Aztec Airbrushes and Acrylic Paints

I am having some difficulty achieving decent results using acrylics through my Aztec. I am using the two "acrylic" nozzles and thinning the paint right down ( about 40% paint to 60% water). The problems are as follows:

1. Blockages
2. Poor spray pattern, and
3. Spattering.

Using Alclad or enamels seems to work much better, but I don't like to use them because of the volatility of the thinners (white spirit), and the smell.

"Liqui-Tex Low Viscosity Acrylic Air Brush Medium", I got mine at a
Michael's art supply store. Makes old Poly S spray very well. I have used it with other Acrylics as well. Be it noted that Tamiya Paints are not Acrylic and I have not used this with Tamiya.

True! I forgot that little detail. The liquitex medium made them flow through the airbrush just fine. Be it noted that they were formulated for hand brushing back in the early 70s when air brushes were not nearly so prevalent.

You don't say what brand of acrylics you're using, but you're most probably using the wrong thinner.
Acrylic paints are emulsions of an acrylic monomer in a carrier solvent.
The solvent can be just about anything, except ammonia. Obviously, the choice of the thinner demends on the nature of the carrier solvent.
For instance, Tamiya/Gunze acrylics spray significatively better when thinned with an alcohol-based thinner (Tamiya's own, windex, vodka, or whatever. No, not beer). Andrea, Aircraft Colors or LifeColor will clog when thinned with anything other than distilled water.
When in doubt, the first thing to do is to use the manufacturer's supplied thinner. At the very least, it will let you eliminate the most frequent source of problems. If that doesn't solve your problem, then you can start playing with pressure settings.

Yeah, like EG said, water isn't the best carrier even with some detergent in it. Windshield washer fluid is highly reccomended. You should also inspect the tip and see if there's paint build up. I keep a cotton swab with thinner on it ready for clean up.
hth

The Keeper (of too much ****)

Well said! You can cut the surface tension of water reduced paint with a small drop (tip of a toothpick) of dishwashing fluid. The cheaper the better; you don't want any additives **** up your formula. Obviously, this should be stirred and not shaken.
hth

The Keeper (of too much ****)

Well, at least on MiGs...