Air Brushing

[slant6]

I just got my very first set of airbrushes. I also got a set of free paints with them, but they are for t-shirts and stuff. Does anyone know where I can get a good set of airbrush paints for modeling? My other question is, When I use a regular paint(lets say model master for example), should one bottle be enough to do the body color, is that more than I need...not enough? I have no idea how I should be doing this, and I really dont want to screw up my brand new airbrushes.

[MrObsessive]

First off Will, before doing any airbrushing with paint, invest in a good respirator! Preferably the dual cartridge type and NOT the paper mask kind......It'll be worth it!

Any type of hobby paint will airbrush well if it's thinned properly. The rule of thumb with paint is to thin it with the consistency of milk. When I thin paint for airbrushing, I like to swill the jar until I can see the paint leave a slight film on the sides-----then I know it's ready to be sprayed.

BTW, automotive paints can be airbrushed too.............you'll have to decant the spray into an airbrush jar just the same. If it's in a touch up bottle, then the rules of thinning above apply here also. Spray can paint normally need not be thinned since it needs to come out of its own can, but I've had exceptions.

Any good hobby shop should carry a nice selection of paints..........I don't know your area but check around.

As far as the amount of paint in the jar to complete a body.......................that'll all depend on your skill of painting with no redo's and the size of the model.

Most importantly of all..............Practice, Practice, Practice, and Test, Test, Test!

HTH!

Edited March 15, 2008 by MrObsessive

[Junior73]

Another line to look into is www.autoaircolors.com The only downfall is it is designed to be used with a urathane clear. I am going to be trying these soon and using duplicolor clear. If not, you'll need to invest inregualr automotive grade clear.

And seconds on the repirator no matter what kind of paint you shoot..

Edited March 15, 2008 by Junior73

[slant6]

Well. Ive got a good respirator for work and I never use it there. Guess the girlfreind and the dog will just have to suffer. Just kiidng. I live in an apartment, and do most of my painting on the deck. Im working on building a small, portable paintbooth. Ive checked the LHS. They have a line of paints (cant remeber what brand) that says they are "great for airbushing", of handbrushing, and a box of testor airbrush paints (still the same small jars and regular paints). I figure at least to begin with Ill be using alot of paint for practice, so Im looking for something cheap to do a "not a big deal" model with.

[Cornpatch]

slant6

If those paints you got with your airbrush are made by Createx Paints, you can use them on plastic even through they say for T-shirts and stuff, the stuff includes plastic. These Createx Paints are all I really use with my airbrush as they are made especially for the airbrush and they are easy cleanup, a little soap and water.

All you need with them is a good primer, I use Dupli-color grey and or white primer, and almost any clear coat will work with them, again I use Dupli-color. You will also need to understand how these paints work, and you can best do that at there web-site WWW.CREATEX.COM if I remember right.

As junior73 stated the auto air line of paints is also good for an airbrush. Althrough they are a hot paint as they are ment for 1-1 cars. If you use these you will need a good primer coat. Also some of these need to be heat cured.

A good source for airbrush paints is WWW.TCPGLOBEL.COM if they dont have it they probley dont make it. Also on this web-site you will be able to access color charts to see all the different colors the different paint manufactors make.

Hope this helps you out a little bit

Jeff