Global Scale Modeller

Hi guys, I'm a relatively new car modeler who has taken a liking to Tamiya's kits (like many of you I'm sure), specifically late 90s/early 2000s rally, F1 and sportscars, and hoping to do a few bikes too.

I'm wondering what experience you guys have had with using alternate paint brands to the Tamiya callouts. I'm primarily spraying as well as some brush work for smaller details. Being in New Zealand it is especially expensive for a lot of hobby supplies, with the small Tamiya spray cans costing $15 each and being lucky to get one car out of them.

I am looking for alternates to their commonly used colours such as Semi Gloss Black and Pure White.

Semi gloss blacks are generally suggested for interior parts such as dashboards, but also outer window trim. I'm also very open to suggestions of other colour ideas here as I don't think semi gloss is the most realistic finish for a lot of these parts.

Other frequently used colours (brush painted) are Tamiya X11 Chrome Silver and XF16 Flat Aluminium. I'd love to hear anyone's experiences with spray replacements for these common metal finishes as I love the use of these colours but don't think brushing gives the best finish.

Open to any and all suggestions of brand and colours in a spray form.

Thanks in advance for you input!

Happy modeling

HI Ryan,

If I'm reading this right your are using the Tamiya spray cans (TS range)?

If so, then why not look at automotive paints for the common colours such as black, white and metallics? Should be a lot easier to get, and probably a lot cheaper.

Not sure if these are brushable, but if decanted though a straw and allowed to gas off they might work??

As bowcat said, if you're looking for spray can type paints, Krylon actually makes a pretty good spray can for plastics. I've used it before for painting custom Xbox controllers and it works well with light coats.

When you get to the point of using an airbrush, you can decant Tamiya spray cans and spray them though the airbrush
It is super easy to do and will save you a ton of wasted paint and get better results
Just costs an airbrush (or two), a compressor and a spray booth. Oh and cleaner, and and and....

MrBowcat wrote: Fri Jan 17, 2020 3:56 pm HI Ryan,

If I'm reading this right your are using the Tamiya spray cans (TS range)?

If so, then why not look at automotive paints for the common colours such as black, white and metallics? Should be a lot easier to get, and probably a lot cheaper.

Not sure if these are brushable, but if decanted though a straw and allowed to gas off they might work??

Hi Bowcat,

Yeah correct, I'm using the TS range for the main bodies and other big parts that require common colours such as black and white. Have managed to find some cheaper paints for black and whites - Molotow Belton range doing well.

Thanks for the tip on decanting - I'm not specifically looking to brush paint, only doing so on small parts because my father-in-law gave me a pile of Tamiya X and XF paints and its not worth buying spray cans for minor detailing.

In any case, thanks for the reply!

Twokidsnosleep wrote: Fri Jan 17, 2020 6:49 pm When you get to the point of using an airbrush, you can decant Tamiya spray cans and spray them though the airbrush
It is super easy to do and will save you a ton of wasted paint and get better results
Just costs an airbrush (or two), a compressor and a spray booth. Oh and cleaner, and and and....

Airbrush is probably down the line for me as it appears to give the best finishes, how far down the line that is, who knows.

Is there any benefit in decanting spray cans over using the X and XF equivalents? For example, is there any benefit in decanting a TS29 Semi Gloss Black over using a thinned X18 in the airbrush when they have the same name?

KalebB wrote: Fri Jan 17, 2020 4:11 pm As bowcat said, if you're looking for spray can type paints, Krylon actually makes a pretty good spray can for plastics. I've used it before for painting custom Xbox controllers and it works well with light coats.

Thanks for the recommendation, after a quick google search I see that's a brand I can find in the local shops here - I'm commonly seeing paints brands mentioned but they aren't affordably accessible here in NZ

ryan81 wrote: Fri Jan 17, 2020 10:54 pm

Twokidsnosleep wrote: Fri Jan 17, 2020 6:49 pm When you get to the point of using an airbrush, you can decant Tamiya spray cans and spray them though the airbrush
It is super easy to do and will save you a ton of wasted paint and get better results
Just costs an airbrush (or two), a compressor and a spray booth. Oh and cleaner, and and and....

Airbrush is probably down the line for me as it appears to give the best finishes, how far down the line that is, who knows.

Is there any benefit in decanting spray cans over using the X and XF equivalents? For example, is there any benefit in decanting a TS29 Semi Gloss Black over using a thinned X18 in the airbrush when they have the same name?

You are better off brush painting with the Tamiya bottle paint and a touch of their lacquer thinner...makes it go down smoother
X20A is garbage as a thinner IMHO

Twokidsnosleep wrote: Fri Jan 17, 2020 11:09 pm

ryan81 wrote: Fri Jan 17, 2020 10:54 pm

Twokidsnosleep wrote: Fri Jan 17, 2020 6:49 pm When you get to the point of using an airbrush, you can decant Tamiya spray cans and spray them though the airbrush
It is super easy to do and will save you a ton of wasted paint and get better results
Just costs an airbrush (or two), a compressor and a spray booth. Oh and cleaner, and and and....

Airbrush is probably down the line for me as it appears to give the best finishes, how far down the line that is, who knows.

Is there any benefit in decanting spray cans over using the X and XF equivalents? For example, is there any benefit in decanting a TS29 Semi Gloss Black over using a thinned X18 in the airbrush when they have the same name?

You are better off brush painting with the Tamiya bottle paint and a touch of their lacquer thinner...makes it go down smoother
X20A is garbage as a thinner IMHO

I figured that would be the case but didn't know if I was missing something haha interesting - what would you recommend?

ryan81 wrote: Fri Jan 17, 2020 11:10 pm

Twokidsnosleep wrote: Fri Jan 17, 2020 11:09 pm

ryan81 wrote: Fri Jan 17, 2020 10:54 pm

Airbrush is probably down the line for me as it appears to give the best finishes, how far down the line that is, who knows.

Is there any benefit in decanting spray cans over using the X and XF equivalents? For example, is there any benefit in decanting a TS29 Semi Gloss Black over using a thinned X18 in the airbrush when they have the same name?

You are better off brush painting with the Tamiya bottle paint and a touch of their lacquer thinner...makes it go down smoother
X20A is garbage as a thinner IMHO

I figured that would be the case but didn't know if I was missing something haha interesting - what would you recommend?

The Tamiya lacquer thinner works great with any Tamiya paint.
You could use it to thin the decanted TS paint as well....I usually use Mr Levelling Thinner (MLT)
Paul has done a video of decanting, I will find you a link




Citadel make a decent set of brush paints and are water soluble.

Twokidsnosleep wrote: Fri Jan 17, 2020 11:16 pm

ryan81 wrote: Fri Jan 17, 2020 11:10 pm

Twokidsnosleep wrote: Fri Jan 17, 2020 11:09 pm

You are better off brush painting with the Tamiya bottle paint and a touch of their lacquer thinner...makes it go down smoother
X20A is garbage as a thinner IMHO

I figured that would be the case but didn't know if I was missing something haha interesting - what would you recommend?

The Tamiya lacquer thinner works great with any Tamiya paint.
You could use it to thin the decanted TS paint as well....I usually use Mr Levelling Thinner (MLT)
Paul has done a video of decanting, I will find you a link




Citadel make a decent set of brush paints and are water soluble.

Thanks again!

Just to get this right, when brush painting Tamiya paints you would recommend thinning them first? From my experience, some strong colours such as X7 red are very gluggy and don't go down too well, X18 being another one. However others, such as the metallic colours actually go on quite well, perhaps marginally too thick. Some I find are too thin and I struggle to get a thick coat, like the whites and greys.

But when it comes to using an airbrush, are you suggesting to decant spray cans rather than thinned bottles?

Yes I prefer to decant the TS spray cans and paint with those in an a/b

For brush painting I wet my brush with thinner and keep the paint flowing better...but then I am only doing small bits with a brush, not an entire cat body.
Bottled Tamiya paint is meant to be sprayed with an airbrush; they dry off (flash off) very fast so are difficult to hand paint with a brush.
Lacquer thinner helps to slow down the set and allow you to brush it better
But you are correct, some Tamiya brush paint better than others
IMH’o

Twokidsnosleep wrote: Fri Jan 17, 2020 11:46 pm Yes I prefer to decant the TS spray cans and paint with those in an a/b

For brush painting I wet my brush with thinner and keep the paint flowing better...but then I am only doing small bits with a brush, not an entire cat body.
Bottled Tamiya paint is meant to be sprayed with an airbrush; they dry off (flash off) very fast so are difficult to hand paint with a brush.
Lacquer thinner helps to slow down the set and allow you to brush it better
But you are correct, some Tamiya brush paint better than others
IMH’o

Cheers Scott, appreciate your input!

I've recently taken to adding a drop of flow improver to Tamiya acrylic paint for brushing, I find it helps a lot.

MrBowcat wrote: Mon Jan 20, 2020 11:22 am I've recently taken to adding a drop of flow improver to Tamiya acrylic paint for brushing, I find it helps a lot.

yes it does...retarder helps as well.