Question about airbrushing X13 metallic blue

[jose4ever]

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!!

[ales]

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.

[MPWR]

'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.

[Vric]

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.

[pirata12]

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/b1...2/DSC01019.jpg

[MPWR]

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



See, isn't that better?

Nicely done, by the way!

[pirata12]

Sorry

[gionc]

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 ). 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

[pirata12]

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.....

[gionc]

Many thanks for the giovanotto sound good to me LOL

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

[pirata12]

Prego.

[klutz_100]

Originally Posted by gionc

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

[D_LaMz]

i use a 2:3 / thinneraint ratio