I am worryed about ruining my models

[Xaric]

Ok so I have started to use a airbrush at 20psi with imperial primer I have only used it on test models using a 1 to 1 mix of water just to prevent clogging but the thing is I understand it should take at least 1-2 coats but I get this odd sort of thing where on flat rounded surface it will pool away from it leaving bits of grey is this normal?

The last thing I want to do is use this on my new models that I plan to use as my army and ruin them. :(

[Brother-Chaplain Kage]

The paint could be too thin, you could using the airbrush too close to the model, or you're not waiting long enough between coats. Or maybe all three.

 

I use an airbrush to basecoat most of my figures, but I always prime with a spray can.

 

*Edit* Don't worry too much, as paint can be stripped over and over. I've got a few figures that have been painted and stripped a couple of dozen times over the past 15-ish years.

[Ultramarine vet]

The paint could be too thin, you could using the airbrush too close to the model, or you're not waiting long enough between coats. Or maybe all three.

 

I use an airbrush to basecoat most of my figures, but I always prime with a spray can.

 

*Edit* Don't worry too much, as paint can be stripped over and over. I've got a few figures that have been painted and stripped a couple of dozen times over the past 15-ish years.

You can strip models properly? How can this be done?

[The Acid Dog]

This is happening because you're using Imperial Primer.  I don't know anything about airbrushes, but I wouldn't recommend thinning the stuff unless it's an old pot, as it's very thin when fresh.  The stuff is really meant to be used to "patch" the spots spray-can primer misses, rather than on its own. It's significantly less difficult, less time-consuming, and much better looking to just use spray-can primer and brush a quick layer the Imperial Primer onto any spots you've missed.

You can use it on its own if you really insist, but the results are, well, bad.  As you've witnessed, it tends to pool in certain spots, and will cover up details and glob up.

[Brother-Chaplain Kage]

This is happening because you're using Imperial Primer.  I don't know anything about airbrushes, but I wouldn't recommend thinning the stuff unless it's an old pot, as it's very thin when fresh.  The stuff is really meant to be used to "patch" the spots spray-can primer misses, rather than on its own. It's significantly less difficult, less time-consuming, and much better looking to just use spray-can primer and brush a quick layer the Imperial Primer onto any spots you've missed.

 

You can use it on its own if you really insist, but the results are, well, bad.  As you've witnessed, it tends to pool in certain spots, and will cover up details and glob up.

 

I've never used imperial primer so I wasn't aware that it was very thin to begin with.

 

You can strip models properly? How can this be done?

 

Not sure if serious...

[Xaric]

guess ill have to get some can primer then thanks for the insight :)

[The Acid Dog]

This is happening because you're using Imperial Primer.  I don't know anything about airbrushes, but I wouldn't recommend thinning the stuff unless it's an old pot, as it's very thin when fresh.  The stuff is really meant to be used to "patch" the spots spray-can primer misses, rather than on its own. It's significantly less difficult, less time-consuming, and much better looking to just use spray-can primer and brush a quick layer the Imperial Primer onto any spots you've missed.

 

You can use it on its own if you really insist, but the results are, well, bad.  As you've witnessed, it tends to pool in certain spots, and will cover up details and glob up.

 

Like I said, I know absolutely nothing about airbrushes, so I could be wrong on that, but I do know from experience that thinning it 1:1 on a palette and brushing it on makes it really runny (like water runny), and the effect is to make it even splotchier than it already is.

 

EDIT: Oh, and one more thing to the original poster.  If you brush on the Imperial primer later and it doesn't make everything completely black, as long as the area is darker than it was before there's still a thin film of primer there.  That's not too big a deal on small areas, so no worries if the area doesn't look completely covered.

[Ultramarine vet]

 

This is happening because you're using Imperial Primer.  I don't know anything about airbrushes, but I wouldn't recommend thinning the stuff unless it's an old pot, as it's very thin when fresh.  The stuff is really meant to be used to "patch" the spots spray-can primer misses, rather than on its own. It's significantly less difficult, less time-consuming, and much better looking to just use spray-can primer and brush a quick layer the Imperial Primer onto any spots you've missed.

 

You can use it on its own if you really insist, but the results are, well, bad.  As you've witnessed, it tends to pool in certain spots, and will cover up details and glob up.

 

I've never used imperial primer so I wasn't aware that it was very thin to begin with.

 

>You can strip models properly? How can this be done?

 

Not sure if serious...

 

Aye. I apologize for my ignorance, but all info I've got on how to strip models has been rather ineffective. It strips the model of paint, but ruins it in the process.

[Xaric]

Oh ok then and use fairy power spray if you want to strip models

[Brother-Chaplain Kage]

Aye. I apologize for my ignorance, but all info I've got on how to strip models has been rather ineffective. It strips the model of paint, but ruins it in the process.

 

A bit OT here, but in the States, I'd suggest Simple Green to strip your figures. It won't harm plastic, metal, or Finecast. I'm not sure how it reacts to resin as I've yet to strip any of my resin figures.

[MagicMan]

You could always try and grab a Dark Vengeance / Assault on Black Reach set of tactical marines off Ebay for cheap, and test your airbrush on them.

 

Or just use some old bits of sprue to see how thick the paint comes out.

[Brother-Chaplain Kage]

I always used an old metal figure to test things with because they strip the fastest and easiest in Simple Green. A 20 minute soak and most of the paint will come off under running water. A quick scrub with a toothbrush, a blow dry from the airbrush, and it's ready to prime and paint againt. :)

[Tanhausen]

Isopropyl alcohol: cheap, resuable and will remove even primer without affecting plastic.

 

(Can't seem to be able to quote only part of a post...so much for wednesdays...)

[Xaric]

See the gun on the land speeder it does that when i use this way airbrushing with IP

[AnvilofFenris]

I generally get good results applying Imperial Primer by brush, but after having the same problems as the OP I found that I have to give the pot a good stir with a piece of sprue as some of the pigment seems to separate out and settle on the bottom. Not sure if this will help with an airbrush, but might be worth a try.

[The Acid Dog]

... That's what using an airbrush is like? Why do people put themselves through that?

Spray can. Much easier.

[Lorenzen]

Imperial primer isn't a good "primer" look at vallejos primer or similar products.. IP is expensive for the amount you get and IMHO low quality.

 

Thinning with water is a bad idea too (there's long winded explanations to do with surface tension) using a proper thinner will assist in reducing "spidering" which is where the paint runs on the model (similar to water..) And other such issues

 

Priming by airbrush instead of spray can can give better results but it requires a little bit of research in how to use the tool itself, which can the be applied to using it for other things.

[S.k.i.t.t.l.e]

My pots of imperial primer were thicker than my other paints. Even thinned its crap though, Vallejo Polyurethane Primer in black is the bee's knees, no thinning required and its smooth as silk when its dry.

[Forté]

Imperial primer isn't a good "primer" look at vallejos primer or similar products.. IP is expensive for the amount you get and IMHO low quality.

Imperial Primer is terrible. Like Lorenzen said. Look at the Vallejo primer. Comes in various colours, is actually a primer and not just a high pigment prone to go gunky paint, and is aimed at airbrush use.

[JeffTibbetts]

First thing that jumped out to me is that seems like a high PSI. It depends a LOT on your rig. Your brush, compressor, hoses, air regulator, etc. as well as how far away you like to hold your brush, but I usually run 10-15 PSI max, and I only get spidering or fleeing like you mentioned when I shoot very close. I use pretty well thinned paints, using a cocktail of chemicals to cut and thin it,  but I've never used Imperial Primer. 

 

Does it do this with any other paints? Before you go too crazy, remember to only change one variable at a time when you experiment so you can tell what was causing the problem. You won't ruin your models as others have pointed out. You can always strip them. But if you have some old ones, try knocking the PSI down a little and try again doing just what you were doing before. Also, on the same test run, try holding your brush back further. Of course you'll have a wider spray, but the air will be less concentrated and won't have as much power to push the paint off the flat surfaces. 

[Ultramarine vet]

I always used an old metal figure to test things with because they strip the fastest and easiest in Simple Green. A 20 minute soak and most of the paint will come off under running water. A quick scrub with a toothbrush, a blow dry from the airbrush, and it's ready to prime and paint againt.

Would it strip a....globed up model?

[JeffTibbetts]

Should, yeah. You may have to soak them more than once. The only stuff I've ever seen that flat-out won't strip are some really gnarly spray paints intended for exterior use. So, airbrushed acrylics should be fine. 

[Ultramarine vet]

Excellent! Thanks!

[JeffTibbetts]

No problem. Have fun!