Mixing Tamiya paints - quick question

Mixing Tamiya paints - quick question

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nigelpugh7

Original Poster:

5,996 posts

189 months

Wednesday 17th December 2014
quotequote all
in the course of my Tamiya JPE build, I was looking ahead and noticed that I have to mix two paints to Colour the Kevlar seats.

In the manual is shows the two paints , which I already have, and states the following:-

X-10:1 + XF -3:1

Where X-10 is Gun Metal and XF-3 is flag yellow.

Does this mean mix equal parts of each, I assume it does.

Also if I use my H+S airbrush should I thin these paints when mixed to make them flow from the airbrush more easily?

Thanks in advance guys.

nigelpugh7

Original Poster:

5,996 posts

189 months

Wednesday 17th December 2014
quotequote all
nigelpugh7 said:
in the course of my Tamiya JPE build, I was looking ahead and noticed that I have to mix two paints to Colour the Kevlar seats.

In the manual is shows the two paints , which I already have, and states the following:-

X-10:1 + XF -3:1

Where X-10 is Gun Metal and XF-3 is flag yellow.

Does this mean mix equal parts of each, I assume it does.

Also if I use my H+S airbrush should I thin these paints when mixed to make them flow from the airbrush more easily?

Thanks in advance guys.
Also here is a picture of the pair of paints, and the instruction in the build manual too:-




[url|http://thumbsnap.com/dvcM32f3[/url]

Eric Mc

121,779 posts

264 months

Wednesday 17th December 2014
quotequote all
First - there is no law that you have to use Tamiya paints. You might find some other paint range has a closer colour.

If you are mixing, the best way is to do a bit of test mixing until you get the shade you want. Kit instructions are not gospel so looking at photos of the real thing might give you a better idea of the actual colour - although even photos vary.
If you do end up mixing Tamiya paints, I would use their own brand thinner.

nigelpugh7

Original Poster:

5,996 posts

189 months

Wednesday 17th December 2014
quotequote all
Eric Mc said:
First - there is no law that you have to use Tamiya paints. You might find some other paint range has a closer colour.

If you are mixing, the best way is to do a bit of test mixing until you get the shade you want. Kit instructions are not gospel so looking at photos of the real thing might give you a better idea of the actual colour - although even photos vary.
If you do end up mixing Tamiya paints, I would use their own brand thinner.
Thanks Eric, I thought you would be the man to know!

As you can see I have already purchased the paints, and I do have Tamiyas own brand thinner too, so will end up using those.

I can see I will,have to do a fair bit of experimenting with the colour until I am happy it ends up close to the genuine article !

Thanks again.

Eric Mc

121,779 posts

264 months

Wednesday 17th December 2014
quotequote all
If there are any "bare" carbon fibre areas, you can get decal sheet that replicates the look -

http://www.hannants.co.uk/search/index.php?product...

nigelpugh7

Original Poster:

5,996 posts

189 months

Wednesday 17th December 2014
quotequote all
Eric Mc said:
If there are any "bare" carbon fibre areas, you can get decal sheet that replicates the look -

http://www.hannants.co.uk/search/index.php?product...
Now thats a damn good idea!! Thanks Eric.

Might have to try the Black Carbon sheet for the front wings, and the Kevlar for the seats too!!

Cheers!!

chrisga

2,087 posts

186 months

Wednesday 17th December 2014
quotequote all
nigelpugh7 said:
in the course of my Tamiya JPE build, I was looking ahead and noticed that I have to mix two paints to Colour the Kevlar seats.

In the manual is shows the two paints , which I already have, and states the following:-

X-10:1 + XF -3:1

Where X-10 is Gun Metal and XF-3 is flag yellow.

Does this mean mix equal parts of each, I assume it does.

Also if I use my H+S airbrush should I thin these paints when mixed to make them flow from the airbrush more easily?

Thanks in advance guys.
You have read the mix ration correctly. 1 part X-10 to 1 part XF-3 If it was 3 parts X-10 to 2 part XF-3 the instructions would read X-10:3 + XF-3:2.
I dont have an airbrush so apply all my paints with a brush. I use the dead scientific method of a part being a single drip from the end of a paint brush.......

As Eric says you can use other paints but I always use the tamiya ones. I do so as I have never had an issue with them and generally always make Tamiya kits anyway. The paint always looks good and is usually a pretty good match colourwise.

As Eric also says you can buy decals that replicate carbon or kevlar weave relatively cheaply. They can be a real pig if covering large areas though.

chrisga

2,087 posts

186 months

Wednesday 17th December 2014
quotequote all
nigelpugh7 said:
Now thats a damn good idea!! Thanks Eric.

Might have to try the Black Carbon sheet for the front wings, and the Kevlar for the seats too!!

Cheers!!
Nigel,

If you do go down the carbon decal sheet you will need microsol and microset to get a decent finish.
Info here but may be other info on the net: http://incunabulum.co.uk/blog/2009/09/29/tutorial-...

Basically I soak in water as normal and then apply decal to the surface to be coated. I then soak by painting on microsol with a paint brush and leave a few mins. I then get a hair dryer on the area and the decal kind of stretches to suit the surface. I think you are then supposed to paint on microset but I don't tend to bother. I then coat with klear once everything is dry so you don't get edges of decals pealing up at a later date.

nigelpugh7

Original Poster:

5,996 posts

189 months

Wednesday 17th December 2014
quotequote all
chrisga said:
You have read the mix ration correctly. 1 part X-10 to 1 part XF-3 If it was 3 parts X-10 to 2 part XF-3 the instructions would read X-10:3 + XF-3:2.
I dont have an airbrush so apply all my paints with a brush. I use the dead scientific method of a part being a single drip from the end of a paint brush.......

As Eric says you can use other paints but I always use the tamiya ones. I do so as I have never had an issue with them and generally always make Tamiya kits anyway. The paint always looks good and is usually a pretty good match colourwise.

As Eric also says you can buy decals that replicate carbon or kevlar weave relatively cheaply. They can be a real pig if covering large areas though.
Hi Chris,

Thanks for the response and the confirmation on the mixing ratios.

Looking at the quite complex radius on the insides of the seats, it might be quite hard to get that kevlar sheet applied.

I might just try the mixed paint first to see how i get on.

Cheers.

Eric Mc

121,779 posts

264 months

Wednesday 17th December 2014
quotequote all
When applying sheets of decals (such as the tiles on my Space Shuttle), it was easier to lay the decal on in manageable strips rather than trying to lay down large squares or rectangles.

It still wasn't easy though.

chrisga

2,087 posts

186 months

Wednesday 17th December 2014
quotequote all
nigelpugh7 said:
Hi Chris,

Thanks for the response and the confirmation on the mixing ratios.

Looking at the quite complex radius on the insides of the seats, it might be quite hard to get that kevlar sheet applied.

I might just try the mixed paint first to see how i get on.

Cheers.
If I was doing the insides of seats I'd do as suggested and apply in multiple parts. Maybe cut some templates out of paper that are the inside edges of the seat. Then transfer to decal sheet, soak and apply. Once dry, then do a strip that is the width of but longer than the inside of the middle of the seat. Soak in water, apply to the seat. Douse in microsol until it sort of settles down into the seat, then blow with hair dryer until all bubbles come out.

This is one of my early attempts so still has some air bubbles. I've got a bit better at applying it now though through countless wasted sheets of decal!

SNC00094 by chrisga, on Flickr

dr_gn

16,140 posts

183 months

Wednesday 17th December 2014
quotequote all
I'd stick with Tamiya paints - they are fine so long as you use the correct X-20A thinners, and yes, you're 1:1 ratio assumption is fine.

Carbon decals can be very tricky to apply. I tried a lot of techniques before almost giving up on my XJR9 build. They way I settled on was to make templates out of Tamiya tape, which you can apply directly to the model, then remove them and put them on the decal sheet for cutting out. Don't try to get them around compound curves - try to arrange the pieces so that you're only going around one curve direction at a time:







If you look at post #79 onwards here, you can see what's involved:

http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topi...

Also, don't apply Microsol until the very last moment - it makes the carbon decals turn to treacle. I overcoated mine with Tamiya satin varnish IIRC.

The last thing to remember is that it's often best to use the decals a smaller scale than stated, ie for 1:12 use 1:24. Carbon on models can look overdone if you're not careful.

chrisga

2,087 posts

186 months

Wednesday 17th December 2014
quotequote all
Good stuff. Thanks Dr!

nigelpugh7

Original Poster:

5,996 posts

189 months

Wednesday 17th December 2014
quotequote all
dr_gn said:
I'd stick with Tamiya paints - they are fine so long as you use the correct X-20A thinners, and yes, you're 1:1 ratio assumption is fine.

Carbon decals can be very tricky to apply. I tried a lot of techniques before almost giving up on my XJR9 build. They way I settled on was to make templates out of Tamiya tape, which you can apply directly to the model, then remove them and put them on the decal sheet for cutting out. Don't try to get them around compound curves - try to arrange the pieces so that you're only going around one curve direction at a time:







If you look at post #79 onwards here, you can see what's involved:

http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topi...

Also, don't apply Microsol until the very last moment - it makes the carbon decals turn to treacle. I overcoated mine with Tamiya satin varnish IIRC.

The last thing to remember is that it's often best to use the decals a smaller scale than stated, ie for 1:12 use 1:24. Carbon on models can look overdone if you're not careful.
Great Thanks Dr!!

Yes i already have the Tamiya X20 thinner so will try that in my airbrush.

Will post pics when i eventually get around to that point!

Cheers.

dr_gn

16,140 posts

183 months

Wednesday 17th December 2014
quotequote all
No probs! Just be prepared to experiment would be my advice. If it all goes wrong, Dunking the part in mineral brake fluid overnight will have it back to bare plastic for another go.

The only thing I'd add about Tamiya paints is that the metallics/silvers are quite grainy, at least to my eyes. I went through a few experiments and asking questions on forums, and the best smooth metallics I've found so far are from the Vallejo Air range. I did some benchmarking and the results are here if you're interested:

http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topi...

Alclad Lacquers are the smoothest silvers out there - but not by much, plus they attack plastic unless you use an appropriate primer.

If you go for the Vallejo paints, remember to get specific Vallejo thinners - if you use Tamiya and vice-versa you can get a precipitate which instantly clogs the airbrush and takes ages to clean up.

I've got the 1:12 Tamiya MP4/6, Ferrari 641 and FW14B in the stash - they are superb kits and I'm looking forward to your updates on this one.

nigelpugh7

Original Poster:

5,996 posts

189 months

Wednesday 17th December 2014
quotequote all
Got quite a bit of of work on the JPE today!

The black chassis and associated parts was finished with the top cost of semi gloss black.

I then got onto fitting the steering rack and some panels too.

I can confirm that the smallest screw used at 1.2 mm X 2.5 mm is a right tiny little bustard!













nigelpugh7

Original Poster:

5,996 posts

189 months

Wednesday 17th December 2014
quotequote all
A few more pics






nigelpugh7

Original Poster:

5,996 posts

189 months

Wednesday 17th December 2014
quotequote all
Oops sorry just realised I added. These to,the wrong thread!