any idea why the atomisation for tamiya paints abit bad?
i used the same settings as for my primer but there is no issue with the airbrushing the primer.
when airbrushing the paint, instead of having very fine droplets on the target piece, I get bigger spots, 0.5mm to 1mm size. then alot of times the paint dont stick on the target piece. abit like spraying water on greasy surface.
Lets decode it step by step:
Spots of paint : 1) Pressure too high, spraying too far away resulting in paint drying mid-air, or paint too thin.
2) Paint too thick, splatters on rather than sprayed on
3) Faulty needle and/or nozzle, unsmooth spray pattern causing splatters too
4) Crown of Nozzle Guard clogging with paint, causes splatters
Like Spraying water on Greasy surface: 1) Pressure too high, pushing the paint away from your spraying spot
2) Spraying too near, causing paint to fill the spot and then spread out
3) Paint too thin, like water dont adhere
Does any fit the bill?? For me i think you have a case of super diluted paint and too high pressure, The effect of paint drying in mid air more evident as it becomes powdery and sticky, primer itself has powdery additives so the effect is not clear because it is percieved that you should have that powdery effect, but not for gloss paints.
The paint should be in a consistency of milk or wine if you prefer. Spraying is between 15 to 25 psi at a distance of around foot, adjust accordingly by pull back distance(dual action) or rear stopper(single action/some dual action), if you do decant your paints from spray cans, do dilute it abit with lacquer thinner(preferably with abit of retarder) to dilute the paint for easier shooting through the airbrush. Of course everything is YMMV so do test it out on some plastic spoons that you can get in any convenience shop.
Tamiya paints are mostly acrylic or enamel must use either isopropyl alchohol/X20A thinner for former or X20 thinner for latter to thin it, if use lacquer thinner for either will buang one
