AK Air Series

[Guest]

Hello,

Looking for a few tips on how to make the AK Air Series acrylic paints more reliable in the air brush. I'm using a Harder & Steenbeck and have tried various pressure settings and thinners(except the AK-712 because it's out of stock) such as X-20A. So I was wondering if others have tried these and the results they are getting? They are "suppose" to be ready-mixed of course.... lol

Thanks

[AlanG]

Firstly welcome to the forum Hx. Sorry i can't help you but i'm going to watch this thread as i like the look of the AK paints too

[JR]

Wecolme Hx,
Copy what Al says .
John .

[Si Benson]

Hello,

Looking for a few tips on how to make the AK Air Series acrylic paints more reliable in the air brush. I'm using a Harder & Steenbeck and have tried various pressure settings and thinners(except the AK-712 because it's out of stock) such as X-20A. So I was wondering if others have tried these and the results they are getting? They are "suppose" to be ready-mixed of course.... lol

Thanks

Hi hx,
That’s not a brand I’ve used but if it’s acrylic I’d personally try diluting with a little Water?
What’s problems are you having with it?

[PaulTRose]

i certainly wouldnt be using x20-a as a thinner with AK paints.......pretty sure AK is waterbased......tamiya paint isnt.......get some AK thinners then you definatly cant go wrong cos its the right brand for what you are using......id try a ordinary tap water too......works with Vallejo

[Dave Ward]

I use AK acrylics on quite a regular basis - I generally just add a few drops of water, if I think the mixtures a bit thick. I'm using an Iwata Neo, at 1.7bar. I use regular tap water ( the water here is very soft! ), and I can't say I have had any more problems, than using Vallejo, or Mig..
I used AK on my ICM Hs 126 - all sprayed & masked no problems with the paint

Dave

[Guest]

I bought a few to test with and I'm finding them drying on the tip way too fast.... I will try some airbrush medium and report back.

[JR]

Hx .
Good video here .

Might be of some help. Note the use of the Flow improver as well .
John.

[Guest]

Ok, so after some testing it seems to be much improved with the following settings:

25 psi
12 drops paint
2 drops water
2 drops Vallejo flow improver 71.462

[Dave Ward]

Hx,
looking back at my blog of the Hs 126, it was done in the hottest part of last year, and I did use some flow improver - the only comment I made was that I thought that the flow improver reduced the paint adhesion ( important when you're using masks ). High temperatures are not good for airbrushing!
Dave

[BarryW]

I used to use AKI Air Series paints extensively with a H&S airbrush and I would suggest this:
1/ Use a 0.4 needle as the 0.2 tends to block.
2/ No need to thin at all but if you do thin, for filter coats for instance, do so with AKI or Vallejo Airbrush Thinner, not water.
3/ Always apply very thin coats and build up colour. Do not rush.
4/ Wait 24 hours at least for the paint to cure before masking over it.
5/ Use a good primer - The best compatable primer is Badgers Stynylrez.
6/ Always clean the model before priming. I use i.p.a.

The Air Series are excellent and will do a good job if you adapt to them. They are similar to Vallejo Model Air but, in my view, marginally better.

If you have a seperate spray area, with a spray booth venting outside, then perhaps you should try MRP as these are the best airbrush paints that you can get, but AKI/Vallejo are the best 'non-smelly' alternatives good for inside use. Do still use a mask with them though, due to particulates.

[Guest]

Thanks for the helpful information....

[AlanG]

Phil Flory has done a good review of them on Youtube (and the Vallejo Metal range too)

[Guest]

H&S make a V2 needle which has a better tip angle. I have changed mine and spraying with 0.2 needle is much better.