Newbie Airbushing 101 - Paint Storage and Swapping

Tools, Techniques, and Reference Materials Painting and airbrushing
1

Hi all - I’m a newbie when it comes to airbrushing, so I have some practical questions that might be a little simple for some of you. But for me, I’m curious as they may give me a sense of the add’l equipment I’ll need to get more out of my airbrushing.

  • From a practical sense, how much paint do you measure and mix so you know you’ve mixed enough for your job? Any rules of thumb? I just wanted to avoid not having enough and having to mix a 2nd batch. Having too much may be a problem as well!

  • If you have remaining mixed paint/thinner after a job, do you save it? If so, how?

  • What about custom colors - mixing more than one paint together. Is this common? Any hints?

  • Does anyone use mechanical mixers, or do you all pretty much do it by hand?

TIA,

  • Snacko
2

Snacko

Depending on the size of the model I fill 1/4, 1/2 or 3/4 of the color cup (e.g. 1/2 for a 1/48 plane), if there is paint left after I finished (as usual) I use it to practice with the airbrush over a cardboard or a scrap model; I mix the paint by hand using some stick.