I currently brushpaint my 1:72 armour models. When I start German armour, that will change.
I own and use an airbrush especially on my aircraft models. But with the right brushes, paints, technique and approach, brush painting is great.
Vallejo paints over a Tamiya TS flat black
Cheers
Mike
If I could go back, I would have never gotten any of my earlier airbrushes. My Iwata HPC was only $100. I earlier had a Paashe VL, a Badger 150 and an Aztek something or other. None of them compare to the precise fine control and easy clean up I have with the Iwata. I’m sure you can go on eBay and see what they go for – many are used by the nail salon business. Also, if you live near a Hobby Lobby, they sell some Iwatas. Get one of their 40% off coupons and you’ll be golden!
As for using CO2, the ones you need are those set for carbonated drinking fountains. Then you’ll need a regulator (available at the hardware store ~$40). I don’t know of any regulators that can modulate an paintball CO2 tank that can fit for airbrush work. Those are pretty small anyways. If you know anyone who owns a restaurant or other establishment with fountain drinks (party store) then they might have an extra laying around.
Irish and Roy, I bought my 20# Co2 bottle used at the local fire extinguisher supply house. They check and refill tanks for around 15.00, and that will last for around 4 to 6 builds in 1/35th. The reason I like it so much is that it is quiet, moisture free and consistent pressure. I also have a compressor but just never use it. Oh and my AB is an Iwata HP-CS, and I love it.
Dunno if you were talking to me or not, but here’s a few examples of each method I use. I’ve only recently aquired a decent Paasche airbrush to replace my Badger 250 (I think that’s what it is, not sure. It’s an el-cheapo at any rate, bought it at Wal-Mart for about 12.00 (twelve) about 20 years ago.) and still learning the ropes with it. I don’t feel comfortable enough about using it without masking either. I use a lawnmower rear tire for an air source. The compressor down it the gas stastion is free. Had to dig through a few fittings in a plumbing supply shop to get it adapted for the airbrush hose though. I also scored a Testor’s mini-compressor from Ebay, but it’s better for filling the tire than airbrushing… I got it for about 25.00 shipped, the exact same thing retailed at Hobby Lobby for 114.00, so I still like it… I also use the cans of propellent for quick, small jobs…
Tamiya Grizzly WIP. Basecoat is brushed with mixture of Testor’s Tan (small 1/4oz bottles), Flat Yellow, and Flat Military Tan. Brown is Tamiya Red Brown. I free-handed the brown, but I don’t like it. The demarcation lines are way out of scale, so I’ll strip and mask the re-paint:
Tamiya M5, basecoat is rattle-can Modelmaster Olive Drab, oil wash, tan highlights, and pastels.
Tamiya M4: 100% Brush painted with mix of Olive green and black. Built this so long ago, I don’t remember the paint-brand, but it’s enamel, which means it’s Testor’s or Testor’s Model Master or a mix of both.
It all boils down to what I’m most comfortable with at any particular time. The real trick is keeping the paint’s viscosity consistant to allow the brush-marks time to flatten and settle. Also, I always use at least two coats with a barrier coat of clear between, to keep the second coat from attacking the first one. Doesn’t hurt to wet-sand each coat with super-fine until the final coat is applied, but I don’t always do that.
You make a pretty strong statement that armor in real life doesn’t “appear that way”? What the ? …A lot of us have crewed armor “in real life”, maybe you have too?
Anyway, I strongly disagree with just about every comment in your post. Airbrushes are not that expensive. I strongly encourage you to try one. I have been modelling for over 30 years, and I say, the airbrush makes the hobby more exciting and fullfilling. Once a builder realizes how to paint, and uses techniques that are proven, his/her models are that much better.
Brush painting is an art within itself, and of course, I still do it on all my models…figures, touch up, detailing minute parts, markings etc. but, when finishing and getting realistic effects, nothing beats the airbrush my friend.
Try it, you’ll like it
regards,
Steve
Has “The Maestro” left the building?! [%-)]
LOL, Doog! Neither hair nor site of him since! The saying, “if ya can’t take the heat, stay outta the kitchen,” seems to be fitting in this instance. Sometimes folks don’t take “constructive” criticism well. Oh, well!! On with modelling.
I realize that this post is kind of drifting away from the thread, but when it comes to compressors, can you use any old compressor with an airbrush, or do you need one that’s made specifically for airbrushing? In particular, how about the compressors you can get at places like Home Depot and Lowe’s? Those sometimes go for as little as a hundred bucks on sale, and they generally come with regulators and reservoirs. On top of that, you can also use them to air up your car tires or drive power tools just by resetting the regulator. Seems like a much better deal all around than forking out three or four bills for the top-of-the-line compressors the hobby shops sell.
Without looking at them Fantom, what you need is the ability to regulate the outflow (PSI between 8-25, I’d say). Besides that, all you’ll need is the correct plumbing fixtures that can mate your airbrush hose to the regulator.
I have a compressor… It gets used primarily for refilling the lawnmower tire I use for an air supply…
Yes, home/garage compressors work fine. As long as they have a pressure regulator, you will be good. They are all I have ever used an I love them. As you say, they can be used for many other uses as well. The little hobby/airbrush ones are just too whimpy for me.
I have one of those “wimpy” [swg] little “hobby” airbrush compressors–picked it up for around $150.00 at my LHS–and I guess I’m one of the exceptions because Inever use a regulator or any kind of gauge; I just paint with it always up fullbore. I don’t even know what PSI I spray at! [%-)]
Hmmm… that’s interesting…
I’ve also got a “hobby” compressor and no gauge. The only pressure control I have is an adjustable bleeder so I have absolutely no idea what pressure I’m using either. [:O] I just work by feel.
doog: you crack me up! The regulation of PSI is what’s needed if you want to do very fine lines. I can make snaky lines that look good even in 1/48. I thin the paint about 50/50, hold the nozzle about 2cm from the model surface and put the air pressure down to about 8 PSI. Otherwise I spray at 15-18 PSI normally for basecoats or gloss/flat coats.
Roy. I know–I’ve heard that! (about the small lines). But I swear; I simply regulate the air with my finger on my Badger 150 doulble action brush, and I can draw eyebrows on my figures if I want. I have a blow-off valve or whatever they’re called, but I found that my airbrush clogged far too often when I dialed it back (the PSI) so I just learned to use it without the need to. [:)]
Doog, we do have something in common! I too have a old (35+ yr) badger compressor, (though I did add a moisture trap) just makes air come out, no regulator - nothing - no idea of the PSI. I also have a Badger 150 dual and a 200G single with which I seem to be able to do most anything I need to.
Totally Old School.
Admited, Roy…I haven’t tried a rig with all the bells and whistles, so I probably don’t realize how harder I’m making it on myself. [BH]
One of the very first “investments” I made in my modeling a long way back when I was about 12-14 years old was to get an airbrush…couldn’t live without it.
Rick
LOL! That’s so funny, Rick–I just added ye olde moisture trap as well! I find the set-up to be perfectly adequate for anything I have done thus far. I’ll bet that the air regulator would be advantageous in some situations, but I’ll bet it also might make proper ratio mixing a lot more tricky?
Point and Shoot! I’ve gotten pretty good and changing my thinning ratio’s in order to regulate the paint flow. Yep, if I another variable to play with (PSI) I’d never be able to get anything done…too many knobs to play with.
later,
rick
OK…I have the “Home Depot” pancake compressor feeding a 5 gallon additional storage tank then to the pressure regulator. Also have a takeoff line to the bench for when I need some air to blow dust off.
Plumbed it up with some old 1/2 inch copper pipe for the main runs to make it semi-permenant. Works great. My water drops out in the compressor air tank (blow it off every now and then). I have enough air to meet all my needs of a build and run the compressor infrequently.
Yeah…its noisy when it runs but it is not that often. For what you will pay for an airbrush compressor, go to Home Depot and get a pancake unit. You will get a lot more use than just the airbrush.
Rounds Complete!!
Yeah, I used to not have a PSI regulator, but then I moved into the “Tiny Tank” world where the air pressure can literally blow parts off the model[:O] So i bought a compressor with a moistrure trap and Regulator I love it I can get way finer lines than I used to without it, I don’t know how you guys do it your steadier than I.