First post and questions about airbrushing
Chieflongshin
09-17-2010, 02:33 AM
Hi guys
Stumbled across this forum and was captivated with the modelling bug again. I used to do a lot as a kid and it kinda left me.
I ended up after scouring the completed gallery going out and resupplying hopefully with everything i've found.
I've run all the way through the common questions but do have a couple more.
What are peoples approaches to painting?
Do you prime all parts still on the sprue?
What is the most effective way to clean the internals on an airbrush?
Do you airbrush all small parts (suspension arms etc) or do people pull out the brushes at this point.
I'm sure i will have a couple more shortly but help with these will be good initially.
Stumbled across this forum and was captivated with the modelling bug again. I used to do a lot as a kid and it kinda left me.
I ended up after scouring the completed gallery going out and resupplying hopefully with everything i've found.
I've run all the way through the common questions but do have a couple more.
What are peoples approaches to painting?
Do you prime all parts still on the sprue?
What is the most effective way to clean the internals on an airbrush?
Do you airbrush all small parts (suspension arms etc) or do people pull out the brushes at this point.
I'm sure i will have a couple more shortly but help with these will be good initially.
hirofkd
09-17-2010, 03:18 AM
1. It depends. Some parts can be cleaned (meaning filing/sanding off parting lines) and painted while they are still attached to the sprue, but some need to be removed for painting, especially when the bridge between the part and the runner will be visible when the model is finished. (You can try to touch it up, but airbrushed and hand-painted colors might not match.)
2. There are products for this very purpose. Try searching by airbrush cleaner and airbrush cleaning stand/station.
3. Most people use both airbrush for large parts and brushes for small parts and detailing. I use three airbrushes and about 30 brushes of various shapes and sizes. I'm too lazy to clean brushes thoroughly after each use, so many of them are assigned to specific colors, like white-only, black-only, silver-only, etc.
2. There are products for this very purpose. Try searching by airbrush cleaner and airbrush cleaning stand/station.
3. Most people use both airbrush for large parts and brushes for small parts and detailing. I use three airbrushes and about 30 brushes of various shapes and sizes. I'm too lazy to clean brushes thoroughly after each use, so many of them are assigned to specific colors, like white-only, black-only, silver-only, etc.
Ferrari TR
09-17-2010, 03:24 AM
Welcome to AF.
1; well i don't prime everything and seldom paint parts on the sprues.
2; best way to clean an AB is to take it apart and clean the 'wet' parts, mostly spraying thinner through the brush is fine when you are painting 'parts' though i aways like to start and finish with a clean AB.
3;I spray everything with at least a base color.
1; well i don't prime everything and seldom paint parts on the sprues.
2; best way to clean an AB is to take it apart and clean the 'wet' parts, mostly spraying thinner through the brush is fine when you are painting 'parts' though i aways like to start and finish with a clean AB.
3;I spray everything with at least a base color.
TurboGuru
09-17-2010, 05:07 AM
Hi guys
What are peoples approaches to painting?
Do you prime all parts still on the sprue?
What is the most effective way to clean the internals on an airbrush?
Do you airbrush all small parts (suspension arms etc) or do people pull out the brushes at this point.
1. Not on the sprue no, because I prefer to cut the part off and sand down the excess and then paint.... its a bit more hassle to keep that part still whilst painting but a line of masking tape allows you to secure small parts for priming.
2. I always clean after use but I don't necessarily take the whole airbrush apart everytime - after a couple of uses I will disassemble what I can and remove the needle and clean it as well as applying some grease. I use Zero Airbrush cleaner fluid - I pour some into the cup and spray into a sealed pot.
3. Yes, you can use it on small parts, the results look great - the only thing you need to be aware of is that you will need to move the airbrush closer and because of this you must lower your PSI - do this and you'll get lovely results.
One tip: You may struggle spraying primer through the airbrush, the results will often appear grainy - after many months of thinning, changing pressure, distance to object I still had a horrible grain effect..... in the end I gave up on primer through airbrush and tried Tamiya Fine Primer in a can... BEST PRIMER I have found, lovely smooth finish!!
Finally, buy plastic spoons!! and test your skills on these - the curvature gives you a very accurate feel for how the paint will look on your model as opposed to painting a flat piece.
What are peoples approaches to painting?
Do you prime all parts still on the sprue?
What is the most effective way to clean the internals on an airbrush?
Do you airbrush all small parts (suspension arms etc) or do people pull out the brushes at this point.
1. Not on the sprue no, because I prefer to cut the part off and sand down the excess and then paint.... its a bit more hassle to keep that part still whilst painting but a line of masking tape allows you to secure small parts for priming.
2. I always clean after use but I don't necessarily take the whole airbrush apart everytime - after a couple of uses I will disassemble what I can and remove the needle and clean it as well as applying some grease. I use Zero Airbrush cleaner fluid - I pour some into the cup and spray into a sealed pot.
3. Yes, you can use it on small parts, the results look great - the only thing you need to be aware of is that you will need to move the airbrush closer and because of this you must lower your PSI - do this and you'll get lovely results.
One tip: You may struggle spraying primer through the airbrush, the results will often appear grainy - after many months of thinning, changing pressure, distance to object I still had a horrible grain effect..... in the end I gave up on primer through airbrush and tried Tamiya Fine Primer in a can... BEST PRIMER I have found, lovely smooth finish!!
Finally, buy plastic spoons!! and test your skills on these - the curvature gives you a very accurate feel for how the paint will look on your model as opposed to painting a flat piece.
KevHw
09-17-2010, 04:08 PM
Hello and welcome to AF.
1. Ideally, you'll want to remove each part from the sprue, clean them up and then prime them. However, as I use a spray can to prime, I find it more economical to prime parts whilst still on the sprue. I'll then cut them off, clean them up and then re-prime as necessary. For bodywork, I remove any mold lines/flash etc and then prime. Thankfully it's large enough to be handled easier.
2. Before spraying I take the needle out and quickly wipe it on a tissue with some thinner on it. I then pass about 0.5ml of thinner through the airbrush before adding paint into the cup. After spraying, I flush the cup out with thinner and also cover up the nozzle with my finger to allow some thinner to 'backwash' through the brush. Remove and wipe the needle before cleaning the nozzle and then reassemble.
3. For very fine detail work I use a fine-tipped brush eg: suspension springs, bolts, switches etc. Otherwise I try to use the airbrush for everything else. Also depends how many different colours are required and how lazy I am with having to clean the airbrush all the time :smile:
1. Ideally, you'll want to remove each part from the sprue, clean them up and then prime them. However, as I use a spray can to prime, I find it more economical to prime parts whilst still on the sprue. I'll then cut them off, clean them up and then re-prime as necessary. For bodywork, I remove any mold lines/flash etc and then prime. Thankfully it's large enough to be handled easier.
2. Before spraying I take the needle out and quickly wipe it on a tissue with some thinner on it. I then pass about 0.5ml of thinner through the airbrush before adding paint into the cup. After spraying, I flush the cup out with thinner and also cover up the nozzle with my finger to allow some thinner to 'backwash' through the brush. Remove and wipe the needle before cleaning the nozzle and then reassemble.
3. For very fine detail work I use a fine-tipped brush eg: suspension springs, bolts, switches etc. Otherwise I try to use the airbrush for everything else. Also depends how many different colours are required and how lazy I am with having to clean the airbrush all the time :smile:
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