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A new article titled Zenithal Airbrushing, OSL and Snow and Ice Tutorial, subject - Grey Knight has been added to the dakka articles system.

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Wow Thats a really good toutorail!Now I know how to get air brushed weapons!

That's one of the best articles I've seen on painting zenithal light with airbrush.

I have to agree - it highlights each step in sufficient detail that you can follow the process, but does not overburden you with information.

As above. Thank you for this awesome addition to Dakka

This is a great tutorial, I have been toying with the idea of getting an airbrush set up for a while now and I think this will push me over the edge!

Can you list recommendations of an airbrush set up? (Brands for actual brushes, pumps, etc?)

Thanks in advance!

Big props on the fantastic tutorial and end results Tom! Looks like you can get into the business of being sponsored by airbrush equipment manufacturers Keep the tutorials coming and do some of the blood angels!

This tutorial is VERY much appreciated. Thank you

You guys are all very welcome, I must admit this has been a very rewarding experience for me! Very happy to pass on the help I received, especially from MistressofMinis and Eggroll!

osumicrobio wrote:This is a great tutorial, I have been toying with the idea of getting an airbrush set up for a while now and I think this will push me over the edge!

Can you list recommendations of an airbrush set up? (Brands for actual brushes, pumps, etc?)

Thanks in advance!

I will post up the advice I received and followed into the article itself, and pm you when it is up, I guess it is relevant considering it is a beginner friendly piece!

Eggroll wrote:Big props on the fantastic tutorial and end results Tom! Looks like you can get into the business of being sponsored by airbrush equipment manufacturers Keep the tutorials coming and do some of the blood angels!

DUDE I WISH lol... Knock Knock - Hello? Iwata? Vallejo? Are you there??? I should be so lucky lol

Again dude, all credit should really go to you, I would never have tried this if not for your inspiration. If you guys like this, go check out Eggrolls BA thread, it will blow your mind!

Hey Major, do you think a small tool to mount your models to so you can easily rotate it to your angle requirements as being a good idea so each model is painted the same, or did you just sort of wing it?

Just wing it, the process isn't that precise to be honest, it just happens if you confine your angles roughly as described. Going off a few degrees or whatnot will not drastically effect the result, the beauty of it is that your airbrush marks will almost always blend in smoothly, you would really have to hose the model down from far too close to really mess it up! After 1 or 2 goes, it will be 2nd nature! Brushwork is much harder, trust me!

Alright, I am going to attempt this this weekend if i can!
Now to find out how to thin paints properly >>

Very nice tutorial. Might give this a try with some Red Scorpions next week.

The only part that seems shaky for me to try is that blade airbrush. I can use my airbrush like a spray paint can with the best of them----but that fine detail---I'm unsure if I have the wrong equipment or what. I just can't get that fine control. I'm going to try this though.

Just cover everything else up, no worries about overspray, so even if you spray can airbrush, it can still be done!

Highly suggest checking out Lbursleys tutorial to see him doing it live, it really helps you see not to be too nervous.


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Article updated -

Excellent tutorial! Thanks a lot for sharing so many diverse techniques in one post!

Now I just need to get the right shades of grey to airbrush my scorpions. Thanks for the tutorial!

AgeOfEgos wrote:The only part that seems shaky for me to try is that blade airbrush. I can use my airbrush like a spray paint can with the best of them----but that fine detail---I'm unsure if I have the wrong equipment or what. I just can't get that fine control. I'm going to try this though.

with mine at least, the trick to getting finer detail was fine tuning the pressure, when i was basecoating it was easy, just keep moving the brush away until it was drying properly, but close up was a huge pain in the butt because as I adjusted the pressure when I went too low it would jam up and cause issues.

I'll probably do something else for my swords!

Man oh man check out what Nucleosaur did with the article, amazing!

http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/0/361376.page#2683206

They are frickin' sweet. Congrats on a great article!

Final update in place, a few last tips and tricks, some diy recipes for airbrush thinner and cleaner, and finally, the requested shots from underneath showing the final mini is still black when viewed from the bottom angle.

Great tutorial. I've always been a little intimidated by the airbrush (especially on miniatures). This tutorial inspired me to drag out my airbrush and give it a whirl with pretty good results. Once the mini is finished i'll post it.

One issue i ran into was a visible spray pattern in which i could see indivual droplets. What causes this? Paint to thick, i need a smaller tip on the brush, i'm moving to fast?

Your PSI setting is the likely culprit, it should be set somewhere between 2 and 3, experiment with the psi and it's effect on the spray, you will sort it out! If it isnt that, it is possible the paint is overly thinned -

Hrm...i was running at 5-10 psi. I'll switch out the regulator on my tank with an old regulator thats more sensitive. Thanks!

Oh no sorry! It's between 20 and 30 psi, some airbrush peeps just generalize 10 to 1 and 20 to 2 etc etc.

You have to turn it up!

wow! fantastically inspiring!

Fantastic! Thanks for sharing your methods. Great, great work.

How would I do the Zenithal Highlighting on a Storm Raven, or a Dreadknight? Mask up the panels and shade them one at a time?

For vehicles, you want to look up 'Modulation Style'. Zenithal would work, and it is an element of modulation, but I think modulation does a better job of looking realistic and enhancing the geometry of the vehicles.

F.A.Q dvd 2, by M.I.G productions is by far my favorite source reference for this style, although I have yet to try it myself -

I will probably pop up another tut when it comes time to have a go!

Hey well done MajorTom11 your artical is now fetureing on the home bit of the dakka!

Could we please get the Home page link to this article fixed. In the wording it says an amazing article on obecjt or something like that. Small nit picky thing but it is on the home page. No-No typo's!