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So getting back Into the game, and I'm building an eldar army so lots smooth flowy parts on the models especially the vehicles. But no matter how hard I try to make the finished product smooth all I can see is brush lines... Is there a technique for making it smooth? Is it an airbrush? Any and all help is appreciated!

I always water down my paints, regardless of what i'm doing. The quantity to which I water down depends from task to task. As far as flowy parts on models such as robes and the like go, I tend to start with a little water mixed in, and as I blend or layer to lighter colours, I add more water with each step.
Adding water means that, when done properly, the strokes shouldn't show as prominently, or at all.

As far as tanks go, having an airbrush is definitely the best way to do it. However, I don't have one and layer paints as I would normally on a miniature, but of course on a larger scale. Same thing applies, water down and all that. Washes are also helpful, but can be messy if not cleaned up with layers after or applied cleanly.

I've done a poor job of explaining what I mean, but I hope this helps

You did a fine job explaining, and thanks for it. I'll try with water, how many layers is too many layers?

If you're seeing brush strokes, it sounds like your paint is to thick. Definitely water it down. Yes it will take multiple coats to get a smooth finish, which personally annoys me, but the outcome is so much better. I've never used an air brush so no advice here.

Also try making a wet pallet if you don't have one. Not only does it make your paint stay wet longer, but it's easier to blend and water down.

https://m.youtube.com/?#/watch?v=96mjmqWTPfM


Thats how I made mine (sorry its the mobile site). Good luck!

If you are using Citadel Paints - they have to be thinned down. They cover well and have a great consistency for drybrushing out of the pot - but not for painting and some of their colors are very chalky.

Try using Vallejo's Model Air or Game Air range. They are thinner and are a lot less chalky.

Airbrushing also helps to drastically reduce the thickness of the paint layer. Consider it for later.

With it being an Eldar army, I'm assuming here that you are possibly using Citadel paints?

If you haven't already, I would really recommend checking out GW's YouTube channel. Over the last year or so, they've gone to town with painting tutorials and although there are no Eldar specific ones, there's a variety of models, with varying amounts of details and large areas. They explain things clearly, and you can get a good feel of what kind of brushes are good for certain tasks, and how to thin their paint down.

It's worth a shot! See what you think. Their channel can be found here : https://www.youtube.com/user/GamesWorkshopWNT/featured

Go for a white undercoat (any non-self levelling auto primer spray should work - I use grey and white primers from Halfords), and then water down your paints to a milky thickness and use them almost as washes.

For Eldar this is super quick and combined with using both an overall grey primer, then a directional white prime (spraying only from above) you also then get a pre-shaded model!

Once you have blocked out the colours, use a very thin black wash (or appropriately coloured wash to the colours of your army) all over to just give a little bit of definition to the recesses.

Airbrushing is the ultimate way to get a smooth coat. Failing that, make sure you thin your paints, maybe use a bit of flow improver, use multiple thin coats and use a primer colour that is close to the final colour you want the models so there's minimal amount of brush work required. You can get coloured sprays from various sources that are useful and will give you a nice smooth coat to begin with.

Also use brushes that are sized appropriately. Don't try and paint the whole model with a fine detail brush, use larger brushes when appropriate and use flat brushes when appropriate. Stick to brushes with reasonably soft bristles and apply multiple thin coats and you should be fine.

Thanks for all the help guys and girls! I'm really looking forward to putting some of this advice to work.

If you are using a regular paintbrush, try using a flat paintbrush instead of a round one. Imagine trying to paint the wall of your house with a round brush

Liquitex Flo-Aid is very helpful with some colors, especially the near-whites.

just my two cents as well, to add to the others points - clean your brush regularly, when is really up to you, I probably go a lot longer than others with mine, but certainly between projects, and probably every few models or just when it starts 'clogging' (hairs getting too much paint on them). I've found this to be one of the most important things I can do to help with controlling the paint. As well as thinning of course.

Wet palette as noted above is good if you're going to leave the paint a while too, gives you more time to take breaks. And it dries out slower, meaning less having to thin paint. Or if you're like me and tend to pour too much (to use before it thickens and starts to dry) it lets you waste less.

Thinner or water, I haven't seen much difference except when I'm doing glazes or wet blending.

Also as noted GW definitely needs thinning, Vallejo not so much (til it starts drying) same with Reaper paints, which I also like.

How many layers you do is up to your personal preference really. I find three max my limit - I've seen people on youtube, good painters, doing a lot more. But for a table top level painted army I doubt you'd need more than two or three. Anyway just my personal opinion.

Otherwise it's really just practice.

In addition to what the others have said. It's important to wash models before you paint them. They can pick up dust and lint and other debris that will stop you getting a smooth finish. You might also be seeing brush strokes because you are trying to paint over a dark colour with a light one, can you be more specific about your process? You should also rinse your brush regularly while you are painting (even if you aren't switching colours). After a few minutes paint will start to dry on the brush and become tacky, you need to keep rinsing that off so the paint flows smoothly. An airbrush certainly can get you a very smooth coat, you can also play about with gloss mediums and varnish which can help you to get a smoother finish.