First time airbrushing and using alclad

[seanyb505]

I finally sat down to set everything up and start using an Airbrush. Rather than test on a body, I started with something small, a bumper that would end up chrome. I'm okay with the result, but I know I can improve. My setup is a garage compressor with a built in regulator and iwata moisture trap. The brush itself is the cheap 25 ez paasche. Excellent equipment, I know. I used walmart color place gray primer through the can, decanted testors gloss black and Alclad chrome through the airbrush. Here is the end result:

The texture is smooth enough, but it's the blotchiness I'd like to improve. The black base was shot at 20 and the Alclad at 15. I did notice that either paint did not like coming out even if the air was flowing. I didn't have the much paint in the cup since I was trying to waste as little as possible my first time around. Was the paint reluctant to flow because I was picking up air in the paint bottle or is that due to the cheapo beginner brush?

I'm assuming the blotchiness is due to the Alclad coming out heavier than it should when it did come out. I know it needs to be misted on, I am almost positive I was on the heavy side.

Critique welcome!

[my80malibu]

Not bad for the first time. It does look heavy on the buildup, when I make multiple passes thats what mine looks like. if I can keep it moving I generally get the best result.

[diymirage]

looks like you shot it under a 90% angle

next time, shoot it under 45% and see if it doesn't come out a little shinier

[vypurr59]

Noticed the same problem when shooting the Alclad over an enamel base. Try using a lacquer base coat.

[Mike Kucaba]

My beat results have been shooting a coat of clear on the black ( or dark blue) .

[seanyb505]

  On 11/19/2013 at 12:38 AM, vypurr59 said:

Noticed the same problem when shooting the Alclad over an enamel base. Try using a lacquer base coat.

The only reason I used testors was that was the overwhelmingly most popular advice on the board. I'm still not sure it wasn't caused by my novice skill or cheap airbrush.

[Erik Smith]

  On 11/22/2013 at 2:46 PM, seanyb505 said:

The only reason I used testors was that was the overwhelmingly most popular advice on the board. I'm still not sure it wasn't caused by my novice skill or cheap airbrush.

As long as the base coat is perfectly smooth and glossy, it doesn't matter what you use - that is, to make it look good. If you use lacquer as a base, the Alclad will not "bite" into it and it becomes very sensitive to over handling-it will rub off.

I use Alclad black base (it works pretty good, but tends to get globs (clogged tips) and the lid gets glued on!) so I started using Rustoleum Enamel Gloss black and it's worked fairly well, so far...