Hi Guys Just A quicky what thinners do you guys use for your air brushes?
and where do you get them from?

redleg

It depends what you mean by 'for your airbrush'? For thinning Tamiya paints I use their own thinner. You can also use isopropyl alcohol. For cleaning the airbrush after use, I just spray through with clean water, and have never had any problems with it.

Vinnie

Are we talking oil or water based paints here? I use Humbrol, & my LHS sell their own brand of thinners, don't know what's in it but it seems to work OK. Failing that I use White Spirit, especially for washes, the old stuff you've washed your brushes in is great for "dirtying" things up!

The recomendation for what thinner to use has always been "use the thinner recomended by the paint manufacturer". Of course the paint manufacturer will recomend their own brand. This is a good rule of thumb, when stuck for the correct thinner to buy, but will always prove to be more expensive. It is therefor handy to know what thinner manufacturers actually use, then buy the same thing from DIY stores or the chemist to save ££££s.
For acrylics water or Isopropynol is usually the thinner to use, sometimes a mixture. An alternative is sometimes windscreen washer fluid (the colour doesn't effect the paint, the cheaper the better).
Tamiya acrylics use Isopropynol (bought in the chemist).
Lifecolor acrylics use Water+windscreen washer fluid.
Vallejo acrylics are water based so water (I haven't used these)
Clean up is with water but as acrylics dry very quickly don't wait.
I avoid acrylics for many reasons and usually use enamels. White spirit works with 99% of enamels and Xtracolor and Colourcoats recomend it's use. This is great 'cos it's dirt cheap and can be found in DIY stores. I also use White spirit to thin Humbrol and Revell paints and it works very well.
Another thinner for enamel paints is Cellulose, it is much harsher than white spirit and paint thinned with it can damage the plastic if "flooded" on. I use Cellulose thinner to clean my airbrush, however it is expensive when compared to white spirit and is becoming hard to find, I used to buy it at Halfords, but I now get it from work, cheaper than white spirit (40p/l )Xtracolor paints (Hannants own brand) when thinned with white spirit take a week or mor to dry (cure) when thinned with 50/50 Cellulose/white spirit they will dry in hours.
So what paint are you wanting to thin?
Mal

Hi Guys sorry i am still a bit new to modeling!
1. i will be using Tamiya Paint.
2. it will be for thinning these paints through my air brush.
3. i have heard of this isopropyl alcohol but what is it and how much does it cost?

Thanx for all the answers so far they have really helpped me understand.

redleg

No need to appologies, we were all new to modelling once and we're all still learning
If you go to your local chemist and ask for isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol I believe) you will get it there for about £5.00 for .5 of a litre (I haven't bought any from a chemist for a while as I get it about half price from work, it is from 3M and is called surface cleener but is the same thing ) I use it for cleaning the model and parts prior to painting.
Tamiya paints are thin so shouldn't require to much thinning. Let us know how you get on and get back if you have any more questions
What are you painting?
Mal

I will be painting the Tamiya M133 ACAV .
I am still trying to find some decent refference shots of things like interior and engine compartment cause the intruction sheet just states that you do the whole lot in White, i have put a post in the AFV section and have had a few good tips so i will be moving along soon.

Thanks for all your help

redleg