Airbrushing yellow over zenith basing

[Infernalstone]

So, quick backstory of what I've done with airbrushing so far, so that you might know what I (think) I can do.

Priming

Base coat

Zenith/highlight base coat (used for painting completely with washes)

Zenith/highlight on base coat, using base color, a darker tone, and a lighter tone of that base color.

A few thinnings, to spray Vallejo colors that don't have an Air line equivalent.  My go to is 10:2 or 10:3 Paint to Flow Improver.

Painted r/c car bodies (different paint, and on lexan.)

 

So that's the skills I currently have.  Now here's what I'm trying to do.  All paints are going to be Vallejo, since that and Citadel is what's available locally.

 

I'm trying to paint yellow over a zenith to create a fairly strong contrast.  My thinking was to use a dark purple (Royal Purple) for the dark (so it doesn't go to green like a dark blue might), and white highlights.  Then go over it with yellow, with the idea that since yellow likes to show everything behind it, the zenith should pop through pretty easily.  And I am likely going to play with the dark color after the first test subject.

 

Now the problem I had was, I tested three models, and forgive me since I don't recall exactly, using Vallejo Air line Yellow and Gelb Yellow.  I tried one with just yellow, one with Yellow, then Gelb, and one with just Gelb.  And to my surprise the yellow just ate the purple up in one coat.  Now I'm thinking that my next step should be to try it thinning the yellow down, but I wanted to get some feedback from those with more experience.  Does that sound like the right step?  And if I'm thinning down what's already the air line, would I want to go with airbrush thinner or flow improver?  My understanding is that thinner does more to break down the actual paint, and I'm not sure if that's what I need or not.

 

Also, to get an idea of sort of what I'm going far, I'm totally trying to steal and adapt Neonmole's / Luthermax's (?) technique, as seen here: I'm trying to get that level of airbrushed contrast that takes yellow to a dark, shadowed color instead of a brown.

 

Thanks again for any advice.

[Astral Arcane]

IMO thinning the paint to shade the color isn't going to give the effect you're going for. It will only create technical problems with your feed. 

In my experience airbrush paints cover *very* well (as you've discovered) rather than blend, so you're either going to need to manually mix transition colors and airbrush each separately or experiment with premixed transparent paints. You can also try backing off on your feed adjustment (on the back of the airbrush) to reduce flow. On bigger canvases you can "feather" the edges of your path but on a mini by increasing distance you're going to have to compensate with the feed adjustment to not get overspray. 

 

Createx makes transparent airbrush paints though I haven't tried them, that is what I would go with if wanting to try more advanced color blending. 

[Marshal Vespasian]

I airbrush contrast paint over zenithal and it works like a charm. The more you layer it, the more dark 'orangey' it gets.

Another idea would be to shoot thinned out yellow ink. Inks thin very well due to pigment richness and go through airbrushes beautifully without clogging. There is more and less transparent inks which you could try out.

 

I use Iyanden yellow and daler rowney process yellow for my imperial fists.

[Firedrake Cordova]

Is this any help: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weoGAlrg1rQ ?

 

He uses Screamer Pink as the base, then a zenithal spray of Averland Sunset, Ushabti Bone and Pallid Wych Flesh, then applies a filter of Lamenters Yellow (out of production - use Vallejo Game Color Yellow Ink or one of the Contrast yellows instead) to turn it yellow.

Edited March 3, 2020 by Firedrake Cordova

[Arkhanist]

Yeah, for significant pre-shading to show through, you ideally need transparent paints/inks. I use daler rowney reds through my airbrush over grey pre-shading for blood angels using Luthermax's guide.

 

He does have one up for imperial fists which might suit as a baseline guide for minimal cost, it was definitely worth it for my BA (you can always tweak it to suit your own style)

Edited March 3, 2020 by Arkhanist

[Infernalstone]

Is this any help: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weoGAlrg1rQ ?

 

He uses Screamer Pink as the base, then a zenithal spray of Averland Sunset, Ushabti Bone and Pallid Wych Flesh, then applies a filter of Lamenters Yellow (out of production - use Vallejo Game Color Yellow Ink or one of the Contrast yellows instead) to turn it yellow.

 

Ohhh, that's really close to what I'm looking for.  I think more contrast in colors, but that's the right idea.  I might try that with an additional step in the build up... go royal purple, screamer pink, then onwards.  Not sure if I'm sold on the violet for the wash thought.  I may try a few other colors.

 

Yeah, for significant pre-shading to show through, you ideally need transparent paints/inks. I use daler rowney reds through my airbrush over grey pre-shading for blood angels using Luthermax's guide.

 

He does have one up for imperial fists which might suit as a baseline guide for minimal cost, it was definitely worth it for my BA (you can always tweak it to suit your own style)

I saw his imperial fists, and it just wasn't quite the shade of yellow I was looking for.  Also, I like that Neonmole's take on it turned the contrast/dark up to 11, which is what I'm trying to do.

[Bung]

 

Createx makes transparent airbrush paints though I haven't tried them, that is what I would go with if wanting to try more advanced color blending.

I have them. The Candy2o line from their paints is great. They are like Tamiya clears but waterbased and more color choice.

I did the panels of this Titan only with Black abd White then i sprayed Candy2o Tequilla Yellow and a varnish for protection as a gameing miniature.

[Mango Polo]

You may want to look into inks. They're basically perfect for applying on top of pre-shaded models.