Hello from a new guy

[ttdriver]

Hi,

My name is Dave and I have recently decided to get back to building model cars. I started building models when I was about 10 years old until I was about 14, though my little bro' used to smash em up..........

I decided to start building again to give me a hobby to help relax and I love to perfect things.....

I am currently building a Revell 1:12 scale Ferrari F40 which I have basically opened up and grouped some parts for painting. I have bought a Badger model 200 airbrush and I am looking for a compressor for this brush as well, suggestions most welcome

I just realised how bad a finish you can get with enamels straight from the tin so I need to work on thinnng those I think and also getting some nice paint to run through the airbrush.

Well thats all from me just now but I do hope I can ask you guys for some help and look forward to getting to know everyone

Dave

Edited September 8, 2007 by ttdriver

[LVZ2881]

welcome to the board...

[Steve D.]

Hello and welcome ,

This site is a great place to learn a ton of new stuff from some of the best modelers on the planet , period . (I'm not one of those , I still consider myself to be a student .) So if you have any questions this is the place to ask .

The airbrush will become your favorite tool if you learn how to use it . The reason I say " IF " is , a lot of people buy an airbrush , use it only a couple of times , then abandon it saying its " too messy or its a pain to clean " And like anything in life , once you become familiar with it , the problems dissappear . One of your first purchases should definately be an air compressor . Looking at the compressors in the model magazines might seem a bit daunting as for the price , but there is a cheaper alternative . ( Once you become a expert with your airbrush you might want to purchase one of these "airbrush dedicated" type of compressors , but not starting out .) Go to your local building supply store , be it HOME DEPOT , LOWES , WALMART , TARGET any of those will do , and go to the tool section to check out thier compressors . All these stores sell inexpensive ( under a hundred bucks) compressors

for use with light airtools .( I bought mine at Wallyworld for 89$) If you check the sales fliers in the Sunday paper you can probably find one for under seventy five dollars . The companies that make them include Ingersoll-Rand , Dewalt ,Devillbiss , Campbell-Hausfeld , just to name a few . The only thing you'll need is an air trap to remove any moisture from the air . This can be foundin the same isle as the compressor or at any hardware store . Here in Mass with the high humidity it is necessary , if your in an arrid part of the country it might not be .

Once you get started with your airbrush and get to painting , you might want to look at Lacquer paint as they are faster drying , and once you get used to them are easy to use . You can spray enamel through an airbrush also , but it just takes longer to completely cure .

Hope this helps get you started .........

Take care and see you around the clubhouse ,

Steve D.

[Jairus]

Welcome Dave!

Don't go cheap on the airbrush compressor. However, don't go crazy either....

Look into getting a commercial type of compressor at Sears or the local hardware store rather than one designed specifically for the airbrush.

A big one will be useful in the garage for pumping up tires and blowing off the work bench as well as airbrushing.

A compressor made for just the airbrush is only good for..... well, the airbrush!

The big one will have a tank, which you can fill up and run all day with out having to re-fill.

Just a thought....

One other thing, put your name, first and last, in the signature text box found in your "My Controls" section.... Thanks!

[ttdriver]

Thanks for the welcome and the tips guys, I am actually in the UK so will have a look around my local home depot type stores. I am sure that I will find something similar this side of the Atlantic

I am planning to stick with the Airbrush as I find that aerosols here in Scotland are quite expensive and can sometimes be hard to get the colours you would like. Not sure if we have stricter laws here in the UK on aerosols or not???? It seems that we in the UK can never find the same amount of choice with anything we look for in comparison to other countries.

The Ferrari is sitting awaiting paint on the major parts which I cannot do until I get my compressor but I will post some pics as the build progresses, no doubt I will be askig for help along the way

Dave

[ismaelg]

Dave,

Welcome to the forum! When you mentioned tin cans and enamel I thought you might be in Europe. One important aspect of airbrushing is using the right thinner for the type of paint you are using. For example: if you are using enamels, you can use enamel reducer or hardware store lacquer thinner. But if you are airbrushing say lacquers or acrylics , you will need a compatible thinner for it. The best way is to ask for the correct thinner whenever you buy the paint. Once you have the right thinner, thin it to a consistency of something like milk. You can start 50-50 and see how it goes. There are many variables to consider like air pressure, consistency, distance etc. You can practice by locking some of the variables like say: set the airbrush at 20-25 psi and play with the consistency. You can practice on cardboard spraying closer, farther, faster, slower etc. Check for runs or dry spots. As you get more comfortable you will start doing little changes until you find the best setup for you. Once you get a hand on it, you'll never look back

Hope this helps!

Let us know if you have more questions. Some of us may be able to help.

Thanks,