching and commenting. :D
I mainly paint warhammer, I've only really used Tamiya for bases which I do 90% with the airbrush. Browns and greys and greens. I've stopped using them as, while I can happily spent 20+ hours painting a tiny figure, I'm really lazy when it comes to cleaning by airbrush. With standard acrylics I can clean it in seconds but with Tamiya I need to to stripit to clean it. Maybe it was the wrong thinners
I think you'll find cleaning the airbrush to be much easier using MCLT. I prefer using Tamiya and MCLT over acrylics int he airbrush any day!
Thanks for watching and commenting - happy day to you!
I remember as a kid discovering Tamiya paints and it's ability to make armor models look incredible with just a brush. When I saved up enough money to buy an airbrush and compressor I was blown away. I just used to thin Tamiya with just water.
Thanks for watching and commenting! Happy day to you friend!
a simple topic, but for those of us like me who've never used tamiya it was an invaluable guide to starting with Tamiya paints, thank you
I'm so glad you found the video helpful! That is always an encouragement to hear from viewers. Have fun in your modeling - thanks for watching and commenting!
@@JonBius Massively helpful thank you.
Great video! Please be aware Mr. Color Leveling Thinner will shift the XF-21 Sky toward a greener tone. Just a heads up, from painting a Spitfire Mk.I. Take care and happy modeling!
Thanks for the info! And thanks for watching and commenting!
He did
New subscriber.
Enjoyed the video
Cheers
Awesome, thank you! I am grateful for your kind words and the sub. Happy day to you!
I got a lot out of this video. Thanks.
I'm so glad! Thanks for watching and commenting!
XF acrylic paint works well with mr color leveling thinner. I know you said it does good with tamiya paint. Just wondering which ones LP X
I've used it with XF and X paints and it works well with those.
Thanks for watching and commenting!
Useful and informative as ever and when I finally start painting things in something other than primer am sure it will help :-D
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching and commenting!
Hi jon. I have just discoverd your chanel. Thankyou for a clear and concise video. And i have subscribed, again thankyou and greetings from accross the pond australia, cheers
Thanks so much for your kind words, for subbing, and for watching and commenting. I am grateful. Happy day to you from North Carolina USA!
Odor is no longer my concern. Since I have a spray booth and a carbon filtered mask. After watching your video, I restructured my thinner stock. Mr Levelling thinner all the way! Even for my Vallejo paints.😁. For airbrushing only. For brush painting. I still use the paint manuf's respected thinner.
Thanks for watching and commenting! MCLT is great stuff.
you might want to test it out with the Vallejo, if you've not already done so. It may produce unfavorable results. But if it works for you, that's great!
MLT seems ok for Vallejo when painting small area. Gonna experiment again with Vallejo using the Tamiya Acrylic thinner next time.
Nice non no nonsense easy to follow. No makin g it goofy by pluggung other paints/products one can do dubiously helpful things with. I'll be back.
I'm glad to know it was helpful! Thanks for watching and commenting!
Yep. I also dug out a respirator we've had for a few years. It's a good one, will need new filters. I've been spraying for years without one, DUH. Just read the MSDS for Tamiya Primers, I'm now a believer.@@JonBius
Thanks Jon, that was very useful information. Have you changed your thinking on any of those recommendations in the past 10 months?
Thanks! No, this is one thing I've yet to find a better mouse trap!
Hi Jon,,,
was looking at the chart,,, They now have,,, X, XF, EX, EXF, and LP. For a new painter that is very confusing
Cheers
Yeah, they don't make it all really easy do they? I pretty much stuff with XF and I'm good to go!
Do you recommend the Tamiya lacquer thinner with the acrylic paints?
It works just fine, but I felt the Mr. Color Leveling Thinner was the best of the choices.
Thanks for watching and commenting!
@@JonBiusIt may have been a silly mistake on my part but I guess this is just for Tamiya paints, I tried the Mr Color Levelling thinner with some Vallejo acrylic paint and it just seemed coagulate and blocked my airbrush.
Yeah, Vallejo is water based. Not all acrylics are alike. Acrylic doesn't mean water based, it just describes the type. The solvents differentiate them. Vallejo uses water, Tamiya is a hybrid.
Can the Tamiya X-20A be used to thin Mr Hobby and MIG Ammo acrylic paints. However I think that the MIG Ammo might be prethined in the factory.
I don't use Mr. Hobby or Ammo paints, so I've never tested it. You'd need to give it a test to see how it works if you're curious. Ammo is water based, so I don't know how it would react. Mr. Hobby is (as I understand it) a hybrid acrylic more like Tamiya XF series, so it might work.
@@JonBius I will do some experimenting, thanks for the reply.
Thanks for the Video John! I use X20A and Mr. Color Leveling Thinner. I will try AK interactive thinner now. Would isopropyl alcohol mixed in at 80%/90% be good for tinting clear lenses for Gunpla?
Thanks for watching and commenting!
I've never had good success tinting lenses with an airbrush. I prefer to use a dip in either colored Future (using inks), or a clear gloss paint of the appropriate color. Give that a try on a test pieces and see how you like it. HTH!
Is that a 10th mountain patch I see in upper left corner? 3/14 infantry here...88'-92'
Yes it is! Good eye!
I was in A Co. 9th Pysop (Abn), and we were attached to 1/22 (and later 2/14) in Mogadishu in summer '93. Always good to hear from my Army brothers!
Could you provide me with some tips for hand brushing Tamiya paints? Thinning? Typical # of coats required? Use of dry retardant? Brush clean-up? Thanks.
Yes I can! Take a look at this video: th-cam.com/video/KPcb3PApQaI/w-d-xo.html
I hope that helps. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Can i Use vallejo thinner for these Tamiya acrylic ?
You can give it a try, certainly. I've found that using the X-20a or Mr. Color Leveling Thinner is hard to beat. Test it out though, to make sure it doesn't cause clumping. Good luck and have fun!
I've always used water to thin seems ok for hand painting my warbirds no problems it seems paint companies are always making new stuff that you don't need I guess my cheep way comes from growing up with not much money when I was a kid I always looked for a cheaper way .
Thanks for watching and commenting!
I broke open a bottle of Boyds that ten years old: awesome.
Thanks for watching and commenting!
@17:40 Yeah, but the skim milk comparison doesn't help me-I drink whole milk! 😄
instead of water use windex it's better,
Jon, this is a great video - one of your best. I love your approach. Your balance of different options, real world experience, pros and cons of each option, and your lack of a "one size fits all" conclusion are all welcome.
Thanks so much! I'm glad you liked it. And thanks for your kind and encouraging words. Have a great day!
Very informative. I have just started using Tamiya acrylic paint, and was wondering how to thin. 🙏
Thanks for your kind words! I'm glad to know the video was useful to you. Thanks for watching and commenting - happy day to you!
Jon, you are one of the most informative guys when it comes to modelling! Me and my hobby thank you so much for all the hard work!
Wow, thanks! I am so grateful for your kind and encouraging words.
Thanks so much for watching and commenting!
At last. No sponsorship lead advise. Just plain talking. Yes I’m a newbie 😂 so thank you very much. 👍👍👍👍👏👏👏🇬🇧
I'm glad you enjoyed it! I try to keep it simple- talk about that will hopefully be helpful. Thanks so much for watching and commenting!
I'm a novice when it comes to painting and model kits. I appreciate all the information. I've liked, subbed, and even hit that little bell notification. Thanks a bunch! Sick outro music
Awesome, thank you so much! I am grateful!
Yeah, I like that outro myself. It's some of the free music TH-cam makes available for creators. It really sounds like Satriani to me. It's not, but definitely his style. It's called Led Foot. Give it a listen... if people would tolerate a two plus minute outro, I'd use the whole song! :) th-cam.com/video/tRPfwlkMCS4/w-d-xo.html
I'm getting back into the hobby (model cars mostly) after about a 20 year hiatus and am starting to use airbrushing now. Great tips, thank you
Great to hear, and I'm glad the video was helpful. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Hello Jon, how are you?
Your video was very good, it helped a lot.
Here where I live, Tamiya paints are expensive, but there are some colors that are more commonly used.
Mr Color Leveling Thinner is really hard to find and when you do find it the price is painfully high, unfortunately.
You explain in a very accurate way, I really liked your channel and I will watch it whenever possible.
Best Regards.
I am doing well Angelo - thank you for asking! I hope you are doing well too. Thanks so much for your kind words, and I'm grateful for you watching and commenting.
If you have easier access to AK Interactive products, their Real Color High Compatibility Thinner is very good - I've used it with both Tamiya and Gunze paints. (And it's odor isn't quite so bad, though always wear a respirator.) Or if there are other hobby paint lacquer thinners available to you, check with online or your local modelers and see if they've used them. There might be a good alternative that's much easier and affordable to obtain.
I hope that helps!
Thank you Jon. I found the Tamiya Laquer Thinner - retarder type (orange cap) excellent !
Tamiya colours are based around their Models.
I’m the same just paint straight on and do a few coats and still looks good My mclaren 1/12 is 5 years old and still looks good Now doing the senna car with a new airbrush set up And now trying out clear coat on my carbon fibre car parts I make Do skinning real carbon over car plastics parts so instead doing the big compressor I’m trying the airbrush set up
Inks of a similar color. Glycerine try a poly- based eyedrops Less toxic
Great video Jon...I'm making my first foray into airbrushing, and I was looking for a great source specifically for Tamiya paints...this was it! I do have a couple of questions...do you store thinned paints, especially those colors you use frequently, or do you mix as needed? If you store them, is there a practical shelf life? Secondly, do you have a recommendation on a tabletop size paint booth (either commercially available or DIY)?
Thanks so much! I am grateful for your kind words!
I generally thin the paints in the color cup. However, for colors I used a lot (XF-69 was one), I would open the bottle, add some X-20A until it was just below the neck, mix it with my electric stir tool, and it was good to go. I have Tamiya paints going back 10 years like this. As long as you occasionally open them, give them a stir, and keep them in a cool dry place with the lid on securely, they last a very long time. (Be sure and clean the threads on the bottle and lid!)
For long term storage, I only thin with X-20A.
Paasche and Pace make good paint booths. I don't recommend the cheap folding ones from Amazon. Even with a booth, it's important to have a good respirator mask and good airflow. Take care of your lungs!
Thanks again, and happy day to you!
I personally use automotive laquer ,three types .fast for varnishes normal for base coats and slow for fine detail.
And as you point it out WE ALL MUST USE ALLWAYS A PROPRER MASK ,
laquer thinner affects your brain !it short circuits the synapsis.
Thanks for watching and commenting!
Good info, thanks! I just sprayed my first car body today with Tami ya paint and the 20a thinner. Went on very nicely other than a couple snaf’us with my airbrush.
I'm glad it was helpful! Thanks so much for watching and commenting.
And keep at it - experience will work through the snafus after a while!
Thanks for such a clear helpful video, I watched it because I’d run out of x20A but the good news is I’ve got a full bottle of Mr levelling 400 so it’s on with the respirator and off we go.
Thanks 🙏
I'm always glad to hear that the videos are useful! Thanks for watching and commenting, and happy day to you!
What’s your view on brush painting, I used thinned Tamiya with really soft brushes. Regards Fred apologies just seen what you said near end of this vid 👌😎☕️
No worries! Here's a video link - th-cam.com/video/KPcb3PApQaI/w-d-xo.html
Thanks for watching and commenting!
40 odd years of modelling 1/32nd ww2 aircraft including 5 scratch builts (2 Yaks 3 & 9's took me 9 years) I only used one thinner - Metholated Spirts (around 50% give or take depending on tests before use).
Thanks for watching and commenting
I'm a huge fan of Tamiya Acrylic paints. I do mainly WWII aircraft with a focus on RCAF and RAF. My question to you is when using Mr. Color Leveling or AK thinner does that change airbrush clean-up? I use alcohol as a clean up and find it works great, will it be different using a lacquer based thinner?
Not really - I think the MCLT and AK thinners actually do a slightly better job. But I use alcohol too and it all works well.
I think you'll like those thinners with Tamiya
Thanks so much for watching and commenting!
It takes a lot practice to use tamiya for hand brushing. I started out hand brushing with tamiya and still do.
Yep! It's a different technique, but once "discovered", they work very nicely.
Thanks for watching and commenting!
Just what I needed. I have used Tamiya spray cans for decades but only a few times have I used their Acrylic bottles. As you note, their color variety is decent but.... I need to spray paint some box cars XF 50 Field Blue. I have had a bottle of it around for a decade or so. I also found an unopened bottle of Tamiya Lacquer thinner after watching your video. Going to try spraying it this afternoon. Thank you. Again, your video was just what I needed.
I'm so glad you found it helpful! Have fun with your project, and thanks for watching and commenting!
Great video. I just bought some of the leveling thinner based on your video. Haven't received it yet. Thanks. Sounds like it's what I need. Will it work with Vallejo acrylic also?
Thanks so much - I'm glad you found it helpful! I've heard several people say they used it with water-based acrylics. But I was skeptical, and in my tests, it was... less than optimal. Some colors seemed to work OK, but then begin curdling. Others curdled immediately. Give it a test and see what you think, though. Some people swear by it, so... 🤷♂️
Thanks for watching and commenting!
Ok i need help. I don t have much Money and i need to Paint a Bandai gundam kit. I want to Paint something in purple and i have always airbrush ed with tamiya lp paints up Until now. Lp paints don t come in purple tho, so i looked at acrylic paints and reserarching and with this video i Found out u csm use x paints with lp thinner. Now i can t afford trial and error, anybody capable of giving me ratios for this combination of x paints and lp thinner?
I talk about the thinning ratios at the 17:04 mark: th-cam.com/video/qknvcgC8jdk/w-d-xo.html
Nice video. Would be nice if you did a video on using the Tamiya Retarder with the X20. I paint stuff like model train locomotives which start out gloss black and I am thinking retarder might help avoid pebble/eggshell finish issues. I also like to paint some items with a solid finish rather than gloss or flat and wonder how to do that.
Thanks for the kind words.
You can see some use of the Tamiya Retarder in this video I did: th-cam.com/video/KPcb3PApQaI/w-d-xo.html
If you're brush painting, Tamiya is not the ideal choice IMO. If you're getting a grainy finish with an airbrush, that's usually a result of the paint not being thin enough, or shooting it too close and/or too "wet". Practice will be the key in any event.
HTH!
Thank you so so much, great information, I'm about to start airbrushing and this info will be priceless.
I'm so glad it was helpful! Have fun on your journey. Happy day to you friend!
I’ve always used straight lacquer thinner from the hardware store. Worked great for the old Floquil and Testors paints. It’s also cheaper by the gallon!
Yeah, I always have a gallon of that handy myself. It is great for cleaning the airbrush, and for thoroughly cleaning synthetic brushes! Thanks for watching and commenting!
@17:45 Now...next step is to actually USE skim milk AS your thinner...
:D
Excellent. And no music while you are talking!!! Thank you.
Glad you liked it! Thanks so much for watching and commenting!
Jon, I've been building models for well over 40 years, and I can't believe where it has gone since the Testors days. Because Testors has gone the way of the dinosaurs, I've been forced into the world of acrylics and lacquers. The internet is a minefield of resources, knowledge, and information on this subject. I have learned a great deal, but your videos have been the most helpful and most informative thus far.
Concerning this video on thinning Tamiya acrylic paint, since the paint itself can be thinned using lacquer thinner, could I also use lacquer thinner to thin Tamiya clear coats? ie....primer, acrylic base colors, gloss coat (thinned with lacquer thinner), decals, then sealed with a second gloss coat (thinned with lacquer thinner)....then washes and weathering?
Yes, I've used Mr. Color Leveling Thinner and Tamiya Lacquer Thinner for those and they work extremely well! Very smooth application if you don't flood it and build it up.
Thanks so much for your kind words, and for watching and commenting!
Mr. Color leveling thinner 400 is used for Tamiya acrylic? What is the radio?
Oh yes - it's an excellent thinner for Tamiya paints.
There isn't a fixed ratio really, rather it depends on your preferences and the effect you're trying to achieve. For general coverage, I'd recommend starting off at a 50/50 ratio, and then adjust from there as needed. Tamiya paint is very forgiving, so if it gets a little too thin, it will still airbrush fine, just needing additional coats.
Be sure when airbrushing to wear a proper respirator - protect your lungs!
Thanks for watching and commenting!
I was struggling with thinning Tamiya acrylics for AB and your video really untangles things up for me, so thank you very much! Just a little more question, while using IPA as thinner, do you add some retarder so that the paint wont dry up too fast and clog up the AB? Thanks
You can do that. I generally don't though, as I've not had problems with tip dry or clogging. But a few drops won't hurt at all. My recommendation would be to try both ways a few times and see which you prefer! 😊
Thanks for watching and commenting! Happy day to you!
@@JonBius really appreciate your advice ;)
Thanks a lot, really helped me and I made it until the very end of the video :) What do you think about adding a thinner straight to the brand new tamiya paint jar and filling (the air gap), up to the top. I've seen this method among other modellers but it makes me really confused, because the paint is a lot thicker than 1:1 ratio. Also lots of guys use 2:1 ratio (paint:thinner), especially for XF flat paints and 1:1 ratio for X gloss paints .
I used to do that pre-thinning. It worked well, but I always needed more, so I quit doing it. I never go by ratios anymore, but rather by visual. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Very useful information. Thank you
Glad it was helpful! Thanks so much for watching and commenting!
Wouldn't the evaporation of water in the paint should you use water to replace it? I do use thiners and found some dont seem to mix well with off brand paint,
I rarely use water to thin paints, even water based-acrylics, except for a few drops when brush painting. And I try to avoid off bran d paints and thinners - I stick to the name brand and recommended stuff in general just to make things easier.
Thanks for watching and commenting!
Those who use Tamiya and water as the thinner use either distilled water or de-ionized water. And then, you have to do at least two coats.
Filtered water won't do, just plain won't do.
Thanks for watching and commenting!
Have you done a comparison of the Tamiya and Mr Color thinners to plain Lowe's lacquer thinner?
I've not done a video comparison, but the hardware store/auto store lacquer works fine in general, but I felt the modeling specific were better for leveling, etc. You do have to be careful as some of the more aggressive lacquers can have unintended consequences on plastic/paint.
Thanks for watching and commenting!
Like your "down to earth" delivery. Subject was well explained and needed for airbrush beginners like me. Building wooden,from scratch, steam powered ships for years but never used airbrushes . Looking forward to more of your videos.
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks so much for your kind words. Thinning, air pressure, and experience are the key to airbrushing successfully. Enjoy the journey!
Please be sure and subscribe too. I generally have a new video out every Friday. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Hi Jon, excellent and very informative video. Thanks for that and all the others. I'm 68 and back in the hobby after a very long time. In minute 2:35 you mentioned your special mixing tool! Did you explained it in an other vid?
Thanks again and best wishes from Germany, Ralf
... and btw HAPPY NEW YEAR !
I'm so glad to hear you are back in the hobby. And thank you for your kind words.
This is the kind of stirring tool I was referring to: www.miniaturemarket.com/bdg-121.html
(There are other brands, etc. but that illustrates it.)
Thanks for watching and commenting, and happy new year to you also!
@@JonBius, thanks a lot for your aswer. Now I have to look for it here in Germany.
Like you said, a simple topic but really interesting. I learnt a lot. 😊👍
Glad you enjoyed it - thanks for watching and commenting!
Hello sir. Can i mix mr hobby aqueous thinner with tamiya acrylic paint ??
That I don't know - I have never used the Mr. Hobby Aqueous paints. Maybe check on some modeling forums or groups - they might be able to help you out.
Thanks for watching and commenting!
Great video.Thank you!
Thank you too! Happy day to you!
Thanks Jon, great video! from Judy in Nova Scotia, Canada
I'm glad you liked it! Thanks so much for watching and commenting. Greetings from North Carolina!