Airbrush help needed!

[brad4321]

I've been airbrushing for about 5 years, and thought I was getting good. But lately I cannot lay down a glossy finish. I have an Iwata double action. Lately my flat finishes are coming out with a sandpaper finish. And I can't get a decent finish with gloss paint, which luckily I rarely have to use. I can't even get a good glossy finish out of Future. What the heck am I doing wrong lately? Thanks for the help.....

[Bgrgbldr]

There could be a whole list of issues. Witotu some information it is hard to help. What kind of airbrush are you using. How much air pressuer what type of paint. My first guess is your airpressure is too high and you are too far from the surface. It could also be the paint and thinner.

Give us more infomation and we can help more.

[brad4321]

Cool. Thanks. I typically use Tamiya Acrylics with their thinner. I have an Iwata Eclipse HP-CS and one of their compressors. I've been experimenting a lot with pressures and amount of thinner and I've just confused myself.

[Dave Ambrose]

I had so much trouble airbrushing Tamiya pain(t) that I quit and went back to Model Masters enamels.

I would try these:

• Add more thinner. The paint is drying before it reaches the model.
• Make sure you're using the airbrush thinner. Regular thinner will be more volatile and evaporate too quickly.
• Get closer. This might mean putting on a lighter coat.
• Reduce your air pressure.
• Switch to enamels.

In my experience they behave much better, especially if you use the airbrush thinner to thin out the paint. It evaporates just a little slower so the paint is liquid when it reaches the surface. Some people use lacquer thinner to spray them, but I find that just orange peels here in our very dry conditions.