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I've got all the requisite tools, I've got the paints, and I've got that excitement of being able to jump in. I've spent about a week getting accustomed to my airbrush (Harbor Freight DA for 15$) and I've spent a lot of time laying down thin stripes, dots, and broad strokes onto cardboard and paper in order to get used to the range of the airbrush. There are lots of videos and pages documenting the baby steps into airbrushing minis, but one that I have not been able to find is how to fix mistakes.

For example, I have a few spots on my Land Raider where paint pooled; I know what caused it - I didn't continue to move the airbrush over the area and/or I applied too much paint over the area without letting it dry properly. the end result is a splotchy, uneven, and ugly spot. I've tried using some Tamiya fine grit sandpaper to smooth out the splotches, and in at least one case, have scratched the paint clean off the model. I /think/ I can just brush on some primer (I've got a couple of bottles of Reaper's brush on primer) and spray over it again. I also hypothesize that if I get an irregular spot, I can try to lift the paint before it dries with a q-tip and alcohol, but I've not yet tried it.

Am I off the mark here? What techniques and tools do you use to fix spot mistakes in order to avoid a simple green bath and a toothbrush scrub?

I usually blot it out using wet paper towels or if it's just all bad, I'll pop it under the sink for a few seconds and it gets rid of everything.

Don't be afraid to use a normal brush either, when it'd be more convenient - I had some nasty runs doing the stripes on my Deathwing Landraider - fixed by using deneb stone and a smooth stroke by hand. Similarly, when I get too grainy a finish, it's often easier to glaze an appropriate finish over the top to smooth stuff out.

If its something small put a bit a windex on a detail brush and take it off that way, just be careful the windex doesn't run.

Excellent advice - thanks!

Are there any techniques to handle blemishes after the paint has dried?

Little bit of thinner or rubbing alcohol on a q-tip.

Really depends on the type of blemish...but let me start with when the paint is wet.

A quick and easy way to pull a drip or excess paint off of a model or mini is similar to that paper towel method....Keep a damp brush hand when you air brush, damp as in almost dry. Then when you have a pool of paint just stick the tip of the brush in the excess paint and the brush will soak it up, it may need a time or two to repeat but works well.


As far as touching up spots after the paint has tried...sometimes it can be hidden with creative shading, other times sanding down the area and reapplying the paint, but the best defense is dont let it happen. Invest in a cheap hair dryer and between coats hits the surface with the hairdryer and it speeds up the dry time dramatically.

Generally if you are pooling a lot then one or possibly a combination of things could be happening;

--spraying too close
--spraying at too high psi
--paint is too thin
--surface is not prepped correctly

Ashton

At the risk of sounding just like my father:

Lots of thin coats are better than one thick coat.

I don't get many 'blobs' of paint now, although I used to make frequent mistakes until I got used to the airbrush. When I do make mistakes I find that creative weathering is your friend

One thing I've had to learn to do is turn the air on towards a paper towel or my backboard before starting to paint. It's been a hard habit to break to point the airbrush at my work, and then turn the air on. Thanks again for the tips!

Kanluwen wrote:Little bit of thinner or rubbing alcohol on a q-tip.

QUOTED FOR TRUTH. This has saved my arse few times.