Adding MCW hardener to other enamels?

[Monty]

I've seen a number of YouTube videos about MCW enamels and, if memory serves, almost all highly recommended mixing in MCW's hardener because it helps create an incredibly glossy coat without clearcoats etc. (Results did look impressive)

Nothing against MCW paint, but I've already got gallons of hobby enamels, mostly Testors/Model Master.  Just curious if I could add the MCW hardener to them to obtain similar results.

[Nicholas]

i use the mcw paints and i use the hardner to speed drying time,i also mix it with mr hobby self levelling thinner or mcw thinner(self levelling also),that gives me the glossy look,...people use auto motive hardner/catalyst for same results such as finish line products(sherwin williams brand) if you use your testors/model master paints i would suggest thinning them with mr hobby levelling thinner,..you will get the same results.

[flashman1957]

FWIW, a good friend of mine who has been using Mr.Color Leveling Thinner (MLT) for past several years now uses it to thin nearly all of the various types of hobby paints he uses including all brands of enamels (dries faster, smoother, and harder), lacquers, acrylic lacquers (Tamiya, Gunze's MrColor, MCW, etc), acrylics (Tamiya, AK, Vallejo, Gunze Aqueous, etc), and so on. The only type of hobby paint he says he's found MLT should NEVER be used in is Mission Models Paint acrylics, as any type of lacquer-based thinner will turn Mission Models Paint into an insoluble goo that is almost impossible to remove or clean off (he says Mission Models Paint is a great model paint, but it must only be used with their proprietary thinner and Poly additive, exactly following their mixing instructions).

In fact, MrColor Leveling Thinner is becoming referred to as "God's tears" in our local modeling community (no sacrilege intended, just complimenting it! 😄)

 

Edited November 20, 2024 by flashman1957