Learning to use an airbrush

[Munkin]

Took some lessons from a local guy so now I am trying to use an airbrush. Painted up some swimjig heads but this is the only that is finished.

 

 

End result

 

 

Allen

[Iceni]

Looks good.

I do a fair bit of airbrushing when I paint model tanks and planes.

Looks like your friend has set you off on the right path. Paint looks to be sitting nice.

What equipment and paints have you started to use?

I personally use water based acrylics, If you are new to this they might be better for you to practice with. No fumes, and you can clean off the bad paint jobs. When you get the effect you want just dip the heads in some varnish. Provided you prime the heads with a little self etching primer before you start you shouldn't run into many problems.

Personal preference for paints is Mig Ammo, and Vallejo model air. Both spray out of the bottle at between 15 and 20psi. If you need to thin them then water is perfectly fine, they dry very quickly, and the brush clean-up after is just water and some dish soap.

They don't have the fluorescent paints, but they do have a full range of natural colours and metallics.

You shouldn't need any expensive equipment, For years I got by with a cheap hobby compressor off ebay capable of 25psi, and a cheap china made dual action brush. That setup is more than capable for base colours and blends.

Once you are confident you should be able to batch paint all your old jig heads pretty quickly.


If you are wanting to move into other painting hobbies then model tanks are a very good springboard into airbrush painting. Airfix kits are fast to build and will let you try multiple techniques on the same model. My preference ATM is called the "Black and white" Method. When you have the tank built you prime it with self etch primer then shade it just with black and white paints. Once that's done you hit it with very thin top coat layers so the paint self shades.


 

[Derek1]

4 hours ago, Munkin said:

Took some lessons from a local guy so now I am trying to use an airbrush. Painted up some swimjig heads but this is the only that is finished.

 

 

End result

 

 

Allen

Nice job looking to pick up a air brush set myself this winter to play with. If you don’t mind me asking what did you get. 

[Further North]

Great work...inspiring!

[Munkin]

I cannot find the hose adapter for my good airbrush so I am using a$15 one from Ebay. Let me look later in my Ebay purchase history and I will post a link. Harbor Freight sells a cheap airbrush compressor in case you need one.

 

Allen 

[islandbass]

Dang. That looks professional. Painting is my weakness is luremaking. Hats of to you. ?

[Munkin]

2 minutes ago, islandbass said:

Dang. That looks professional. Painting is my weakness is luremaking. Hats of to you. ?

These are the first things I have painted with an airbrush that look decent.  Learning how to correctly clean the brush between colors has really helped. 

 

Allen 

[detroit1]

That is the downside of airbrush painting - the clean-out between colors. It would make me wish I was painting a dozen at a time. And I really don't need a dozen of anything (the same color) unless it were jigheads. It is fun painting though...

[Munkin]

11 hours ago, detroit1 said:

That is the downside of airbrush painting - the clean-out between colors. It would make me wish I was painting a dozen at a time. And I really don't need a dozen of anything (the same color) unless it were jigheads. It is fun painting though...

Once I figure out some good  color patterns I will paint like 25 each time for that reason. 

 

This bait is alright but I want a more subdued color pattern. Ordering some wildlife color paints from a taxidermy store along with some more natural eyes to try. 

 

Allen