Scale Finishes Paints & Airbrushing

[FASTBACK340]

In another thread I mentioned using Scale Finishes paint for the first time. I haven't air brushed a model in over 15 years, which means my equipment isn't exactly cutting edge. The compressor is an older Badger and the brush a mid-line Paasche. I shot it @ just under 2 lbs. of pressure and the paint laid out so nicely without ANY issues. The color and sheen is a dead match for my actual car, and the mix was perfect. VERY nice product. I used less than 1/3 of a 2oz. bottle on this spray. I don't think I could have deliberately made it run…… like using a hand-held bristle brush, that easy.

My questions are: Why is there such a phobia over using an air brush? Is it strictly a financial aspect, although old stuff like mine can be bought cheap used? Is it a space limitation? I think rattle cans require more area for overspray. Is it people don't want the responsibility of cleaning up after themselves or it's too much trouble? I remember fighting with mixing the paint and trying to get the right consistency with the old hobby enamels. The pre-mixed paint is a breeze to use. In the intervening years things have definitely changed for the better to use it. Yesterday was a eye opener.

[Jeff Johnston]

Same question I have. Don't get me wrong, you can get good results with a rattle can and many do. Like you said, with all the pre-mix paint out there like Scale finishes and Model Car world, why not airbrush it ? You have so much more control over the coverage. No covering up the details with thick paint. You can do 2 tone paint jobs without fearing bleeding through the masking line.

I use Scalefinishes a lot. Super paint...

[FASTBACK340]

I have to go check my air pressure gauge on my compressor as I was asked off-line if I made a mistake. I had said 2 lbs. and a fellow modeler asked if I meant 20 lbs. I honestly don't know at the moment as my dog is sleeping on my right thigh and I'm paralyzed (he weighs 112lbs) and I can't go upstairs to look. But other than that piece of info, I'm hooked on the air brush with contemporary paint availability. Now I know how much to buy/use per project it doesn't become all that more expensive. I don't want to post what I just paid for canned Tamiya surfacer primer last Friday……

I'll get back to ya… but yeah, air brushing is the way to go.

Looks like I'm making my shopping list for NNL East next week.

Edited April 20, 2014 by FASTBACK340

[peter31a]

Be aware, John that MCW isn't doing shows anymore and I don't think Scale finishes will be there either. Check NNL East website for list of vendors. Not trying to bring you down, just what to make you aware that paint availability may not be what you are hoping.

[FASTBACK340]

Thanks Pete, as I was just surfing both of their sites and making a list. At $7.50 an ounce for paint I better choose wisely, not cheap stuff. If I can't get them at NNL East, I'll just ask a lot of questions on builds in attendance and make a mail-order list.

And as for the air pressure, I was wrong. I checked my gauge and I mistakenly read 2 Kpg as 2 lbs. I actually sprayed at approx. 23 lbs. Is this too high, low, or average? No orange peel and a nice in-scale gloss. Did I get lucky, or just used good judgement? Please, share!

Edited April 20, 2014 by FASTBACK340

[peter31a]

No problem. I know what it's like to get all geared up to do some buying just to find out the vendor you were planning to buy from isn't there. I would say anywhere between 15 and 25 is about average. It depends what you are comfortable with and what the paint likes. That said some people spray at much higher pressure say 50 and it works for them.

[Cato]

Has anyone used their spray cans and can share experiences?

[Modlguy]

You're quite right.

John, Donn Yost will be at NNL East and he's more than willing to talk airbrushing all day long. His DVD on painting with enamels is fantastic. I was also recently fired up by Chris Chapman's tutorial on painting with acrylics and Future. It's on this board in the Tips & Tutorials section. Thinning is not an issue. Both videos lay it out. As simple as can be. Testor's Aztec makes pre-thinned paints as well, available online and cheaper than Jameston's.

It is a Golden Age.

[martinfan5]

Be aware, John that MCW isn't doing shows anymore and I don't think Scale finishes will be there either. Check NNL East website for list of vendors. Not trying to bring you down, just what to make you aware that paint availability may not be what you are hoping.

Scale Finishes is still doing shows, he was in Seattle last weekend for a show

[jbwelda]

yes well I personally think its (the airbrush phobia) is largely due to so many people having so many methods for spraying that it just gets confusing compared to grabbing a buzzcan. and particularly today when Tamiya paints (and nozzles) pretty much approach airbrush for a lot of features. but my point is more, here you claim to shoot at just under 2 lbs. two pounds. you do realize you can generate that much air pressure out of your own lungs and body? you don't need a compressor for that. that cannot be correct. must be more like 20 pounds as you mention someone else asked. but unless you correct that, it now becomes part of the "lore" that hey that guy got great results using 2 psi why shouldn't I? and then I go and ruin a body trying to spray at that low of pressure (if I were really naïve). and then I say the heck with this, give me a can.

get what I mean?

jb

[Cato]

And as for the air pressure, I was wrong. I checked my gauge and I mistakenly read 2 Kpg as 2 lbs. I actually sprayed at approx. 23 lbs. Is this too high, low, or average? No orange peel and a nice in-scale gloss. Did I get lucky, or just used good judgement? Please, share!

He did correct it in post #5 jb.

[Bill J]

I have tried about all the paint systems, starting with rattle cans. I truly like the options that a good airbrush gives me. It allows the spray of metalizers, Alclads and pre-mixed paints. I love Scalefinishes paints. I use the acrylic enamel Scalefinishes for as many projects as I can now. I mostly use 20lbs pressure and use a variety of siphon feed airbrushes. My body painting airbrush is an Iwata Eclipse which always sprays smoothly. If I have problems with an airbrush paint job, it is 99% due to my mixing abilities. I have a problem with that 5 parts paint to 4 parts thinner ratio! I can do 50-50 though :-)

I have recently used a number of Tamiya TS spray cans with fantastic results and I have no objection to Tamiya sprays, as long as they have a color for my project. I order them from Tamiya USA since they lock up spray paints here in the hobby shops and it is often a hassle to get them unlocked. Some law trying to eliminate graffiti, hasn't made any difference, at all!

I have painted a 57 Chevy Black Widow with the original black and white scheme and had problems with all sorts of paints. I tried lacquer, Testor's Acrylic, Testor's enamels, Scalefinishes and some more than once. I finally bought a can of Tamiya black and a can of white and hosed the restriped body down with them, finally I can call that one painted!!

Bottom line, anything can work and be flexible and you have a variety of choices. Love the airbrushing though, so many options open up with a good setup.

Edited April 20, 2014 by Bill J

[jbwelda]

yeah 23 psi makes way more sense. thanks

jb

[Modelbuilder Mark]

I prefer using an airbrush for as many things as I can, BUT if you use the airbrush, even for something very small, there is a lot of cleanup if you want to do it right, and that can be quite time consuming for some folks.

For some people, it may simply be speed and ease of cleanup if you just pick up a can spray it, spray the can upside down, then put it away.

[horsepower]

The locked cabinets probably have more to do more with the loss of inventory than a graffiti problem, in the time I ran a shop the largest theft problem we had was spray paints, & I know that the large box stores in our area that tried the locking cabinets did so to try & cut down on the dummies that think they have to test the colors in the store. It must have proven to be more trouble in the long run, as all have done away with the locked cases.

[horsepower]

I prefer using an airbrush for as many things as I can, BUT if you use the airbrush, even for something very small, there is a lot of cleanup if you want to do it right, and that can be quite time consuming for some folks.

For some people, it may simply be speed and ease of cleanup if you just pick up a can spray it, spray the can upside down, then put it away.

Same for me, it's just to much of a pain at times to drag everything out, then clean it up & put it all away again.

[FASTBACK340]

I have Don's CD somewhere. I bought it last year, watched about a 1/2 hour, got sidetracked, and never followed up. I actually forgot I had it…..

And yes, it was about 22-23 PSI I sprayed at. I still can't believe how nice it laid down. I might regret asking this, but should I invest in a decent air brush? Any suggestions?

[Dave Ambrose]

Same for me, it's just to much of a pain at times to drag everything out, then clean it up & put it all away again.

I was in the same boat. I've discovered two things:

1. The cleanup gets faster with practice. I now clean the inside of the airbrush by spraying lacquer thinner, then cleaning the inside using a cotton pipe cleaner dipped in lacquer thinner.
2. The gravity fed airbrushes clean up very quickly with just a spray-through of thinner, and a bit of swabbing with a Q-tip. I'm totally sold on this type now.

[my80malibu]

I have Don's CD somewhere. I bought it last year, watched about a 1/2 hour, got sidetracked, and never followed up. I actually forgot I had it…..

And yes, it was about 22-23 PSI I sprayed at. I still can't believe how nice it laid down. I might regret asking this, but should I invest in a decent air brush? Any suggestions?

Sounds like you Already have a Decent Airbrush. The Paasche is a very good brand. For straight color paint Jobs, should be Good enough. Get to practicing more, becoming better acquainted would be more helpful in the long run,IMHO.

[peter31a]

Just to clarify, I said MCW isn't doing shows anymore. Scalefinishes does but I don't think he comes east as he is not listed in the vendors on the NNL East website. Thanks for pointing that out, Jonathan, as I wouldn't want people to think that Scalefinishes never does shows.

[FASTBACK340]

Now that I think about it, I may have ordered it on-line. Between the Barracuda, models, Basses, and other items I forget where the heck I get things from….. But yeah, the A/B was a rush as to how easy it was. And great results.

Edited April 21, 2014 by FASTBACK340