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inb4 searchy is your friend - I'm asking a more specific question than the other threads cover and the air brush article only answers so much.

I've been looking at alternatives to using spray cans for basing models because I never seem to get decent results with canned base.

I've based a few models by hand but I can't seem to get the coating I want and often end up with too thick a layer and lose some of the finer detail.

I've been told that Airbrushes are better for things like basing but I'm not sure so I was wondering what your opinion is.

1. I'm very much a novice
2. I don't really want to spend more than £60 on the whole kit
3. I just want to use it for basing
4. I'm a noob looking for a quick fix

It seems that, providing I get the right flow, it's easier to get a good base coat with an airbrush - True?


If you'd recommend it, what model? I hear badger are good....

I LOVE my airbrush!!

I just recently got a "real" airbrush, after using the citadel spray gun. I started off with a relatively cheap one, because i didn't know if i would be able to get used to it. But i'll never go back now! I'm starting to find it can be used for much more than just basecoating. At the very least basecoat the different pieces of a model while it's still on the sprue, or off the sprue but not assembled, that way you can basecoat different parts with different colors if need be. I've got some things i've been testing with in my gallery if you want to look.

Honestly, I started off with the same thought.

Oh I will just buy one for some basecoating and that will eventually will make the investment worthwhile. But it is so much more than that, as soon as you start playing with it, it becomes addictive and you learn quite quickly to do multiple different things.

I now, prime, basecoating, paint (mostly vehicles) and add effects (oils/rust etc) with my airbrush. And I would still say I am a novice and mostly just experiment.

Winter wrote:Honestly, I started off with the same thought.

Oh I will just buy one for some basecoating and that will eventually will make the investment worthwhile. But it is so much more than that, as soon as you start playing with it, it becomes addictive and you learn quite quickly to do multiple different things.

I now, prime, basecoating, paint (mostly vehicles) and add effects (oils/rust etc) with my airbrush. And I would still say I am a novice and mostly just experiment.

QFT: I recently bought one just so I could prime/basecoat using the metallic paints I want for my GK's. After getting used to it, I now find myself figuring out how to do more with it, as it's a blast to use. My entire setup cost 100 USD, with compressor, shipped. (East coast united states)

Base-coating with an airbrush is the 1st step in learning to airbrush, so being a novice is no problem at all.

You can get a cheap "intro" airbrush for ~ $40 (~£24), and canned air is ~$10 (~£6) a can, depending on the manufacturer. Try getting stuff from Amazon or Ebay, so you don't have to pay extra from a store (darn you Michaels!).


My first airbrush was by Badger: http://www.amazon.com/250-3-Basic-Spray-w-Propel/dp/B003972JIW/ref=pd_sbs_ac_13.
Propellant: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dtoys-and-games&field-keywords=airbrush+propellant&x=0&y=0

If you're interested in more information regarding more technical aspects of using an airbrush, check out this post here:
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/373812.page#2899102

I'm no pro, but I picked my brain pretty hard to come up with a good run-down of what airbrushing will entail.
**Clarification: I'm a super-noob. I'm still only base-coating, and starting into a few new things when it comes to airbrushing. I just did a lot of research prior to purchasing my own airbrush is all.

Another limitless source of information regarding all things airbrush: http://www.theairbrushforum.com/

Best of luck (God I love Google currency converter )

I'm an airbrush noob, just started with mine

in about a week ive been able to do shading and minor detail, i'm starting to have clogging issues but when the airbrush cleaning kit comes in, im sure i can fix it.

IMHO, it is VERY worth it, you use less paint, and can base models in less than a minute, and very easily do effects that are a pain in the butt to do manually, its awesome.
If you can't afford it, obviously it is not worth it, but if money < time for you, they area awesome.