Which type of paints to use

[johngebw]

Hi fellow hobbyist !

I'm starting up this hobby again after about 25 years and would like some help on the paint I should use and where I can purchase them. There are so many choices out there now.

I just purchased my Paasche H Airbrush Set with the air brush compressor. Single Action. I researched this for days and found my best bet is the Paasche H single action and everybody that I read had them just loved the finished look from the gun.

What I get confused on is the type and maker of paint to use. I'm looking for the almost perfect Gloss look and flake effect. I'm also going to paint my own details (Flames) on my projects. I want to do everything by hand including the decals. Yep I'm going to do my own decals but use my airbrush to make them.

I don't want to deal with the mixing so I'm looking for paints that are pre-thinned. Also I would like to find good paint. From a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the best "7" would be a good find.

For a start I purchased the All-Purpose Acrylic 6 Color Airbrush Paint Set from Testors (http://links.blazertech.com/redirect.asp?http://www.testors.com/product/136639/9199/_/All-Purpose_Acrylic_6_Color_Airbrush_Paint_Set) just to get used to the airbrush.

Other items I purchased for my airbrush were:

*Moisture Trap from Paasche

*Seven Brush Airbrush Cleaning Kit from Paasche

*Paint Shaker/Battery from Robart

The paint's I was looking at for the finished coat were:

*Spaz Stix Airbrush Paint Yellow 2 oz

*Spaz Stix Airbrush Paint Mirror Chrome 2 oz

*Spaz Stix Airbrush Paint Green 2 oz

*Spaz Stix Airbrush Paint Window Tint/Shadow Tint 2 oz

*Spaz Stix Surface Pre-Prep Airbrush 2 oz

(http://links.blazertech.com/redirect.asp?http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0095p?FVPROFIL=&FVSEARCH=%3Cb%3Espaz%3C%2Fb%3E+stix+paints)

If anyone see's I missed something, please let me know.

It would be great if anyone can give me advice.

Take care

Thanks

John

[crazyjim]

John,

I'm new to the airbrush arena and have been using an old Badger 200 single action. I might be buying the Paasche H that has the 3 different tips. I've been using HOK pearls that were purchased through TCP Global. Nice people to deal with and ships pretty quick.

[Jon Cole]

Welcome to the board John. Sounds like you want to jump in with both feet running. What painting experience do you have? I ask because you should master spray from a can first.

Consider doing a learning curve with an airbrush on something more basic... say, an engine block, or a chassis first. As in, walk first, then run. Good luck no matter what.

[Scalefinishes]

John,

Welcome back into the hobby. It looks like you have everything in order, but I would recommend a quart of cheap lacquer thinner from Lowes/Home Depot to clean the airbrush.

The best advice I can give you for practicing the airbrush is to use plastic spoons. Plastic spoons are made from styrene and crazy cheap, so if you can try out a number of primers and paints on them without sacrificing any good kit parts if the paint reacts badly to styrene. Plus the spoons are just the right size for sample sprayouts to see what your paint color is going to look like.

I hope this helps,

Jameston

[Longbow]

There is a DVD by Donn Yost that will answer all of your questions & will put you on the right path to airbrushing model cars.He has a web site & is a member of this form.He is also featured in the Feb.2010 Scale Auto magazine .I to am newbie & my lovely wife bought me a paasche h for Christmas & after some research bought Donn`s DVD.I have posted pictures of two models that I have shot with the help of his DVD on this form & will do so again here.I`m no expert but I `m happy with the results.The Paasche H is also the airbrush that is featured in the DVD.Thr Mustang is my second & the Willy is the third model that I have painted & built.

Edited February 15, 2010 by Longbow