X-9 Brown (Enamel)

Tamiya X-9 Brown — Enamel (Synthetic) Paint, 10 ml

Tamiya X-9 Brown is a gloss brown enamel, i.e. synthetic solvent-based paint in a 10 ml bottle. This is a modeling paint, not a kit. Tamiya's X line denotes gloss shades. The paint can be applied with a brush or an airbrush on plastic, metal and wood.

Enamel, not acrylic — what to thin it with

This paint is not a water-thinnable acrylic. It is thinned exclusively with the enamel thinner X-20 — without the letter A. The X-20A thinner is for acrylics and must not be mixed with enamel. Shade X-9 is made in parallel as both an acrylic and an enamel; they are two different products, and you must not confuse them — either when buying more paint or when choosing a thinner. The wrong thinner will curdle the paint.

Why choose enamel

Once cured, enamels give a smooth, mechanically durable film with excellent adhesion. Because they dry more slowly, the paint has time to self-level when brushed, so no strokes remain on the surface — for brown, which is often used for hand-painting wood and equipment, this is a major advantage. A gloss surface also serves as a good base under decals. Enamels are also the classic medium for washes and panel-line highlighting applied over a cured acrylic base, since any excess can be wiped off without disturbing the layer underneath.

Use

• Wood imitation — rifle stocks, wooden propellers, ship decks, crates and furniture
• Leather, straps, pouches, military gear and figure accessories
• Mud, earthy deposits, and a base under rust shades
• Airbrush or brush; for spraying, thin with X-20 (the manufacturer suggests roughly 2 parts thinner to 10 parts paint)

Tips for working with brown

Brown is one of the most versatile weathering colors. As a base under rust, apply it broadly and then only suggest the top rust-colored layers. For wood, a lighter base works well, over which a thinned coat of brown is applied: a thin layer lets the base show through and creates the impression of wood grain.

Who the paint is for

For builders of military vehicles, figures, ships and aircraft with wooden elements, and for anyone who needs a reliable brown for equipment, wood and weathering.

Safety: flammable liquid. Irritates the airways — work in a well-ventilated area, and use respiratory protection when airbrushing. Keep out of the reach of children. Thinner and tool cleaning: X-20.