Studio Silvernale Posted July 10, 2014 Share Posted July 10, 2014 I searched and didn't find anything so I'm starting a post. I have tried to airbrush VGC/VMC metallic acrylics and I just get a spattery mess. If I thin them too much I get glittery water. I tried using the same matt medium / water / flow aid mix I use to thin other acrylics and the gunmetal looks more like dull grey now. Halp? Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/293595-how-to-airbrush-metallics/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daevyll Posted July 10, 2014 Share Posted July 10, 2014 Use VMA instead ? Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/293595-how-to-airbrush-metallics/#findComment-3741859 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brother Galfridus Posted July 10, 2014 Share Posted July 10, 2014 Vma metallics are very good for brushing or airbrushing. Being thinned already I find I don't get a separation issue with them either. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/293595-how-to-airbrush-metallics/#findComment-3741900 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Studio Silvernale Posted July 10, 2014 Author Share Posted July 10, 2014 That would work except I'm dirt-farmer poor right now and I need to use what I have on hand. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/293595-how-to-airbrush-metallics/#findComment-3741914 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Firepower Posted July 10, 2014 Share Posted July 10, 2014 Hm. I airbrushed just fine with mine. Well, that might be a slight exaggeration. They clog like hell and the sparklies get everywhere. If you do get it working, make sure you do the metallics before doing anything else, and diligently wipe your paint station clean after the fact to avoid secondary glittering of models later on. VMC Natural Steel and some Vallejo Airbrush Thinner was all it took, if memory serves. Some Regdab needle juice certainly helped, too. I would try leaving out the matte medium and see if that helps keep the metallic sheen. I don't ever use matte medium, actually. :lol: Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/293595-how-to-airbrush-metallics/#findComment-3741926 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Studio Silvernale Posted July 10, 2014 Author Share Posted July 10, 2014 Well I found the idea on youtube from Les who uses 50/50 mix of matte medium and (90/10 distilled water and flow aid) to thin his paints and I've had great luck with that... except the metallics. Some more google turned up people saying to use Vallejo airbrush thinner because it thins the paint without separating it. That didn't work so well tho. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/293595-how-to-airbrush-metallics/#findComment-3741969 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Firepower Posted July 10, 2014 Share Posted July 10, 2014 Yeah, I saw that tutorial too. Awesomepaintjob and Buypainted taught me a whole lot about airbrushing. Nearly everything. But I did cherry pick advice based on time and money constraints. Matte and extra bottles for mixing fell outside both :lol: Might have to try it some day, though. Anyway, I'm only slightly more than a novice at airbrush, so I can't really say for sure what your problem is. I can only say that it's working for me fine, which isn't much help. Sort of the same predicament I was in when Vallejo primer wouldn't work for me...and I eventually had to switch to lacquers. Hope your eventual solution is less extreme! Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/293595-how-to-airbrush-metallics/#findComment-3741974 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Studio Silvernale Posted July 10, 2014 Author Share Posted July 10, 2014 Yeah I learned almost everything from those two also =D Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/293595-how-to-airbrush-metallics/#findComment-3742012 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Studio Silvernale Posted July 11, 2014 Author Share Posted July 11, 2014 I think I finally nailed it! I used Tamiya X20A thinner (recommended on a couple other airbrushing forums) and got a smooth metallic coat using a 50:50 mix of VGC gunmetal / chainmail. http://fc01.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2014/192/2/3/metallics_test_by_kasumidoll-d7q8m7l.jpg Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/293595-how-to-airbrush-metallics/#findComment-3742817 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Firepower Posted July 12, 2014 Share Posted July 12, 2014 Nicely done. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/293595-how-to-airbrush-metallics/#findComment-3743614 Share on other sites More sharing options...
netminder69 Posted July 21, 2014 Share Posted July 21, 2014 Something I plan on trying (Minotaurs... Lots of bronze...). For thinning I use Liquitex Airbrush Medium which is a non-pigmented acrylic medium. Worked great with my XV-88 that I use for the vehicles, didn't dull the color at all. I will try to remember to reply with results when I give it a whirl in the next day or two. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/293595-how-to-airbrush-metallics/#findComment-3751030 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daevyll Posted July 21, 2014 Share Posted July 21, 2014 Not to retread old territory, but I've found that for metallics especially VMA really is the way to go. The reason is the metallic pigment particles; these are milled finer in VMA than in VMC, meaning they won't clog up your airbrush. This is quite apart from thinning them, whih might make it flow ok but doesnt do anything for the size of the particles. I know you said you have no cash at the moment, but thinners cost money too and besides, you really need only 2 VMA metallics (silver and gold) which you can then darken/lighten as needed. VMA costs about 2 euros a bottle so shouldn't break the bank. Save yourself the hassle of a clogged brush and spend less time mixing and more painting :) Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/293595-how-to-airbrush-metallics/#findComment-3751479 Share on other sites More sharing options...
netminder69 Posted July 24, 2014 Share Posted July 24, 2014 Today I mixed a pot of Sycorax Bronze with Liquitex airbrush Medium and a few drops of flow aid in a dropper bottle. Worked like a charm in my airbrush and had no issues with clogging. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/293595-how-to-airbrush-metallics/#findComment-3754441 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Studio Silvernale Posted July 25, 2014 Author Share Posted July 25, 2014 Today I mixed a pot of Sycorax Bronze with Liquitex airbrush Medium and a few drops of flow aid in a dropper bottle. Worked like a charm in my airbrush and had no issues with clogging. I may give that a try. Using the tamiya thinner I was blasting through the paint at a voracious rate. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/293595-how-to-airbrush-metallics/#findComment-3755405 Share on other sites More sharing options...
netminder69 Posted July 25, 2014 Share Posted July 25, 2014 Yeah, it's nice pre-mixing it in your own dropper bottle so you don't waste it. 5 drops let me base coat about 3 or 4 marines. If you check my blog, I have a post in the last couple days about dropper bottle pre-mixing. Link's in my sig. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/293595-how-to-airbrush-metallics/#findComment-3755432 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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