What do you do if you’re trying to airbrush really tight and intricate camo patterns? How do you keep your airbrush from “spitting” those little paint dots or trying to make tight angles without messing up? Is there a process to help in the painting? Thanks
That will depend on surface, type of pattern, paint, area to be painted, type of airbrush, trouble shooting the airbrush if there is a problem (i.e. what kind of spitting? big, little, spattered…?) airbrushing by its nature is “soft edged” because paint comes out in a cone. CLean or crisp edges are made using a mask or shield. Otherwise if you looked at the edge real close you will see feathering or overpaint between colors. Same as 1:1 scale paint using a spray gun.
You will probobly have to be more specific as to the pattern as I’m sure that many of the guys in the forum have their own techniques for the particular pattern they are doing and would be happy to share it with you.
Mike
Hey jksprau, renarts gave some good tips on keeping your airbrush in good shape, so that it can perform the way you want it. As for avoiding spitting of your airbrush while doing camo patterns, I would have to say you should make sure your paint is at a good consistency so the paint flows evenly and smoothly out of your airbrush. Also make sure the tip is free from dried paint, especially with acrylics. Dried paint is sometimes the reason spitting occurs. Also make sure your compressor is at a high enough psi. Low psi will cause a splattering effect if you are to close to your model.
Also remember that many of the camo patterns that the Germans used in WWII were done in the field, and had lots of overspray. Now I am not saying splatter the model, but it happened in real life. I find that any overspray, or feathering of my camo, is reduced when I weather my model. Weathering will blend your colors and reduce that overspray effect. Just practice and have a good time while doing it. I find painting and weathering my models the most enjoyable.
Good Luck and Cheers
Both Mike and Moses have given you sound advice on this subject. Most camo from W.W.II was not a hard edge application except for the early war French and the British “Mickey Mouse” pattern (there is more but these were the first two that came to mind). Best to specify exactly what you are working on to get the most accurate description of camo.