SMS Acrylic Lacquer compatibility: a quick guide
We often get asked whether it is safe to use Acrylic Lacquers in conjunction with other paint types like oil based enamels or water based acrylics, whether they are safe to use on styrene and resin, and what to thin them with. There is a lot of conflicting advice online, so this guide brings our answers together in one place.
Below you will find a compatibility guide for layering Acrylic Lacquers with other paint types, notes on the surfaces they can be used on, and thinning guidance..
Compatibility at a glance
The golden rule of airbrushing with SMS: apply in light coats and give the layer below enough time to fully cure before spraying over it. If in doubt, test on a throwaway piece first.
But how does SMS perform when used with another type of paint?
| Layer combination | Compatible? | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Acrylic Lacquer over Acrylic Lacquer | Yes | Light coats; let each layer dry before the next |
| Acrylic Lacquer over enamel | Yes | Make sure the enamel is fully dry before spraying over it |
| Acrylic Lacquer over water-based paints | Yes, with care | Lacquers cure "hot"; thick coats can damage the paint below, so keep coats light and the layer below fully cured |
| Enamel or water-based paints over Acrylic Lacquer | Yes | Once the lacquer has cured; enamels and water-based paints have been used both under and over SMS Acrylic Lacquers |
What Surfaces can you paint on?: SMS Acrylic Lacquers are specifically formulated to be safe on all types of modelling plastics, resins and metals, including styrene. Because they are solvent based, they soften the plastic ever so slightly and bond with it as they dry, so stick to applying light coats to limit the surface exposure to excessive amounts of solvents and, if in doubt, test on a scrap piece first.
But what about Thinning?: SMS paints are airbrush ready straight from the bottle, passing easily through a 0.3 mm nozzle at 12 to 15 PSI so there is no need to thin them for use. If you do need to thin further (like for specialty effects like mottling or fine shading, or environmental issues such as high temperatures or humidity), any solvent based Acrylic Lacquer thinner is fine, including the major brands of lacquer thinner (if it contains Acetone, it will be fine to use). Never thin with water or with other hobby paint brands' proprietary thinners, and flush your airbrush through with acrylic lacquer thinners when cleaning.
Ready to put this into practice? Start with one of our Surfacer Primers for a smooth, sandable base, then move on to your base colour of choice from our Premium range, then finish it all off with one of our protective Clear Coats.
Our SDS documents are available on our Material Safety Data Sheets page.
And always remember - Safety first!
Always remember to use a spray booth and a P2 rated face mask when air brushing: it doesn't matter what type of paint you are air brushing, if it's atomized in the air and you are breathing in that paint mist, it's not good for you. Our paints are Class 3 Flammables, so be cautious around ignition sources and open flames. Be safe with your hobbies!
If you have any questions on using our paints, please make sure to get in contact with us and we can answer any questions you may have.
Keep on modelling!
- Scott