After many years of not modeling, I have started to return to the hobby, and where I used to use brushes for all stages of painting, I am considering going with airbrushing instead.
The kicker is that I do not know much about them, so I am looking for a good book - something that will take me through selection of an airbrush, to first steps, and then more advanced technique.
Can anyone recommend one?
I can’t recommend one, but you can check out my website for free.
Don
This is actually something I would stay away from, at least in my opinion. There are very few books on airbrushing for scale-modelers. Most of them are badly outdated. Moreover, everyone has different airbrushes, paints, and preferable techniques. For instance, some people like higher PSI, some like lower. Even spraying one brand of paint will require adjustments for different effects. And if you get an airbrush book on overall use (or airbrush artwork), you’re going to get a lot of tips and techniques that won’t directly apply to modeling.
I would just buy a good airbrush and learn by doing. As long as you learn how to clean the airbrush, you really can’t do any wrong (at least with a good airbrush). My Iwata Eclipse HP-CS does everything I need it to, and it’s lasted 6+ years (with a few replacement parts when I had an “oops”).
If you want to learn airbrushing, check out youtube videos, which are better than any book. But really, the only way to REALLY learn an airbrush is to use one. No book or video can teach that.
Also, feel free to post any questions here. I also have a small airbrushing section on my website, mostly troubleshooting tips.
Before I got my AB a couple months ago, I had read a ton of how-to material because I wanted to be well-prepared. This book is the best http://www.amazon.com/About-Techniques-Airbrush-Parramons-Editorial/dp/0764155091/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1331149045&sr=8-1
It’s like learning how to drive. You can read a ton of driving books, but unless you actually drive, you won’t be able to learn how to drive. So, I just practiced on anything - paper, old models, toys, etc.
To everyone -
I fully understand that this is one of those things that is probably best learned by doing, but this is also a matter of deciding if it is actually something that I want to do, before I start forking out cash for an airbrush.
I know the horrors of getting a cheep piece of equipment to start with, and then getting frustrated with the entire idea, so in that regard I have learned to get a decent book and study it and in that sense I can test the waters, before taking the plunge. I realize that a lot of information is on the web, but, I can take a book with me when I’m on the go, and a computer would be useless.
The problem with generic airbrushing books is they cater to the “artist” crowd. Canvas, photo retouching, T-shirts, murals etc. Pretty much all 2 demensional objects.
I doubt the book exists that takes you through, for example, a motion by motion of how to paint a camo pattern on a tank. or adding highlights to a figure.
Airbrushing is one of those things that just doesn’t lend itself to being explained by the written word.
Imagine if you were tasked with explaining “how to use a hammer” using the written words alone.
Moderately difficult but not impossible.
I am thinking more in terms, of knowing what to look for in a hammer of at least reasonable quality, and the pro’s and con’s of different hammer types.
Don’s webpage’s does a fairly good job of explaining many things without moving pictures - I’m just looking for more of the same in a book form.
Well, I can suggest a few books I’ve read. Links are to Amazon. They all have a nice preview, so you can gauge how effective they might be for you.
How to Use an Airbrush (2001) - when I started this was the only airbrush book for modeling, thought it’s outdated. It focuses on using an airbrush primarily.
How to Use an Airbrush 2nd Edition (2008) - Like the last one, this is more about using an airbrush on specific models, not really blanket techniques or what to look for. And several of the models appear in both books.
Airbrushing and Finishing Techniques (2008) - This is probably your best bet (and most expensive). They talk about several airbrush types, accessories, techniques, etc., and it’s fairly up to date. The downside is that it focuses mostly on aircraft. And there are a lot of techniques/theories (like color modulation) that seem a little overwhelming (especially being crammed in the beginning of the book).
Although, going back to your hammer analogy, finding the best is probably going to require mostly online searches. Everyone seems to have their favorite airbrush that they swear by. There are even people who love the Testor’s Aztek series that I (and a lot of acrylic users) can’t stand.
Best of luck though in finding a good resource. I’m beginning to think finding a good resource is harder than finding a good AB.
Thank you.
I don’t mind some general info, as I’m starting to get into war-gaming as well, and I’m sure that there will be a fair amount of information that will cross over from military scale models to miniatures, and vice versa.
#1 Try a library (free!)
#2 Or used book (about 25% of original).
#3 Osprey’s Airbrush Paint Techniques [http://www.amazon.com/Airbrush-Painting-Techniques-Modelling-Manuals/dp/1902579224] ~$13.46
#4 The Exhaustively Complete Airbrush Omnibus for the Anally Retentive, $249.95 & s/h [kidding!]
FSM & Scale Auto occasionally a supplement: “Basic of Airbrushing Models”.
Best idea: spray water (not paint) with basic exercises and technique.
Tried the library, it’s always my first choice - the newest book on the subject dates back to the 1980’s ( Airbrushing and Spray Painting Manual ), my next option is the ILL ( Inter Library Loan ) but to make use of that, I needed to know what the names of good books.