Using air brush; coats and times etc...

[aurfalien]

Hi,

I've been practicing on plastic spoons as I tire of constantly stripping my models.

As I thought to have finally gotten things down but still getting sub optimal results, I come to find that I mixed needle and nozzle sizes.

OMG what a difference a matching needle/nozzle set makes!

So upon re learning and more practice, I've the following picture.

My technique thus far using Tamiya acrylics;

2 parts Tamiya clear

6 parts Tamiya flat red

12 parts Tamiya lacquer thinner

I apply 2-3 light coats to where it's a tad wet and wait until each coat is touch dry before continuing.

My PSI is 16 and about 4" from the subject.

What do you think?

[Snake45]

I'm not sure what advantage you're going for mixing flat red and clear. Why not use gloss paint to start with? Or, if you're using a flat color you can't get in clear, why not just lay down the flat, then clear-coat over top of it?

16 PSI sounds a little light to me, but then I haven't sprayed much if any Tamiya acrylic. I generally spray at somewhere in the 22-28 PSI range, or so, but have turned it up over 30 at times if need be.

I crank the pressure to 40 to blow cleaner through the airbrush at the end of a paint session, but have never sprayed paint that high.

[aurfalien]

Hi,

I'm using a touch of clear to give it a satin sheen.  The flat was a bit too flat and I don't really wish a full gloss for this build.

When you spray, is it multiple light coats that are some what wet?

 

[ScottH454]

That is what I try to do in reguards to how wet to spray. I tend to want to go to light an worry it dries to quick an ends up like a coat of overspray. Can't tell anything from the photo so what issues do yoi think you have? I didn't know you could mix lacquer thinner with acrylics. I ise an actual automotive grade ppg reducer based on spray temp.

[aurfalien]

That is what I try to do in reguards to how wet to spray. I tend to want to go to light an worry it dries to quick an ends up like a coat of overspray. Can't tell anything from the photo so what issues do yoi think you have? I didn't know you could mix lacquer thinner with acrylics. I ise an actual automotive grade ppg reducer based on spray temp.

Hi,

Well, no issue really but wanted the communities thoughts on my current technique and if it matches yours.

I'm actually pleased so far.

[ScottH454]

Well other than using lacquer thinner you sound good. You can't control the dry time, evaporation rate of thinner. I have done the trick of mixing clear an paint with models, but I did it with full scale cars on areas like under the hood when you don't want full exterior gloss. Plus less chance to dry spray when spraying a separate clear coat.

[peteski]

There are so many variables that you can't just ape someone's technique exactly. One of the variables is the person who is airbrushing.  Every person is unique and does things differently

I don't use Tamiya paints (in the little glass jars) much but to me it seems like you thin them bit too much.  You have more thinner than paint (12:8 ratio) but like I said, everybody does things differently.  The pressure and distance from the object being painted are in the range I usually use for small items like a spoon.  I rarely go up over 20 psi.  Once I build up some paint on the object being painted I like to spray the paint on heavier to smooth out the surface).  The photo of your spoon seems to be lit a bit strangely (back-lit or bottom-lit?) so it doesn't show the paint surface. But if it looks ok to you then it works.

 

[Xingu]

You are doing it the right way, practicing to get the results you want. I am with Pete, I have not heard of anyone using that much thinner. I seem to remember Donn Yost saying saying it usually sprays with 1 part thinner to 2 parts paint. Wonder if you might need to shoot more coats to get proper coverage.

Did you try semi-gloss clear over the paint before you tried mixing them together? It has a noticeably different sheen than gloss does.

I went in the opposite direction than you did. I stopped painting spoons as I was never happy with the results. For some reason it works better for me to just paint the model part. I have had to put a few in the tank because it didn't come out well, but not many.

[High octane]

I've been real lucky so far as I "shoot from the hip" and pick a color and spray it right onto the body. No  spoons, no testing, and so far no paint removal and repainting. I'm pretty much happy with the way most all of my paint jobs have turned out as I'm a "rattle can man."

[aurfalien]

Hi and thanks for the helpful replies.

The semi gloss is a good tip, thank you.

[aurfalien]

Hi,

A new session of spraying and it's getting less stressful for me.

From left to right;

Flat Rad XF-7

Flat Red XF-7 then Clear Red X-27

Red X-7

A 50/50 mix of Flat Red XF-7 and Orange X-6