I’m not sure how to best describe it. There’s no problem assembling a kit, gluing, filling, priming, etc. But when it comes to painting, adding color, I sometimes feel like I’m going to mess the whole thing up. I don’t know if I’m setting my expectations too high or being too critical. I sometimes worry the colors aren’t going to look right or won’t match up right. When I look at something which should be painted camoflauge, I think there’s just no way I could do that. I sometimes wonder why they can’t make kits with a paint-by-number option and outlines. [;)]
I have so many pieces which are at various stages of painting, except for finished. I’ve realized that most of my model projects end because I have a difficult time putting paint to plastic (or metal). [:I]
I have a fear of airbrushing…or trying different painting techniques. I have a perfectly good airbrush and a compressor(no moisture trap though!) and Im afraid to use it…As far as being overly critical I think that could be a major contributor. I know it is in my case…usually when I goof on a piece…I know it and can spot it out…yet others cant until I show them. Im a bit of a perfectionist to…so this doesnt help me.
Totally un-related to painting but I build mainly OOB kits for the simple reason Im afraid the things I may do to “spruce” up the model will turn into complete failure…I’m terrified of scratch building and have only scratch built 1 thing ever! A CB antenna…So your not alone David.
If theres not a group…we’ll start one! LOL
Chris
I’m with you, Chris. I am somewhat terrified of airbrushing. I know I’ll eventually need it to finish some of the more complex camo patterns on my German A/C, but I just can’t bring myself to try it out again. My wife is still a bit miffed that I spent $150 for a compressor with all of the goodies, and so far it’s aired up a couple of bike tires and a swimming pool.
In regards to OOB builds, I tool the leap about a year ago and bought my first AM kit. It’s completely revolutionized the way I plan builds, as well as my expectations of a kit’s detail level. About half of the kits I have planned to build will get the full treatment of aftermarket goods. The hard part was making that first step of cutting apart a perfectly good kit to make room for even better resin. Heartstopping, at best. To make matters worse, it was the Trumpeter A-10. $125 if I screwed it up.
Take heart, we’ve all been there, and we’ve all survived.
Looks like I am the only one. I did bought a Tamiya HG compressor set but just kept it in the box for almost 3 years before I eventually have a go at it. Most of the time I used spray can and most of my aircraft are single colour.
I only decided to use my airbrush when I was building my Tamiya 1/48 Spitfire. Not only I have to learn about airbrushing, masking was the other thing that was required before you could paint !!!
Now, after 8 years on, I am trying all sort of ways to make a perfect finish with my airbrush. If it wasn’t for the Spitfire’s camoflauge scheme, who knows I might be still be using spray can !!!
Yes, the paintjob definitely makes or breaks the model alright.
I would estimate probably 90% of my building effort (and cussing) goes into the painting process. I wish I could build just one kit without having to re-paint a dozen areas that I’ve screwed up because I thought “if I just do this one thing here it’ll be perfect” and then-disaster strikes.
But nobody should be afraid to airbrush away. You just have to put it in perspective and think to yourself “What’s the worst thing that could happen?” Even if you did totally somehow fubar the entire thing, so what? You’ve learned something. Now you can go out and mess up another one and learn from it too.
Usually at some point during the painting of every kit I’ve done I say to myself “…and this is supposed to be relaxing and enjoyable?..right!!!”
I think most of us here are what people call “perfectionists” and that can turn us into our own worst critics. We look at our completed works and all we can see is every little flaw jumping out at us because we know exactly where they are and how they happened. It doesn’t seem to matter that no one else can tell.
I’ve resigned myself to the fact that I’ll never build a “perfect” model. But that doesn’t stop me from having fun trying.–YET!
You’ve come to the right place David. Lots of guys and gals here to help you get over your finishing blues.
Merlin nailed it with his first sentence … the finish is whats makes or breaks your entire build.
For myself, getting the paint on the kit is where I slow down too, but for different reasons. I like the build more than the finish. But in your case what I think you need to do is select one of your kits that has a “simple” finish to it, one that is of “lower value” so that if the mistakes do happen, you’re not too turned off. Fire up the a/b and give it a splash, work slowly. Camo is a lot easier to do than it looks, once again working slowly is the key with your airbrush pushing a small amount of paint.
Now if I remember correctly you mostly do game pieces, with these small pieces the drybrushing techniques are far more important than the base coats. I’m not sure what level of weathering you want to go to, but it can also hide a world of sins.
Biggest thing is to give it a try, if you having problems, shout.
The majority of the instructors at my school have said the same thing, “Art is about taking chances.” That can also be combined with the saying, “Never gamble more than you can afford to loose.”
Like Shermanfreak said, getting some low-cost kits on which to hone your skills is a gamble that you can afford to loose. You can still build, fill, detail, etc. while you get some airbrush time on the cheap kit. I made the mistake (and a very costly one at that) of learning to airbrush on kits that I wanted to keep. It was an expensive lesson, but one I will never forget.
Take the chance on something you can loose. You may just surprise yourself.
Good luck & have fun !
Lots of times I grind to a halt while preparing for a new painting or masking technique… Then once I do it I get enthused and want to try it even more.
I habe the same problem alot. Mainly with autos where I try to get a perfect looking paint job and always seems to orange peel or bubble. Maybe that’s why I fell in love with armor. Mess up, slap some mud or a tarp over it. Of coarse I have yet to try my first camo job yet. That’s going to happen with the next one though.
I can relate to your anxiety about painting. Yet you just have to do it. Try a ‘one’ color kit, meaning a single color not a ‘late war three-color ambush pattern’ used on German panzers. How about a M3A1 Academy Stuart. You just use ‘olive drab’.
I’m currently working on a DML Panther II. I’m using a three-color pattern. This is only my 2nd armor kit. I started doing armor kits last March. Anyway after getting the three colors on I was ready to start over. I didn’t like it the way I did the patterns. But I decided to take my lumps and go ahead and start weathering it. Well after a few ‘filters’ were applied, and after I put a coat of clear on it and added some washes, burnt umber and black, well it’s starting to look a bit better. I’m glad I went ahead and didn’t re-paint the darn thing. Since I am so new to armor I think it’s good to go ahead and try all the techniques, which are new to me, so that I can see for myself what results I can get. Point being, I’ll learn alot from this model and apply to any future kits. So even if I end up being somewhat dissatisfied with the final result, the process of getting there will be worth the experience!
So put some paint in your air-brush and spray something! Preferably not the kids or wife or the car! Any loose styrene is fair game!!
With me, David, it’s more of a fear of masking. Ugghh! lol! I’ll agree with Merlin that even though you see every flaw, unless you’re trying to compete or something, most people will think your work is very nice. I’ve re-painted more than once! Also I only build 1/72, so if I “ruin” a model I’m not out of a lot of money.
David-just dive in-I usually can’t wait to paint but I’m an illustrator and not an engineer. Find some cheap kits or even just cardboard to practice on until you get comfortable-airbrushing, esp. dual-action can be tricky. Our critical skills grow faster than our artistic skills. But why do you think they make paint removers? If all else fails try a coupla stiff drinks first.
David-No airbrush? That’ll keep your life simple. Use spray cans or good quality brushes-hopefully you use solvent-based paint. Flat paints respond well to brushing. Dry-brushing beats airbrushing for weathering and pastels are like reverse dusting!! Practice, practice, practice or pay someone else to do it!
Just go for it - I bought a sealed Tamiya Panther at a garage sale for $5 - built the kit and then primed it light gray. My new Iwata compressor. air brush, and my Paashe spray booth have all arrived and I am setting them up this week. I will use this model to practice over and over and over again. I think you just have to jump in and give it a try. Even if you do not spray a model try spraying some sheet styrene or even some old model pieces that you did not use to practice.
I knew you had an evil streak to you, shermanfreak!![}:)]…[:D]
But I have to say, a world without airbrushes would be considered in my opinion …well,…uninhabitable. [;)]
David, get an airbrush!!..No wonder you get the heeby jeebies thinking about messing something up. I don’t care how “proficient” anybody is with a spraybomb or brush, nothing will lay down a finish like an airbrush…nothing.[:)]
