Not Exactly What I Was Hoping For

I watched the Airbrushing Tutorial at FichtenFoo.   It’s too basic in technique to be truly useful but the information about thinners, ratios, etc might be useful.

Here’s a summary with pictures.  All photo’s were from FitchenFoo.com Airbrush Tutorial (http://www.fichtenfoo.com/images/tips/airbrushtutorial.html):

-Tamiya paint thinned with 91% Isopropyl Alcohol mixed to a ration of about 3 parts paint to 2 parts thinner (iso. alco.)

- Before masking let previous coat dry for 24 hours.  After painting let sit for an hour or so and remove masking tape.

- Use 40% 409 and 60% water til clear, then 91% alcohol till clear, use water until clear to clean airbrush.

Useful information on the ratios.  However in Canada I’ve only ever seen 70% isopropyl alcohol.   I’ve noticed this a few times in other documentation with regard chemicals.  There seems to be significant differences between the USA and Canada with respect to levels of concentration and availability of different product.  I thought it was odd that I couldn’t find denatured alcohol.  When I asked for it I got some strange looks.  It might not be sold in Canada in retail stores.

Also, I’m going to have to find out what ’409′ is.   I’m beginning to wish I had some friends at a chemical factory…

Chemical Fun

So after buying some of the paints I think I’m going to be needing,  (Testors Acryl Flat White 4769 and Flat Black 4768) I started to look into what was needed to thin the paint prior to airbrushing, ratio’s, clean up etc.

Well, that was an experience.  Basically there are two categories.  The first category is to just buy the product that is recommended by the paint company.  This is the most expensive, but definitely easiest way.

The second category is the DIY category.  This is where is gets interesting.  This was the best condensed information I could find at StarshipModeller.com.  Great site by the way. (http://www.starshipmodeler.net/talk/viewtopic.php?t=59598&highlight=denatured+alcohol+acryl)
Bottom line is that I’m going to try out the Isopropyl Alcohol and see how that goes.  I couldn’t find denatured alcohol anyway.