Has anyone used Tamiya AS paints ?

[Percymon]

As per title, anyone used the AS range of spray paint ?

Tamiya's description suggests they are very similar to the TS paint in terms of chemistry, but has anyone experience of them ?

I'm liking the AS-5 light blue and AS-19 internediate blue colours

[Mokei Kagaku]

I use the AS paints regularly as I also build static armour- and plane-models. All AS-paints (currently 32 different ones) are matt. They are like TS paints, and the only reason they have a different code (I mean AS instead of TS and 865xx instead of 850xx item numbers), is because they are in an "authentic colour" range. Many of the AS-colours were released for specific models, whereas the TS-paints are mostly generic "multipurpose" colours. The terrific quality is the same of course.

For those who may not know the AS/TS-range: Paradoxically, the high quality is one reason for some of the negative opinions about the TS/AS ranges (we experienced a lot of complaints for many years when I worked for a Tamiya country distributor). Because the AS/TS-paints have a very low viscosity, they don't hide imperfections well (surfaces should be well prepared for spraying), but the benefit is that they don't hide details either! Also, the low viscosity requires some basic spraying skill to avoid orange peel, runs and translucent corners and edges. For absolute novices, a little practice is required, but once mastered, I think the majority considers the TS/AS-range to be superior to most other similar types of spray paints.

[Percymon]

Does that infer they are the same formulation as TS paints, and therefore can be applied over PS-55 to adhere to polycarbonate shells ?

[Mokei Kagaku]

Does that infer they are the same formulation as TS paints, and therefore can be applied over PS-55 to adhere to polycarbonate shells ?

Just like there are small differences in the characteristics of the different TS-paints, there are small differences between the AS-paints too, probably caused by the different pigments used for different colours (the formula can't be 100% identical for two different colours). So, just like different TS-paints behave slightly differently, different AS-paints behave slightly differently too. Accordingly, not all TS-paints will have absolutely identical characteristics to all AS-paints, but I think this is nitpicking. I just think it would be wrong to say that all TS, all AS and all TS vs. AS are 100% identical.

AS and TS are compatible to each other though, and PS55 can be used equally well as a primer on polycarbonate for both ranges. In fact, as all AS-paints are matt, they will generally be less prone to crack and flake than the gloss colours among the paints in the TS-range.

[salvine]

I have decanted AS paints and airbrushed them to a poly shell with no issues. That being said, This shell is for display so it has not been hit or flexed. I have also sprayed them from the can on poly with no issues. The one time I sprayed TS on a shell is cracked and flaked pretty quickly. The kicker was that that color was available in PS so I should have just used it. At some point I'll spray AS on a runner and see how it holds up. I have not sprayed anything over PS-55 to see how it adheres but I have used it on the exterior of a couple bodies to give it a flat look. It ends up being a bit of a semi gloss as opposed to a complete flat but it does work pretty good at taking the shine of a poly shell.

[Percymon]

Cheers guys - everything i wanted to hear