X-8 Lemon Yellow (Enamel)

Tamiya X-8 Lemon Yellow — enamel (synthetic) paint, 10 ml

Tamiya X-8 Lemon Yellow is a gloss lemon yellow enamel, that is a synthetic solvent-based paint, in a 10 ml bottle. This is a modeling paint, not a kit. At Tamiya the X line denotes the gloss shades. The paint is intended for plastic, metal and wood and is applied by brush and by airbrush.

An enamel, not an acrylic – what it is thinned with

This paint is not a water-thinnable acrylic. It is thinned exclusively with the X-20 enamel thinner — without the letter A. The X-20A thinner is intended for acrylics and must not be mixed with enamel. The X-8 shade is made in an acrylic and an enamel variant alongside each other, but these are two different products — so when you top up the paint and when you buy thinner, check that you really have the enamel (synthetic) version. The wrong thinner will curdle the paint.

Why reach for an enamel

Once cured, enamel paints give a smooth and durable surface with excellent adhesion to the substrate. They dry more slowly than acrylics, and for that reason they manage to flow out by themselves during brushwork — the coat stays smooth with no visible strokes. The gloss film is at the same time a good base under decals, which do not silver on it. Enamels are also traditionally used as a medium for washes and for accentuating panel lines applied over a cured acrylic base — the excess can be wiped away without damaging the acrylic layer underneath.

Use

• Warning and identification areas, warning stripes and markings
• Racing liveries of cars and motorcycles, sponsor areas
• Aircraft identification bands and conspicuous distinguishing features
• Airbrush and brush; for spraying it is thinned with X-20 thinner (the manufacturer gives roughly 2 parts thinner to 10 parts paint as a guide)

A tip on yellow

Yellow is typically a pigment with little covering power — on dark plastic without preparation it hardly shows at all. Always apply it over a white base. Only over white does a lemon yellow get its richness and purity. Work in thin coats; a heavy coat runs and hides detail.

Who the paint is for

For modelers of every level — builders of racing cars, aircraft, equipment and figures who need a clean, rich yellow with a gloss and durable surface.

Safety: a flammable liquid. It irritates the airways — work in a well-ventilated area and use respiratory protection when spraying with an airbrush. Keep out of the reach of children. Thinner and tool cleaning: X-20.