Airbrushes

[RazorDaemon]

http://www.mememaker.net/static/images/memes/2357353.jpg

And I'm just sitting here using a relic known as a brush striving to do anything more than table top quality.

 

Seriously though, when did airbrushes become standard issue, so to say. What techniques and paint do you use for them, and what about just doing parts at a time, do you tape it off? Are stencils also used?

[Fallen11]

I am yet to use mine, I am waiting for 5 drop pods to arrive. If you watch some of videos you can find on you tube, there are really wonders that you can achieve with one compared to brush(unless you are pro). Not to mention how much time you save when you paint lets say vehicle with airbrush than with regular brush. If you want to paint white or yellow, everyone knows how big pain in the ass this is, with airbrush, it's easy peasy.

[Rik Lightstar]

Youtube is indeed your friend, Awesome Paintjob and Buy Painted both do really good tutorials about it.

 

The BIG thing you're going to need to learn/re-learn is how much to thin your paint, it's completely different ratios, and you want to at least use filtered water if not proper thinner.

 

Also get yourself on Amazon and order a bag of 15ml dropper bottles for mixing your colours so you can get some consistency.

 

Rik

[Inquisitor Eisenhorn]

@Razor

 

I took the plunge and got one a few months ago and I wrote a few articles on the experience here:

 

http://www.theprodigalplayer.com/2013/07/15/purchasing-an-airbrush-for-the-miniature-hobbyist/

http://www.theprodigalplayer.com/2013/07/16/airbrushing-for-hobbyists-what-accessories-are-important/

http://www.theprodigalplayer.com/2013/07/17/other-random-thoughts-about-airbrushing/

 

I basically wrote those articles to spell out clearly what you'll need to get up and running smoothly with one.  I think it's totally a worthy investment if you have the funds.

[betrayer41]

i just started back about a year ago after taking 6-7 years off while at college and was very surprised when people were surprised that i don't use air brushes, so i too am looking at getting my first airbrush, im sure this will all help, thanks guys

[The_Chaplain]

I'm not the OP but any recommendations for a very basic (and preferably inexpensive) airbrush and compressor?  My birthday is in a few weeks, and while my family and in laws love me- im not sure they 200+ dollars on a present love me.  The economy is in dire straits folks.

[Firepower]

My Iwata Neo is a sturdy little workhorse and it only runs $50.  Talking to people at my LGS I was told about getting Patriots and equivalents for the neighborhood of 85-$100 if memory serves.  My compressor is a Master TC-20T and works perfectly fine. It goes for $100 over on TCPGlobal.  Avoid Master brand airbrushes at all costs, though.  They're absolute crap.  Chinese knockoffs.

[marine7312000]

My Iwata Neo is a sturdy little workhorse and it only runs $50.  Talking to people at my LGS I was told about getting Patriots and equivalents for the neighborhood of 85-$100 if memory serves.  My compressor is a Master TC-20T and works perfectly fine. It goes for $100 over on TCPGlobal.  Avoid Master brand airbrushes at all costs, though.  They're absolute crap.  Chinese knockoffs.

Thanks for the info. Now I know what to put on my shopping list.

[The_Chaplain]

Thanks for the info. Now I know what to put on my shopping list.

Ditto. 

 

++Edit++ okay, I put an iwata airbrush, an iwata hose, iwata cleaner, and a grex (I believe they are the company affiliated with badger airbrushes) compressor on my list.  Am I missing anything else ridiculously important to the setup of an airbrush?  I want to start rolling models out like it was a 1920s Model T assembly line once I get set up!

[Firepower]

Which Iwata airbrush in particular are you looking at Chaplain?  Some are more friendly to new users than others.

 

I dunno about the compressor either.  I do believe grex is a solid name brand, but you don't have to go deluxe on compressors in my experience, so it's a nice place to shave off cash.

[The_Chaplain]

Which Iwata airbrush in particular are you looking at Chaplain?  Some are more friendly to new users than others.

I dunno about the compressor either.  I do believe grex is a solid name brand, but you don't have to go deluxe on compressors in my experience, so it's a nice place to shave off cash.

 

The iwata neo dual action gravity fed airbrush is the one I put on my wishlist as it were- lots of recommendations for it, and a lot of positive reviews.  Dual action means I can regulate air flow and level of paint- so detailing will be easier for harder projects.

 

I went with the grex compressor for the wishlist because of the feedback reviews- but I've heard that they are very quiet.  I have bouts of insomnia- and use the time *not* sleeping sometimes working on models and figuring out processes for things.  If I could get my hands on a quiet compressor- I could get painting done late at night without waking up others in my house. 

[Firepower]

Yeah, there's no sense in a single action, unless you only wanna use it to prime

Hm. Just bear in mind that 'quiet' is a relative term with compressors. I dunno how loud it will be, but don't count on it simply being a whisper. I wouldn't use mine when people were trying to sleep in the next room, but it's not so loud that you'd really have to raise your voice to talk over it (it isn't advertised as being 'quiet' though). Part of the issue is simply that they vibrate, so whatever they're on is going to contribute to the noise in one respect or another. Anyway, I hope it works out well enough

[marine7312000]

Another question. Is gravity feed better than bottle feed? I'd imagine that gravity feed flows easier but having never used an airbrush, I'm not sure.

[Rik Lightstar]

Not sure what supply is like in the US but Harder and Steinbeck brushes are gorgeous, I just got one and I'm a little bit in love with it.

 

Rik

Another question. Is gravity feed better than bottle feed? I'd imagine that gravity feed flows easier but having never used an airbrush, I'm not sure.

 

Gravity feed every time, the quantities of paint you'll be using and how thick it is makes a syphon (bottle) feed impractical.

 

RIk

[marine7312000]

Holy cow those brushes are impressive.

[Rik Lightstar]

Holy cow those brushes are impressive.

Which ones?

 

I bought the "entry level" H&S Ultra with 2 head arrays and 2 needles (0.2mm & 0.4mm) and it was around £80 which is a LOT less that the equivalent Badger.

 

Rik

[marine7312000]

The H&Ss. There was one on amazon that was 270+ for just the airbrush.

[Rik Lightstar]

try this

 

http://www.amazon.com/Harder-Steenbeck-Ultra-Airbrush-nozzle/dp/B003Z9M7Z4/ref=sr_sp-atf_title_1_1?s=arts-crafts&ie=UTF8&qid=1380640881&sr=1-1-fkmr0&keywords=harder+steenbeck+ultra+duo

 

That's the same model I got but without the optional needle/head, I'm sure you can find those.

[marine7312000]

Thanks Rik.

[Rik Lightstar]

No probs, took me AGES to setlle on something I thought was right

 

Rik

[Daddywarcrimes]

Can I suggest not going cheap on a compressor? Through a shipping error in my favor, I wound up with an Airbrush Depot TC-828, and I've been really glad to have it. The thing is quiet, maintains pressure extremely well with the large tank, and runs very cool thanks to the dual piston design. As you get better, you'll want a better brush, but with a compressor, you're paying for quiet and run hours. A cheap compressor will be loud, will overheat faster, and will fail sooner. A cheap brush just has to be cleaned more often and doesn't spray as cleanly.

[Raeven]

Just so everyone knows, you do not need the special air brush compressors for an airbrush.  If you already have a larger shop compressor, all you need is a psi regulator and water filter. 

 

I use a 30 gallon 90PSI compressor that I regulate at about 25-35 psi for my brush, and a quick couple hose connected to my water filter.  Just plug in the filter and the brush and I have 30 minutes of continuous air till the pump kicks on again.

[SamaNagol]

Just upgraded from a Iwata Neo to a Custom Micron CM-C.

 

It's the equivalent of going from painting with a GW Basecoat brush to a Windsor & Newton Series 7 000

 

I never realised the difference until I actually used a top end airbrush

[JeffTibbetts]

Oh man… You guys are going to kill me… I actually ordered the cheapest dual-action gravity-feed I could find on 'the big river'. It was $15 bucks. I'm not kidding. Honestly it's been totally fine. It looks virtually identical to a Badger, but it's a cheap knock-off. I would normally never suggest them, but it's worked very well for me. I really only use it for base coats, though. 

 

I might be the only person I know who doesn't own a compressor, too. I don't use canned air. I live in an apartment and I stay up late, so I bought a 7-gallon air tank from Wally World and I live about a block away from a gas station with free air… I fill that thing up and it lasts me about 2 hours, give or take. 

 

I literally paid more for the fittings to connect the stuff together. 

 

If I'm just undercoating, it's perfect. Anything more than that and I'd want a compressor for sure but running silent is great for my situation right now. When I get a house someday, maybe I'll start replacing bits and doing more with it.