Model master paints

[Bullybeef]

What’s the best thinner for model master paints, I have only three bottles remaining in my inventory? 

[karbuildr]

If you're referring to their enamel Model Master paint, I've used everything from Testors own thinner, which smells suspiciously like Mineral Spirits, to el cheapo lacquer thinner.

[Bainford]

el cheapo lacquer thinner.

Before I discovered lacquer thinner, I always used Testors airbrush thinner with success. I haven't tried the Mr Color 400 self levelling thinner with enamels, but I would think that would be a good choice as well.

[Bullybeef]

Thank you kindly gennelmen I have very little of one colour and I don’t want to spoil the remainder of it 

[Mike 1017]

14 hours ago, Bullybeef said:

Thank you kindly gennelmen I have very little of one colour and I don’t want to spoil the remainder of it 

I feel your pain. I only have 5 left.

[slusher]

I have the engine colors left and one unopened metaliiser none buffing..

[bill-e-boy]

The last time I used MM enamel I thinned with cheap lacquer thinners and the result was very bad orange peel finish. I may not have used enough thinners but not too sure of that. Anyway I sanded it down and repainted with MM thinned with Testers thinners in the red tin - and it does not smell like mineral spirits. I have about enough Testors thinners left for one model and about 40 jars of MM so I need to revisit what thinners I will use in the future.

Mineral spirits works but is slow drying so I avoid it. OK for clean up but lacquer thinners is better for that.

Lighter fluid works well too.

I think lighter fluid is clear spirit that I have used with success. 

And I believe a product called Two Way thinners works too. This can be used on enamels and some lacquers. I suspect this is what Testors thinners is - the stuff I have is a PPG product and I must give them a sniff test. It is not as hot as lacquer thinners.

A little confusing but I think erring on the side of caution is best when you do not have a lot of raw product avaialble. The problem is that I have mostly moved away from MM enamels to Tamiya acrylic enamels and now Tamiya (and others) lacquers. There were some cool colours in the MM range that are not readily available elsewhere.

 

 

  

[Ace-Garageguy]

For airbrushing, model-builder extraordinaire Donn Yost recommended thinning Testors bottle enamels with cheap lacquer thinner.

He's no longer with us, but his website still seems to offer his 90 minute DVD on painting model cars.

http://oldmansmodels.com/id76.html

His typical results would tend to prove he was right...

 

[Dave G.]

50/50 ( so one part enamel to one part thinner) hardware store lacquer thinner here. Not the new green friendly stuff but the medium dry real thing. It really works the best, IMO.

[Bullybeef]

Thank you @bill-e-boy, @Ace-Garageguy and @Dave G.. I’m not an airbrush user yet, I tried the testors thinner and so far it’s proven to be a lifesaver, now I have a useable supply again! Many thanks for the answers gents.

[peteski]

Couple of things to keep in mind reviving old enamel paints.

1. You can only bring back paint which is still thick liquid. If some of it turned into gel, no thinner will get it back into liquid again. It will just be a chunky mess.  Enamels not only dry by solvent evaporation but there is also a chemical reaction that takes place which is not reversible

2. If you thin the paint successfully using anything other than the original solvent, the paint will likely not be stable and will go "bad" after some time period (even in a sealed bottle).

Edited March 1 by peteski

[customline]

On 3/1/2025 at 8:19 AM, Bullybeef said:

Thank you @bill-e-boy, @Ace-Garageguy and @Dave G.. I’m not an airbrush user yet, I tried the testors thinner and so far it’s proven to be a lifesaver, now I have a useable supply again! Many thanks for the answers gents.

I read somewhere that you must not add the thinner to the paint bottle. I hope you didn't do that, Bil.  If you are trying to thin the thickened paint for detail brushing, thin a small amount on an appropriate surface ( I use my Trelegy tins 😵). The Testor's airbrush "thinner" ( I believe it is enamel reducer) will do quite well but don't thin the whole bottle or it will harden up on you after a time, according to the unknown author.  For airbrushing, when you get around to it, what others have said is valid but I have noticed lately the ubiquitous Kleen Strip brand (they brag about being #1) seems to have been reformulated and does weird things with certain color paints so I quit using it. I now use the Mr. Hobby thinners for airbrush and clean everything with acetone (yup - Kleen Strip brand. That's all I can get around here)