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So since I'm going to be painting up a couple dozen tanks I figured this is a good time to learn how to use an airbrush.

Since most folks who post up their airbrushed tanks are pretty much expert I decided to show folks what it is like when a noob gives it a go.

The first thing I learned is that external mix sucks. I first bought a $30 Badger 250 that I figured I might use it for just quick basecoating. Even just for that I blew a lot of paint all over the place and it got gloppy when I tried to hit places I missed. Granted, the 250 is probably not even as good as the Games Workshop sprayer, but at least I learned a bit about control.

Here is the first couple of attempts:


The weird thing about this one is that the browns are the same color, yet the splatter from the gray makes the brown kinda pinkish:



Next, I bought myself a siphon fed, double action airbrush (Badger 175). I got my hands on a 40% off coupon for a craft store and things improved dramatically. There are, however, a few spots where I either paused too ling, my finger twitched or the air cn lost pressure from getting too cold. That last one was frustrating, but I can't afford a compressor yet.

Side by side of airbrushed vs. non-airbrushed: That is Graveyard Earth on Adeptus Battlegrey



So, I'm learning. All I have to do now is commit to a color palette and get good enough to do this to my entire mechanized and armored companies!

Constructive feedback appreciated.

They look terrible

PM me and I will give you a address of a guy that will properly dispose of your airbrush and compressor

Great start! Airbrushes rock. Make sure you clean it VERY well after using Foundation paints, though...

Looks good for test sprays so far. Looks a bit grainy in the first and second pic, but you can remedy this by diluting the paint a little more and adding a little alcohol (alcohol makes the cleanup so much easier).

Also note that airbrush applied paint is super absorbent, so if you plan on using a wash on the vehicles spray that on too or you'll end up with brush streak HELL.

BTW, what kind of airbrush are you using?

not to bad with the test spray, it will get better with more practice and alot of that graininess will get taken care of.

What is your set up?

The first two pics are the Badger 250 external mix airbrush using canned air. I sprayed Adeptus Battlegrey. The external mix is pretty horrible for anything approaching detailed work.

The second two pics are a Badger 175 internal mix, siphon fed, double action using canned air. I sprayed a basecoat of Adeptus Battlegrey and then Graveyard Earth. Oddly enough, I did get clogged with the Graveyard Earth but was able to clean it out and continue.

the airbrushed version looks ALOT better than the hand painted. that makes me want to buy something i can't afford... :(

It is usually best to prime it first. Use either white or black. This will help the paint to work better (the brown won't look pinkish. This is due the a thinner even coat of paint

Get yourself a compressor... canned air is garbage.