Tamiya Paint Going Off?

[Guest]

Up until 6 months ago I had not done any modelling for about 3 years due to other stuff going on in my life but I kept all the paints I had and they were stored in my shed! The Revell had dried a little but the Tamiya seems to have gone weird! It still mixes but when applied after a few seconds it feels like it going off as if I brush back over the same area the brush pulls and the paint starts to fold. Could this be that the paint has gone off?

[takeslousyphotos]

I have some Tamiya paint I've had for years and it's still fine..... Have you cleaned the parts off well? Could be some mild release film on them....... I clean all the parts I paint first with IPA and then warm soapy water...... Rinsed off well and left to dry.

[Guest]

Must say I have never had any luck brushing Tamiya paint. However, a couple of weeks ago, I airbrushed a mix of two Tamiya paints one of which is at leas six years old, possibly a lot more than that. I have never had a pot go off at all but then again I may just have been lucky.

[Guest]

I have some Tamiya paint I've had for years and it's still fine..... Have you cleaned the parts off well? Could be some mild release film on them....... I clean all the parts I paint first with IPA and then warm soapy water...... Rinsed off well and left to dry.

I use Tamiya primer and handle with gloves before im ready to paint. As Graham I never have problems airbrushing with them but then again you don't touch the part again until its dry! Its just so weird

[Guest]

I too have never had much luck hand brush painting tamiya acrylics tends to drag and lift in flakes if worked at all


Roger

[Guest]

I hand brush all my models/figures. I always use Tamiya paint straight from the pot and have rarely had any problems, except for some colours drying a bit darker in some places (which can add some nice unintended weathering :P ), but after a while, the paint will need to be re mixed to get the carrier back into the pigment.


The problem you seem to be having is easily fixed, as it happens often to me. If you leave it to dry for a while longer than you usually do and mix it well, it shouldn't lift off, as it appears that the paint may not fully dry

[john i am]

Don't use them myself but I'm told humbrol acrylic watered down brush really well. Here's the evidence

[Guest]

Tamiya acrylics are synthetic acrylics & have an alcohol base rather than water. Consequently when brushing either directly from the pot or using their thinners, each new brushstroke will react with the paint that's already there.


To mitigate this, thin the paint with water or even windscreen wash fluid. The only person on here who brushes with Tamiya is John Rixon & he's achieved very nice results.

[takeslousyphotos]

This is hand painted with Tamiya........ Both the Red and the laquer coats.

[Guest]

Some great reply's gents! Many thanks , I have always used Revell paints and they are a pleasure to use but having quite a lot of Tamiya I thought I would give them a go.

[Guest]

Just an update! I have played around with the Tamiya paints and as suggested I added water to the pot! Hey presto no more pulling

[takeslousyphotos]

Just an update! I have played around with the Tamiya paints and as suggested I added water to the pot! Hey presto no more pulling

Good result.

[Guest]

Just an update! I have played around with the Tamiya paints and as suggested I added water to the pot! Hey presto no more pulling

My invoice is in the post :P

[Guest]

Yup! The X-20a thinners is a bit "hot", i.e. it will soften the coat below if allowed to! Water used to thin the paint helps enormously, as does using a very soft brush. One thing is though, X-20 has a built in flow improver. Having said this, once its thinned, it is pretty easy to use. If you are going to go down the path of brushing Tamiya exclusively, I'd treat yourself to some sables, their softness is a huge advantage, but you will also need to perfect your brushing action - I suggest low angle and a very light touch. I know you'll have heard this a hundred times before, but a couple of hours or so spent with a plastic milk bottle and a pot of colour that you won't be using a lot of, will pay dividends. Once you've got the measure of it, you'll be tickety boo!

[Guest]

I'd also recommend using latex gloves if painting Matt surfaces, when Tamiya say flat, they mean flat, which is beautifully flat, but consequently will pick up finger prints very easily!