Question about airbrushing X13 metallic blue

I have a question about airbrushing tamiya X13 metallic blue, i thinned the color with 1:1 ratio with tamiya thinner. However, when i airbrushed my plane, it looked terrible, it's like water and the color wont attach nicely and evenly on the surface. Why do I get such result?? Any tips??

Please help, i am a newbie in modelling. :(
Please kindly tell me the steps to airbrush this kind of water based color.

Many Thanks!!

You thinned it way too much, that's all. Finding the right ration is a trial and error process, I'd suggest, when working with Tamiya acrylics, starting with 15 - 20 % thinner and adding more if you find it necessary. And test-spraying to see what works for you.

:iagree:

'Zactly what Ales said. Never thin to a 'ratio'- it's simply not an accurate way to do it. Thin a little paint, test spray (I test on index cards), and adjust. With Tamiya acrylics, depending on the paint, conditions, and technique I'm using, I spray with anywhere between 10% and 60% thinner- I adjust it until the paint behaves the way I want it to.

I found that adding thinner directly in a new bottle usually give you the good ratio. The bottle isn't full and adding thinner give you about 25% mix.

Simple, but it work for me.

I agree with Vric. It worked for me too. I also found that spraying in fine mist coats works best. It looked very dull for me but 4 coats of clear sorted that out.
But don't forget to test it first! I sanded my model down 3/4 times as I kept getting terrible results.
Here was the final result:
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b149/pirata12/DSC01019.jpg

Oh come on- show the pic, don't post the link. :disappoin

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b149/pirata12/DSC01019.jpg

See, isn't that better?

Nicely done, by the way!

Sorry

Well guys I agree with you all. But any airbrush or art manual have inside a simple rule to start with: basically the right viscosity/density should be like the milk and would easily slide from the container's vertical side (well from steel or glass :D). That's the basic, from here you'll adjust the density for the desired effect (texture or smooth).

Seems milk was maded for spray: I'll use in my next 2 scheme lyvery with coffee :D

You are dead right Giovanotto! However I couldn't get it right with this particular colour. So it was lots of trial and error. White and Smoke are also weird ones to work with.....

Many thanks for the giovanotto :D sound good to me LOL

Yes acrylics pigment are hard to spray trough an airbrush and those are probably the worst (smoke...)

Prego.

Seems milk was maded for spray: I'll use in my next 2 scheme lyvery with coffee :D
:spit: :rofl: :rofl:

i use a 2:3 / thinner:paint ratio