Odourless thinners - alternative?

[lesthegringo]

All, the combination of the covid situation plus some pre-existing issues with shipping to Hungary mean that I becoming more limited as to what I can get locally, and on line. I am wanting to get some odourless thinners, such as the AK brand, however the only locally available source that I know of is sold out. 

 

I know that a lot of the modelling thinners are just repurposed mixes that are available for other things so can anyone tell me either an alternative brand to look out or that is the same, or another product that does the same

 

Cheers

 

Les

[dromia]

I am assuming that it is the enamel thinners you are referring to, if not ignore my post as it is in the context of enamels.

 

Most artist suppliers do odourless white spirit such as W&N. Just like the modelling packaged brands they are extremely over priced for what they are.

 

I did try some Bird brand DIY shop odourless thinners but for some reason it clotted some enamels, strange as you can almost use nails to thin enamels usually.

 

Nahptha (lighter fuel) is quiet low odour and very cheap, I buy by the gallon.

 

It dries a bit faster than normal white spirit and can lead to tip dry, if so I add a tad ordinary mineral spirits the amount's smell isn't noticeable to me at least.

[lesthegringo]

Thanks - the Winsor and Newton stuff should be available in the many non-modelling hobby stores that are here, it never occurred to me about the artist stuff - I had it in my head that it was linseed oil, but of course you need to clean and thin oil paints too

 

Cheers

 

Les  

[pigsty]

Brands packaged for modelling are over-priced, true; but so are brands for artists.  I'm using Bartoline Premium Odourless White Spirit; it's been a while, but it can't have cost me more than six quid for two litres.

[lesthegringo]

If I was in the UK, US, Aus, then I would have a chance to find that sort of product, and I would be able to read the labels - not here though, even with the smartphone translator it is a lottery as to what you actually end up with. I have five bottles of 'thinners' in the garage that would reduce a model to a slimy spot in minutes because I trusted the translation! It is very difficult to shop for things here when you do not have a specific brand to look for. 

 

Oh well!

 

Les

[lasermonkey]

16 hours ago, pigsty said:

Brands packaged for modelling are over-priced, true; but so are brands for artists.  I'm using Bartoline Premium Odourless White Spirit; it's been a while, but it can't have cost me more than six quid for two litres.

I found that Bartoline's Premium Odourless White Spirit reacted badly with both Humbrol and Colourcoats enamels when used as a thinner. It turned them into a goopy, gel-like mess and even the smallest amount of contamination wrote off a whole tin of paint.

 

As a brush cleaner it's fine, but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone for thinning.

 

The best enamel thinners I have used so far is Colourcoats.

[pigsty]

^^ That's quite odd, because I've thinned Humbrol paint with it and it was fine.  In fact it's rescued a couple of tins that I thought were beyond help.  Wish I had the foggiest idea what goes on sometimes ...

[Troy Smith]

13 hours ago, lesthegringo said:

It is very difficult to shop for things here when you do not have a specific brand to look for. 

Find Hungarian modellers,  I know we have a few on here, as they may well know. I presume you don't speak the language, or only at a basic level (an ex is Hungarian, and I know it's, erm, a difficult language to learn) 

IIRC @Borisz  is one, and there are others.   

 

Note, you were recommended lighter fuel,  it very volatile,  but will thin enamel.  

Artists oil paint thinners should work as well, as should turpentine, the classic thinner for oil paint.

Also worth asking in DIY paint places, if you can find Alkyd paint (oil based house paint) that is pretty much the same as enamel.  

You could even take in some enamel paint, and ask for thinners, leading onto, 

Finally,  if in doubt, smell the thinners,  

13 hours ago, lesthegringo said:

I have five bottles of 'thinners' in the garage that would reduce a model to a slimy spot in minutes because I trusted the translation!

these sound like cellulose or laquer thinners. 

 

It's pretty easy to identify paint and thinners types by smell, so a paint shop might smell a paint and go, you need this one.   

 

HTH

[lesthegringo]

Thanks Troy - as you say, Hungarian is a difficult language. I speak Spanish, French, Italian and Portuguese, so consider myself to be reasonable at learning languages, but Hungarian has utterly defeated me. Airport, aeropuerto, aéroport, aeroporto, aeroporto respectively, then in Hungarian it's repülőtér. I can ask for half a kilo of minced beef, two glasses of beer, that sort of thing, but as when my stint here is over I will be going somewhere that doesn't speak Hungarian, I'm not incentivised to try too hard unfortunately. No disrespect meant to the Hungarians, I've enjoyed living here and by and large they are a friendly people, but it is the only country that does speak Hungarian.

 

You also have to factor in that especially outside of the major cities, English is not that widely spoken, and where it is tends to be more where the tourists or students go. Most of them don't go to DIY shops, or specialised places like paint or tool dealers, as I have found. Even Magyar Posta, the national postal service has been at times impossible to use as I can't get across what I want to do. That's why knowing a brand and a likely outlet is the most helpful to me and others in my situation. 

 

As for fellow modelers, I know none nearby, though they must be here. It's the same with the A-10 Cockpit I'm building for use with DCS World, there must be many people around who 'fly' DCS and who build their own cockpit parts, but after two years I've not found a single one.

 

Anyway, if the Winsor and Newton stuff is sold in the art shops, that will do me fine even if it is at a premium price. Thanks to all as ever for the help

 

Les

 

[Borisz]

3 hours ago, lesthegringo said:

Thanks Troy - as you say, Hungarian is a difficult language. I speak Spanish, French, Italian and Portuguese, so consider myself to be reasonable at learning languages, but Hungarian has utterly defeated me. Airport, aeropuerto, aéroport, aeroporto, aeroporto respectively, then in Hungarian it's repülőtér. I can ask for half a kilo of minced beef, two glasses of beer, that sort of thing, but as when my stint here is over I will be going somewhere that doesn't speak Hungarian, I'm not incentivised to try too hard unfortunately. No disrespect meant to the Hungarians, I've enjoyed living here and by and large they are a friendly people, but it is the only country that does speak Hungarian.

 

You also have to factor in that especially outside of the major cities, English is not that widely spoken, and where it is tends to be more where the tourists or students go. Most of them don't go to DIY shops, or specialised places like paint or tool dealers, as I have found. Even Magyar Posta, the national postal service has been at times impossible to use as I can't get across what I want to do. That's why knowing a brand and a likely outlet is the most helpful to me and others in my situation. 

 

As for fellow modelers, I know none nearby, though they must be here. It's the same with the A-10 Cockpit I'm building for use with DCS World, there must be many people around who 'fly' DCS and who build their own cockpit parts, but after two years I've not found a single one.

 

Anyway, if the Winsor and Newton stuff is sold in the art shops, that will do me fine even if it is at a premium price. Thanks to all as ever for the help

 

Les

 

 

Hey Les!

 

So, do you need help?

[lesthegringo]

Szia Borisz!

 

At the moment I think I am OK, I will go to Allee mall to see if I can get the W&N odourless thinners there, but if you know of a suitable alternative that I can buy in Obi or Praktiker, that would be great!

 

I may need some help in the future though, as in a few weeks I want to try and get some MRP paints plus a few other things, and don't think that the model shops I know have them, so if you know of any that do I would like to hear about them. I am in Budapest, district 2

Cheers

 

Les

[Troy Smith]

5 hours ago, lesthegringo said:

Airport, aeropuerto, aéroport, aeroporto, aeroporto respectively, then in Hungarian it's repülőtér.

I thought it was Repulseg ter?  literally flying machine square

 

I was only there on holiday 3 times,  one negative feedback loop, Hungarians are not used to hearing their language spoken badly,  so my attempts were even more pitiful.   I still like swearing in Hungarian though.....

 

At least now you have a Hungarian modeller you can ask