dilution of humbrol

[jawaka]

I had problems with spattering from my airbrush and I've just posted about a thorough clean and possible humbrol enamel poor thinning. Since the clean I've used Mr colour twice with really good spraying. The dilution is recommended at 1:1 which I used.

 

Humbrol enamel thinning is recommended at the same 1;1 but the humbrol enamels in the tin are much thicker than the mr hobby and tamiya so I'm doubtful  that 1;1 can be correct. What dilution do others use ?

Thanks

[Dave Swindell]

5 minutes ago, jawaka said:

Humbrol enamel thinning is recommended at the same 1;1 but the humbrol enamels in the tin are much thicker than the mr hobby and tamiya so I'm doubtful  that 1;1 can be correct.

Thinning recommendations are just that, a recommendation based on expected consistency ex-factory. There are many variables that need to be met for successful airbrushing, and part of the art of using an airbrush is learning how all the variables affect your use of it. Your airbrush doesn't know the difference between Humbrol & Mr Color and it doesn't need to, the different results are most likely due to the difference in viscosity of the paint you are trying to spray (all other factors being equal). As you've had good success with the Mr Color paint, go back to the ones you've sprayed and look at what they're like at the recommended dilution you used to get the good results. You want to replicate this consistency with the Humbrol paint and start from there. If you're using a small needle size in your airbrush this may be working well with the Mr Color paint if it has a fine pigment, but the Humbrol paint may have a coarser pigment which may require a larger needle size. Increasing the air pressure may also improve the spraying if the paint is more viscous, but I'd try matching the Humbrol paint consistency to that of the Mr Color you've used successfully before changing anything else.

[Efeso]

I use proportions for 0,6ml of paint only 0,5ml of thinner, but I use original Humbrol thinner for them. I had way to watery paint in 1:1 proportion and I got better results with this (paint) 1,2:1 (thinner) mix.

[JamesP]

It’s highly dependable depending on the paint, colour and finish. And any ratios are an only guide.  It’s the final consistency you are looking for. 
 

I use a brush to mix the thinner with the paint and what I look for is a thin paint that when I brush it on some paper it is not so thick that it leaves any texture and not so thin that the colour depth is poor. 
 

Start with a 1:1 ratio and then just keep adding a drop of thinner until the desired consistency is achieved. 
 

I find enamels pretty forgiving to spray as long as you don’t over thin them. Remember you can always test on an old kit or any suitable piece of plastic. 

[dogsbody]

For Humbrol enamels in the tins, I use this:

 

 

 

 

 

Chris

[planehazza]

This might be of use:

 

 

 

[szeregowy]

32 minutes ago, planehazza said:

This might be of use:

 

 

 

First video is quite interesting, never thought about thinning paints with flow improver.

[planehazza]

4 minutes ago, szeregowy said:

First video is quite interesting, never thought about thinning paints with flow improver.

I found that a few drops of flow retarder was essential when spraying vallejo, before I eventually gave up on them and went to Tamiya instead.

[szeregowy]

28 minutes ago, planehazza said:

I found that a few drops of flow retarder was essential when spraying vallejo, before I eventually gave up on them and went to Tamiya instead.

I had to go the other way, from Tamiya to Ammo acrylics.

[planehazza]

10 minutes ago, szeregowy said:

I had to go the other way, from Tamiya to Ammo acrylics.

How come if I may ask? I don't have a vast range of experience, but I hear good things about Ammo. I want to try Mr Color and MRP too.

[szeregowy]

15 hours ago, planehazza said:

How come if I may ask? I don't have a vast range of experience, but I hear good things about Ammo. I want to try Mr Color and MRP too.

Kitchen table is my work bench and I have two young kids, so I can't use toxic Tamiya paints and had to switch to water based acrylics. They are much safer to use at home, odourless and easy to clean. I've tried AK and Vallejo and they were OK, but I have settled for Ammo Atom range and I'm quite pleased with them.