Airbrushing Acrylics: Mission Models

[pzGrenadier]

Hi,

Until recently, I've been using Mr Color lacquer paint exclusively due to availability issues. I like that with my Badger SOTAR 20-20, I can thin the paint really thin and build up layer and layer and using thin lines to concentrate on smaller areas if needed.

Recently, I've read so much about Mission models acrylic paints and watched a bunch of youtube videos too. I like what they claim that by separating the activate agent in the thinner it can prolong shelf life for the paint. And I like the fact that almost all the people using/reviewing it on Youtube claims that there is virtually no tip dry. And apparently, using acrylic is a lot healthier than using lacquer paints. However, when I gave it a try today using their black primer, I guess the learning curve is a bit high for me...

I followed their instruction for 5 drops of primer per 1 drop of thinner without any other additives. I've tried pressure from 20psi to almost 10psi but I can't get a persistent result like with the lacquer paints.

First of all, there seems to be a lot of over-spray whenever there is paint coming out, I can see a lot of tiny black dots around the painting area. Does it mean my pressure is too high or I'm too close to the painting surface? But on the other hand, I also experience that the paint either comes out a lot and sometimes flood the surface or not coming out at all.

Second, maybe because of the climate here in Singapore, the tip dry is insane... I have to constantly wipe the tip. Otherwise it will clog and slowly build the paint in the paint cup into a bubble volcano. This is particularly bad if I try to control the paint and get closer to paint thin lines...

In the end, when it works, the primer seems to be quite nice, I like the finish it has. So please help me and let me know what I did wrong.

Thanks!
pzGrenadier

[alextheblue]

Hi pxGrenadier, I've never used Mission Models paints, so I can't comment on them specifically, but it doesn't seem to me as though you're doing anything wrong. Acrylic paints can seem like soup when you first use them, compared to lacquer based paints. They dry quicker, the pigments are larger and they can take higher pressures to get them out of the airbrush. Have a play around with your air pressure and perhaps try thinning them a little bit more. Obviously, the thinner the paint, the higher the risk of "spidering", but just lower the pressure. Perhaps try a flow retarder as well, these can be a great help. Just a drop or two in the paint cup can really help.

Best of luck.

[digger303]

Hi pxGrenadier, I've never used Mission Models paints, so I can't comment on them specifically, but it doesn't seem to me as though you're doing anything wrong. Acrylic paints can seem like soup when you first use them, compared to lacquer based paints. They dry quicker, the pigments are larger and they can take higher pressures to get them out of the airbrush. Have a play around with your air pressure and perhaps try thinning them a little bit more. Obviously, the thinner the paint, the higher the risk of "spidering", but just lower the pressure. Perhaps try a flow retarder as well, these can be a great help. Just a drop or two in the paint cup can really help.

Best of luck.

a slip up ....should that be flow improver ?
plus a retarder ?
and by adding those 2 they will thin the paint ...then decide whether any additional thinner is needed.

[pzGrenadier]

Thanks @alextheblue and @digger303!

I'd like to report more findings. I tried to add one drop of flow improver into the black primer + thinner mix (5/2). It does improve the tip dry a bit when the paint is flowing really heavy. But when I try to spray thin lines with minimum amount of paint, the tip dry came back.

However, tonight I also tried one of their grey primers. Using the same mix ratio (5p/2t), it achieved a much thinner mixture than the black primer, which in the end also improves a lot on the tip dry. I can still see bits of drying paints on the needle, but it doesn't affect the flow or anything. And I can have relative control by reducing the paint flow to medium. Still having problems with very thin lines.

Guess I have to keep practicing and experimenting... I will be o a two week family trip from tomorrow on. When I'm back, I'd start testing their colors. I will report back once i have more findings.

pzGrenadier

[pzGrenadier]

Thanks @alextheblue and @digger303!

I'd like to report more findings. I tried to add one drop of flow improver into the black primer + thinner mix (5/2). It does improve the tip dry a bit when the paint is flowing really heavy. But when I try to spray thin lines with minimum amount of paint, the tip dry came back.

However, tonight I also tried one of their grey primers. Using the same mix ratio (5p/2t), it achieved a much thinner mixture than the black primer, which in the end also improves a lot on the tip dry. I can still see bits of drying paints on the needle, but it doesn't affect the flow or anything. And I can have relative control by reducing the paint flow to medium. Still having problems with very thin lines.

Guess I have to keep practicing and experimenting... I will be o a two week family trip from tomorrow on. When I'm back, I'd start testing their colors. I will report back once i have more findings.

pzGrenadier

[Paul]

I did a review on these a while back on the ISM you tube channel and found they thinned very with Our Ultimate thinner even thought the owner was adamant they couldn't be thinned with anything but his own thinner.

Ps i have got you pm's and will sort it out for you when i get 5 mins

[alextheblue]

Hi pxGrenadier, I've never used Mission Models paints, so I can't comment on them specifically, but it doesn't seem to me as though you're doing anything wrong. Acrylic paints can seem like soup when you first use them, compared to lacquer based paints. They dry quicker, the pigments are larger and they can take higher pressures to get them out of the airbrush. Have a play around with your air pressure and perhaps try thinning them a little bit more. Obviously, the thinner the paint, the higher the risk of "spidering", but just lower the pressure. Perhaps try a flow retarder as well, these can be a great help. Just a drop or two in the paint cup can really help.

Best of luck.

a slip up ....should that be flow improver ?
plus a retarder ?
and by adding those 2 they will thin the paint ...then decide whether any additional thinner is needed.

Oops! Thanks diggerL Yup, meant improver, it's me that's had the retarder!

[digger303]

Hi pxGrenadier, I've never used Mission Models paints, so I can't comment on them specifically, but it doesn't seem to me as though you're doing anything wrong. Acrylic paints can seem like soup when you first use them, compared to lacquer based paints. They dry quicker, the pigments are larger and they can take higher pressures to get them out of the airbrush. Have a play around with your air pressure and perhaps try thinning them a little bit more. Obviously, the thinner the paint, the higher the risk of "spidering", but just lower the pressure. Perhaps try a flow retarder as well, these can be a great help. Just a drop or two in the paint cup can really help.

Best of luck.

a slip up ....should that be flow improver ?
plus a retarder ?
and by adding those 2 they will thin the paint ...then decide whether any additional thinner is needed.

Oops! Thanks diggerL Yup, meant improver, it's me that's had the retarder!