Raceaddict Posted November 24, 2020 Share Posted November 24, 2020 I'm primarily a Tamiya guy (ease of use, simplicity of cleanup), but I've recently picked up some AK Real Colors in an effort to improve accuracy of colors on my models. Mixing stuff up by eye just wasn't cutting it for me any longer. I know the LEA acronym (lacquer, enamel, acrylic) to determine the order in which the various paints can be layered, but AK has me confused as their site describes their paints as "acrylic lacquers". OK...? And what about cleanup after painting? I'm guessing Windex won't cut it any more. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RichardL Posted November 24, 2020 Share Posted November 24, 2020 AK Real Colors are acrylic lacquers. Any paint that has lacquer in it as a carrier agent is considered a lacquer will require lacquer thinner. You will need to use lacquer thinner for cleaning up, although isopropyl alcohol will also work. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dylan Posted November 24, 2020 Share Posted November 24, 2020 they behave very much like tamiya. I thin them with Mister color leveling thinner or tamiya lacquer thinner. I have sprayed them over tamiya and vise versa with no issues. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ElectroSoldier Posted November 25, 2020 Share Posted November 25, 2020 They can be acrylic lacquers because acrylic doesnt actually mean water. define acrylic - Google Search Paint is made up of THREE things. Not two but three. Pigment. Binder Carrier. The Binder is what makes the pigment stick to the model youre painting... The pigment is the colour. The carrier makes the gloopy binder move nice and easy so you can move it with a brush or thinned down even more sprayed with airbrush. A binder is an emulsion. In an acrylic paint binder that emulsion has some water in it. That is all acrylic means and that is where I think people get confused and start to assume that to be a true acrylic it must be an acrylic binder with an water based carrier. People will use the term "true acrylic" like it means something. it doesnt. An acrylic paint doesnt have to have a water based carrier, AK use a lacquer carrier. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Raceaddict Posted November 26, 2020 Author Share Posted November 26, 2020 Thanks for the input guys, much appreciated. I just wanted to be sure what I'm getting into... don't want to mess up a finish because I didn't lay the paint down in the right order. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RichardL Posted November 26, 2020 Share Posted November 26, 2020 You can lay down any paint types in any order as long as the previous layer is fully dry and cured. I'm not talking about overnight dry time but at least a couple of days for acrylics and at least a week for enamels. For instance, I've used lacquer clear coats over cured water based acrylics without any issues. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Raceaddict Posted November 26, 2020 Author Share Posted November 26, 2020 2 hours ago, RichardL said: You can lay down any paint types in any order as long as the previous layer is fully dry and cured. I'm not talking about overnight dry time but at least a couple of days for acrylics and at least a week for enamels. For instance, I've used lacquer clear coats over cured water based acrylics without any issues. Given the speed at which I produce models.... this should not be a problem. 😅 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
goondman Posted November 29, 2020 Share Posted November 29, 2020 You can also mix them with Tamiya acrylic without issue. At least i have 😉 . Definitely use Mr. Color leveling thinner Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Raceaddict Posted November 30, 2020 Author Share Posted November 30, 2020 17 hours ago, goondman said: You can also mix them with Tamiya acrylic without issue. At least i have 😉 . Definitely use Mr. Color leveling thinner When I ordered the paints I ordered their thinner as well... not the best option? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RichardL Posted November 30, 2020 Share Posted November 30, 2020 AK Real Colors thinner works great. This is what I use. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
goondman Posted December 18, 2020 Share Posted December 18, 2020 On 11/30/2020 at 6:32 AM, Raceaddict said: When I ordered the paints I ordered their thinner as well... not the best option? Sorry for the delay. I have no idea how their thinner performs. When i use mr leveling it lays down smooth and very easy to apply a gloss coat to Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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