Okay, call me old school, archaic, stingy, cheap or whatever, but I have made over 500 models and have never used an airbrush and I don’t intend to. Surely, some of the older ones leave something to be desired; however, the more recent ones are easy on the eyes. I must admit that I admire the paint jobs on many of the models I see in the magaine–worthy of museum display–but that’s NOT the way armor normally appears. Armor paint jobs are dirty, dusty, multishades of various colors and not museum pieces. I think I capture these themes pretty well with can, brush, weathering, and masking methods. Plus, there’s not an overabundance of time for me to work what with work, family priorities, and such so the habitual cleaning and maintenance and noise if an airbrushg is not an option. Anyone with me on this or not?
Modelling is about enjoyment. Build as you see fit.
I am envious of anyone who knows how to wield a good brush 
Maintenence takes 5-10min. max each time you paint. As far as noise, I have no noise with my Co2 bottle. I would never give up my AB, but to each his own.
I understand where your coming from and felt the same way at one time, but a good airbrush will last you several years and actually speeds up the painting process , plus there are certain techniques that you really can only aquire with an airbrush, you have to remember that most camo schemes were/are (at least Modern NATO) applied with a spray gun and therefore have a soft look to the pattern colors, if its time your worried about then I would really suggest an airbrush ,believe me it will enhance your model building experience ten fold. As far as noise I have a simple Runquiet Powerkat compressor I use with my Iwata airbrush, I paint one room away and my wife cant hear it so there are compressors that are quiet.
As far as museum pieces you can achieve very nice weathering techniques with an airbrush fading is one, just my [2c]
“I think I capture these themes pretty well with can, brush, weathering, and masking methods.”
Why don’t you post some of your work so we can give you feedback on whether or not we agree with you?
[#ditto]You talk the talk; can you walk the walk?
As for your original question; “Anybody with me on this?”, I have a short answer.
Nope. [:-^]
Get yourself an airbrush, learn how to use it, and your finishes wil improve 100%.
Not only that, but cans are expensive, and you get what you getin the can as far as paint goes. You can’t lighten the coat either. You can post-shade. There are just so many plusses to having an airbrush that, to be frank, and with all due respect, I don’t think you’re really in a position to judge what you might or might not be able to do with one vs without one if you haven’t ever tried one.
Doog has a point. I was content with my brush and rattle cans for a while but then when I got my airbrush, I fell in love. Now for certain applications, I still paint models with my brush. I just did a flat grey job with a brush on a sci-fi subject and I love it. Then there was my DC-3 and it was good also. But then I see my old brush painted airplanes and…[yuck]! I guess it’s just do you like it?
I’m kinda with ya, if that’s possible… I prefer a rattle-can for single or two-color finishes, rather than airbrushing. I can cut masks if I need to, and I’ve figured out how to get soft edges with masking tape. I use an airbrush too, though. But I use it as I would a rattle-can, because I can mix more colors than I can find in cans. I’ve been building for 40 years, and for 39.5 have been without an airbrush of any real quality. I had a cheapo Badger that I used (still do, as a matter of fact) that worked for my needs.
But, I’ve since been forced into the pro-airbrush crowd because I finally “peaked” at what I was able to do with cans and brushes. I still do a lot of brush-work, though. Some finishes were applied with mops and brushes, rags, whatever the crew could find, so I do that as well…
I’m still a Cherry at airbrushing, and I avoid it, like I said, on single and two-color schemes, but overall, I’ll be doing more and more AB work in the future…
[#ditto]
Wow, didn’t know anyone here still uses a brush as the main painting tool, other then myself. But I can’t afford a good airbrush yet, my budget just doesn’t allow it. However I do believe it’s important to know how to use a brush along with a airbrush. That’s why I plan on continuing to develop my brush skills until I finally get an airbrush.
I too would not put off anythin until I’ve tried it. I’m looking forward to stepping up and getting an airbrush, and all it’s accessories. There is a difference with using just rattle cans and brushing. I’m just 9 months back into modelling, and I look forward to continually improving my skills. It would be nice to see some of your work. Don’t worry, the criticism that you get from these guys is nothing but constructive and meant to help you grow in the hobby. So what do you say?! Let’s have it, then.
I don’t brush paint basecoats for the same reason I use a motorized lawn edger versus the manual one – ease and convenience and better results. (I don’t knit my clothes, either!).
I have an Iwata HPC, the fourth AB I’ve had and by far, the best. My clean up is 2-3 minutes between colors. It can give me a fine line of about 2mm wide. Yup. I can do snaky camo lines for a 1/48 Italian tank if I want. Can’t do that w/a brush.
For me, THAT’S enjoyment!
[#ditto] - I’m with you Roy…love the HPC.
As far as AB or RC…whatever floats your boat. I think once you try an AB you may never go back to RC but…“don’t worry, be happy”
You will be hard pressed to find many RC people here…some, but not many.
Rounds Complete!!
I dont call it ‘My Precious’ for nothing[^]
I could use a Comodore 64 or a manual type writer too…but why. No, you can’t get as good of results w/a spray can or brushes. They just don’t give you the same control and flexabilty. I’ll never give up my airbrush. You should try one. Your models will improve and you will get hooked on it quickly and see the error of your logic and ways.
Maestro: you mention time is a consideration. Well I’d say again, the AB wins out. To rattle can a model, it can be easy. But if you need to mask, if you want to do a sprayed camo line, if you want to do “multishades” then I don’t see how I could improve upon the efficiency of my Iwata.
Let’s say I want to model an Italian theatre Sherman, olive drab basecoat and tan camo. From start to finish, I could have both colors on in about 45 minutes and be putting away my AB, nice and clean. If I had more time, I could do some “multishading” by just diluting the base color and adding lighteners as i see fit.
You said you’ve never even tried it. I dunno what to say… it reminds me of when I was a kid and our family first got a television. Parents were worried it’d ruin the kids’ eyes. My cousin has a picture of her, sitting across the room, wearing sunglasses that her mom made her wear. Kinda funny seeing as the computer screen is about 2 feet from my nose as I type…
But keep up your Luddite ways if it makes you happy, Maestro. But don’t think that the rest of us who use fire and indoor plumbing are crazy. LOL
Post some pics.I love seeing pics of what can be accomplished with the good old fashioned bristle brush.
…dont forget that painting most German AFV camo should be done by using a/b for accuracy sake.
But then again, who cares if the modeller love what he/she builds.
What kind of CO2 bottle are you using? Does anyone know if you can modify a paintball CO2 bottle for airbrush use? This would be ideal for me.
I haven’t had an airbrush in quite a while, since I lent it to my father.
Any recommendations on a basic inexpensive Airbrush?