Tamiya Lacquer Thinner

[DrBob]

Most of you have seen the Tamiya lacquer thinner in the 250ml jar with the yellow top (the alchohol based thinner has a white top). I always thought it was for people who decant the spray cans. Lots of people have tried Dupont 3661 acrylic lacquer thinner with Tamiya acrylics. It seems to work with some colors, but makes a gel with others.
Adam Wilder has an article on Armorama about color modulation (faded tank stuff). In the article, he states that Tamiya lacquer thinner is for the Tamiya acrylics.
He claims Tamiya acrylics are not really acrylics. (Acrylic acid is a common water soluable compound. It bonds with poybutadiene and nitrile monomers to make space shuttle propellant binder (PBAN). I suspect Tamiya paint contains acrylic acid, so it can be called an acrylic paint. So I dont believe this part.) I do believe the part about working with Tamiya acrylics.

I tried the Tamiya lacquer thinner with several colors and have been very pleased with the results. It gives a much smoother finish with no grain and no tip clogging. It is available at Hobbytown USA, but it is not as common as the alcohol based thinner. Since it is a lacquer, use in a well ventilated area, use a mask, etc. You should be doing that with acrylics anyway.

[Zoom Zoom]

I guess I should try mixing Tamiya acrylic w/Mr. Color Thinner as well, since it seems like it's the same stuff as Tamiya's lacquer thinner.

Hmmm...would be reallllly cool if these thinners would work w/Testors Acryl...

[Eric Cole]

I would have never even thought of using their lacquer thinner with their acrylic paint. I wonder if it would make it easier to brush paint with? I like using the Tamiya acrylics for detailed brush work but sometimes they dry too fast and become stringy.

I also wonder how it will affect the dry brushing I do with Tamiya acrylics???

Sounds like I have some new things to try....