I have a question - do I thin acrylics with water or thinner...everytime I paint it seems like the paints start to dry when I am halfway finished...What gives?

I recommend water.
Especially if its your base coat.

MAYBE isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol if its your base coat,
but I'd use water for the sake of the fumes being more tolerable.

Try a little of the paint thinned with either method on some of your kits sprue before going "live" on your kit.
Then see what you think of the results,
firemann816

Howdy HellaYella,

First, welcome to the site! Second, please tell us precisely what kind of painting you're doing, and on what type of subject, and I'm willing to bet you'll get the very best guidance you could hope for.

Tread.

For acrylics, I use either isopropyl "rubbing alcohol" or regular ole windshield washer fluid - no, it does not tint the paint that blueish color. I never thin with water. If you find the paint drying too fast to your liking, you can head on over to your local hobby and or craft store and pick up a bottle "GOLDEN" Acrylic Retarder. It does not have to be Golden's brand, any brand will do you well. It helps to slow the drying time.
HTH

I agree with Kencelot. Water will slow the drying time, but it's too hard to control. I recommend thinning with alcohol, Windex, or windshield wiper fluid and adding retarder to slow the drying. The retarder gives you greater control.

Howdy Hella,

a cheap and easy thinner is 50/50 water/methylated spirits - works nicely and is cheaper than the tamiya thinner.

Cheers

Cokes

I've used water, paint thinner, washer fluid, windex and tend to fall back to availablility - water.

All are fine it boils down to what you like.

Are you using Tamiya paints? If so, they dry fast for me too. I shoot in small areas to avoid the drying problem.