Iwata HPC Plus - problems with Tamiya Silver

[rmcclure]

Hi All,

Having recently and very happily upgraded to an Iwata HPC Plus from a CR Revolution I find I'm having problems with heavily pigmented metallic acrylics - mainly Tamiya Silver. It seems that no matter how thinned my mix is I still get a relatively rough finish and it's a little on the spattery side. I don't have this problem with non-metallic shades and the CR Rev worked fine with it so I'm beginning to wonder if the smaller nozzle size (0.2mm for the Plus vs. 0.5mm for the CR) is finding life hard with the pigment flakes in metallic paints.

Has anybody else experienced this and is there a better brand of metallic acrylic to use with this AB with finer pigment?

Please don't suggest using the CR as that was ebayed to fund the HPC!

Thanks all,

Roger

[Tomjw]

I've tended to suffer a little with smaller nozzle/needle sizes and Tamiya paints generally. Everything works fine though with a 0.4 and lower pressure.

Tom.

Edited September 7, 2014 by Tomjw

[mick]

don't know what thinners your using but try thining it more maybe 60/40 ,or you could try cellouse thinners

[colin]

More than likely the metallic paint flecks are a bit coarse for the .2 needle as per Tomjw, try some Alclad through it

[rmcclure]

Hi All,

Thanks a lot for the suggestions. I actually turned up the pressure a little (15 from 12psi) and got better results. I do have some Vallejo Model Air metallics on order to see if I get better results.

I know Alclad shoots just fine through it but I like the ability to have a relatively solvent-free option for large areas such as USN pre-war craft in aluminium lacquer.

Cheers,

Roger

[kev67]

Just add some drops of acrylic retarder such as Windsor and Newton

[Duncan B]

I've got an Iwata CM C+ and it doesn't like Tamiya acrylics at all. I am sure it is down to the size of the pigment particles and the small needle size. My Iwata Eclipse sprays them with no problem but the Tamiya silvers do have a grainy appearance which is down to the paint in my opinion. Mr Color metallic spray well but are very easily worn off, the best silver finish I've ever achieved without using Alclads was achieved using Games Workshop Methril silver thinned with Tamiya thinners, it went on beautifully smooth and was quite hard wearing.

Duncan B

[franky boy]

Hi have an Iwata eclypse.

In my experience I find it sprays tamiya and gunze type acrylics beautifully especially when thinned with mr levelling thinner, it's pretty good with alclad to. It doesn't like the heavier types of acrylics such as life color very much.

Having said all that we all seem to have different user experiences with all these products.

James