So...is Tamiya Colour REALLY acrylic paint...?

[tooshy]

Ok...this is my first rant

I went into the local model shop today. When I say \'model\' I mean, the place that sells planes, remote controlled cars, boats, balsa wood and that horrible terrain for train enthsiasts. Anyway, he sells Tamyia and I need to get a new pot of \'Smoke\'

Having picked my pot, I then asked the guy why they call it acrylic \'cos it doesn\'t thin with water, nor can you clean your brushes with water either. He got very argumentative and the following \'chat took place....

Storeman: \"well! I don\'t know how you use it \'my dear\' but I\'ve used it for years without any problems...\"
Toosh: \"can you honestly say you use water to thin the paint and clean your brushes...?\"
Storeman: \"Oh I use this, it\'s much better...\" Storeman points to Tamyia \'thinners\' @ £1.99 a pot
Toosh: \"Ah....so that\'s not water then is it?\"
Storeman: \"yes it is! but they put something in it that gives it a smell...\" He opens the pot and invites me to smell it...
Toosh: \"Hmmm...it has a very chemical smell....so definitely NOT water...and why would people buy water when it\'s free from the tap?!\"
Storeman: \"Well, it\'s what I use and other modellers swear by it!\"
Toosh \"Modellers? what kind..? Planes, trains...cars ??\" (No he missed the joke too)
Storeman:\"are you going to buy the Smoke then..?\"
Toosh: \"yup....\" Hands over £1.10 and leaves.

So....is it me just being stoopid (careful answering that one) or is Tamyia really not proper acrylic paint...???

 

[finn17]

Good question actually...

Firstly, the salesman is clearly a gripper

So thinners are scented water eh?:duh:

The answer will be something to do with the makeup of the pigment compared to the carrier used. I suspect \'arrylic\' refers to the make up of the pigment.

The benefit of acrylic pigment presumably is that it can use water as a carrier. However, I am guessing that Tamiya chose to use a spirit based carrier, for their own reasons.

Really need a paint chemist to answer this one....

 

[Sturmhalo]

Confusing. There\'s an artist\'s water based oil paint available you know! Acts like oil but mixes with water! The modern world is a confusing and scary place. I don\'t like it.

 

[tooshy]

oh good grief....

@Sturm - I was looking for answers here and now you tell me there\'s water based oil paints.... I feel faint

@Finn - thanks for that rather sensible answer. And yes..the storeguy was a huge gripper....

 

[airhead]

Even worse, there are water based ureathanes now for automotive use. Still have to use a respirator to shoot that stuff, but it is not hazardous waste to get rid of it.

Acrylic refers to the pigmented stuff that gets left behind. In either case (GW/Vallejo vs. Tamiya) the remaining product is acrylic rubber with pigment. The carrier is different. Water in most of the stuff we now use (GW/Vallejo/etc.) and don\'t know without looking in the case of the Tamiya, probably alcohol of some sort so it will dry quicker.

 

[dauber22]

Well, my dear...

What Airhead said, but he beat me to it.
I take it you\'d left the house without your mole grips, Too_Shy, else he might not have been so condescending lol

I\'d also like to agree with Sturmhalo. To hell with paints though. I can figure them out. IT\'s when you find out that some young lady turns out to have a few extra bits of equipment that scares me

 

[Calavera]

Originally posted by tooshy
@Finn - thanks for that rather sensible answer. And yes..the storeguy was a huge gripper....

Bet he was huge too :duh:

I suppose it\'s something like enamel and oils, only to be thinned with something toxic and foul smelling.
But I\'ve never tried that stuff out, but I\'m interested ! Jakob Rune Nielsen is really fond of those Tamiya colors.

 

[mickc22]

It was probably Cellulose based ....if it smelled
I know there \"clear\" range is & you have to use cellulose thinners to clean brushes etc

 

[supervike]

@tooshy...

I will \'make\' several bottles of funny smelling water if you\'d like.

All free of charge of course....


lol

 

[mickc22]

@supervike: can you send that kind of thing in the mail then? lol

 

[mickc22]

oops...

...forgot to vote....
...done it now tho

 

[Medved]

the tamiya thinner has no water in it. basically it acts like water where the tamiya colours are not water based.

paint comes in 3 parts.......Pigment.....binding agent.......and solvent.

with acrylics it is the plasticy acrylic pigment that is mixed with a glue (pvc based or something close to give it that satin sheen) and then the solvent is water.

Those water based oils are a joke, they are more like the griffin alkyds range. basically people are trying to solve inherent problems in the medium. oil dries slow. if you want to get rid of the satin shine you have to use a solvent that evaporates faster leaving the pigment and binding agent. (try using benzene thinners with oil paint or even white spirit)
when you start mixing ranges and paints you have to start to think a bit because different paints have solvents that evaporate at different speeds. i too have the tamiya stuff as suggested by mr Nielsen but there is no chance i will be able to use it because of the need for thinners (i have a small baby and am in the dog house enough at home without stinking the place out)
btw i had to study this stuff at university so any problems ask away

 

[DennisMech]

Q

Ok, I want to buy some of these paints, and am prepared to spend some money on solvents, brush cleaner etc. First, does anyone know where to order some online within the US? Secondly, should I use different brushes for this (ones I won\'t be licking)? What kind of brush cleaner do I need? Do i need this funny smelling water, other than the kind I\'ve already ordered from Supervike? James needs to know!

 

[Nelson]

Grrr....

I wish I had gotten these helpful answers when I asked about Tamiya acrylics...

You guys just wanted me to inhale the fumes, didn\'t you?

EDIT: Wait, I did, they were just smothered by posts of scottish drinking songs.

 

[SaxonAngel]

They seem to be alcohol based actually. You have to use the thinner that sold in the same line too

I\'ll be trying out some of the new Testors acrylics and Adiken acrylics over the next while too.

 

[FredrickvonCarstein]

Originally posted by DennisMech
Ok, I want to buy some of these paints, and am prepared to spend some money on solvents, brush cleaner etc. First, does anyone know where to order some online within the US? Secondly, should I use different brushes for this (ones I won\'t be licking)? What kind of brush cleaner do I need? Do i need this funny smelling water, other than the kind I\'ve already ordered from Supervike? James needs to know!

Personally I use Winsor and Newton brush cleaner which is readily available at any half-decent arts store. I don\'t use thinner personally, just water, however this will probably change when I once again manage to convince myself its not my painting abilities but instead my supplies. Wastes money, but makes me feel good until I pick up another mini.

 

[dave3555]

Tamiya Colour is acrylic paint, but it contains glcol ethers which make it flamible. Tamiyas are thinable with water and it works best if you add the paint to the water on your pallate rather than water to the paint... if that makes sense.

Also a little drop of washing up liquid in the paint water/mix makes it flow alot easier.

Also tamiyas are waht is refered to as a \'hot\' paint. It can on occasions melt the underlayers of paint if used before the previous layer is totaly dry or if you overload the mini with paint. This is also due to the glycol ethers in the paint.

I recomend washing your brush out with brush soap after paiting with tamiyas as well cos they do tend to be quite wearing on a brush else.

Dave

 

[finn17]

Try this one...

Originally posted by DennisMech
Ok, I want to buy some of these paints, and am prepared to spend some money on solvents, brush cleaner etc. First, does anyone know where to order some online within the US? Secondly, should I use different brushes for this (ones I won\'t be licking)? What kind of brush cleaner do I need? Do i need this funny smelling water, other than the kind I\'ve already ordered from Supervike? James needs to know!

Try this site James:

http://www.hobbylinc.com/prods/rh.htm

I have ordered stuff from them and they appear to be good, cheap and have a comprehensive range.

Personally, I would use a separate brush for any volatie paint/thinners etc. Mind you, as it is primarily used as a wash, you probably wouldn\'t be wanting to use your favourite W&N anyways.:flip:

 

[Garyo]

Tamiya is great, I\'ve been using it for decades. It really starts to shine as you get to larger scales, but can achieve some nice effects at 30mm too. Its like buttah in your airbrush. It has a superfine consistant pygment size with great coverage. :flip:

The trick to thining and cleaning Tamiya is a little alcohol in your water, some people use rubbing, but I find denatured works best. Follow up the painting sesion by using a good brush conditioner. The alcohol really dries out your brushes. Oh and if you use denatured you should wear gloves

Garyo

 

[Micha]

Well, I ´ve been using Tamya paints for a long time when I used to do military (1/35 scale) models. Tamya colors are definately acrylic, as it has been strated here. True, they are not really water soluable, but you can clean your brushes in water with some alcohol. To what they actually contain besides the pigment: water (yes!), Propanol, Athanol and other alcohols. Most of you most definately know that alcohol is part of a large group of chemicals.
I never actually paint with tamya and wouldn´t advise anyone to do so because the paints never gave an even cover unlike GW acrylics do + they do damage brushes. I use them for Airbrush work only, they are very finely pigmented so they´re definately the right choice for a good double-action airbrush. At least that´s what my experience is concerned.
Hope this helped
Micha