Switch Theme:

New to airbrush and needing help....  [RSS] Share on facebook Share on Twitter Submit to Reddit
»
Author Message
Advert


Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you:
  • No adverts like this in the forums anymore.
  • Times and dates in your local timezone.
  • Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance.
  • Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely.
  • Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net.
If you are already a member then feel free to login now.




Made in gb
Yellin' Yoof




London, UK

Actually that title is only partially true. I haven't even bought one yet... I'm about to take the plunge and would really like some advice, I've been painting (with normal brushes only) for a long while but due to some generous relatives this Christmas I have about £160 to spend on some airbrushing kit... Its all very exciting but I've really not got a clue where to start... So, can any one answer these questions for me?

Which airbrush? I was looking at harder and steenbeck ultra x kit with the compressor, any thoughts?
Paint? I've heard that you can water down acrylic paints to use in the airbrushes. I mostly use army painter paints, can I water these down to the right consistency (I'd like to avoid having to buy a whole new set of paints)
Are all the connectors standard? For example will any airbrush fit any compressor?
Which cleaning fluid is best?
Any other advice for the novice?!?

All help greatfully accepted....

https://sfjy.wordpress.com/
My blog, written with a friend, where we discuss gaming, brewing, metal and sci-fi whilst not taking ourselves very seriously... 
   
Made in us
Never-Miss Nightwing Pilot






This is a reply of mine from another airbrush thread. Obviously, these are only my opinions and may differ from other peoples' experiences or opinions:


My opinion is that a starter airbrush should be an internal mix, gravity fed airbrush.


Internal mix vs external mix - Pretty much like it sounds. The paint is mixed with the air internally vs externally. External mix is more apt to get "spitty" or grainy and it's less well-suited to detail work.

Gravity fed vs siphon fed - Gravity fed airbrushes have a metal cup attached to the top and the paint flows down into the chamber to be mixed with air, while siphon-fed have (usually) a glass jar with a male nozzle that is wedged inside of a female nozzle on the airbrush and the paint is sucked up by the air flow. In my opinion, let the gravity work for you and have the paint just fall into airbrush naturally. Gravity still works against the siphon-fed paint jar, too, only not in the way you would like. I have had jars fall out of airbrushes before. As they get old and worn. One plus to the siphon-fed, though, is that the paint jars can be a bit easier to clean, I've found.


I firmly believe (and will always recommend) that a beginner airbrush artist should get a basic airbrush. I don't believe you should spend hundreds on a top-of-the-line model. I would definitely go for dual action, but you needn't worry much about super fine detail or other bells and whistles. You didn't learn how to ride a Harley Superglide at 5 years old. You started with a bike with training wheels. Airbrushing is not like learning with a paintbrush. Detail mastery takes a lot longer to achieve. It's far easier to slap a highlight line across a rounded edge of a Space Marine boot with a fine brush, touching the model. It's totally different to get paint where you want it when there's empty space between your nozzle and the model. When you can't feel the tactile feedback of the brush. You're not sure where your paint is going until you see it on the models. By then, it may be too late. Get something basic. When you have more bells and whistles, more features, you have more things to try to learn all at once. Keep the learning curve slight. Just worry about getting paint where you want it. Getting the right consistency. Learning how to properly clean your airbrush.

Badger and Paasche both have fantastic low end airbrushes that are perfect for beginners.


Next, I can't stress enough the importance of cleaning your airbrush. Even the teeniest, tiniest speck of dried paint on a needle will cause the microns thin fine spray to spit paint and make your model look like it's covered in blood splatter evidence. Additionally, be sure to research proper handling of airbrush needles and other internal parts.

Finally, don't be super cheap on your choice of compressor. You don't need one that will pressure wash your sidewalk and driveway, but you can end up with one that's underpowered and find yourself consistently with sub par painting results. When you ultimately upgrade your airbrush, you can still find uses for your old ones. Maybe you don't want to have to detail clean your super-expensive $300 airbrush for simply spraying large areas on a model. You can break out that old introductory guy you spent $45 on and do that job. However, if you find out down the road that you've bought an inadequate compressor and have to buy a new one, you've got no use for that old one. Money wasted.


That's my advice. Take it as you will.


t l;dr - for starting painters, buy a lower end, dual action, gravity fed, internal mix airbrush and don't skimp on a compressor


Ghidorah

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2016/01/05 12:49:37


   
Made in us
Frenzied Berserker Terminator




Southampton, UK

The set I've got looks basically the same as this one:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B004XP7K9W

It's been fine for me to learn with so far, although there was little in the way of instructions so I had to work out for myself how it all went together.

I can recommend Vallejo polyurethane primers and airbrush cleaner.
   
Made in se
Regular Dakkanaut




The far north

The H & S Ultra is a great airbrush, I love mine. I would get the Ultra 2 in 1 kit instead, it is gravity fed and comes with bot a .2 and a .4 needle.

https://www.everythingairbrush.com/airbrushing-kits-brand/value-kit-range/harder-steenbeck-kits/ab-as-186-airbrushing-kit-with-ultra-2-in-1-airbrush.html

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2016/01/05 13:43:57


geekandgarden.wordpress.com 
   
Made in de
Fixture of Dakka






I use a 2 gallon pancake compressor with Iwata HP-Cs. I can tune the air a lot better than a diaphragm compressor, and you can use it around the house.
H and S makes great brushes, you can thin any acrylic paint to shoot with water or windex or even an "airbrush medium"

Good Luck

 Avatar 720 wrote:
You see, to Auston, everyone is a Death Star; there's only one way you can take it and that's through a small gap at the back.

Come check out my Blood Angels,Crimson Fists, and coming soon Eldar
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/391013.page
I have conceded that the Eldar page I started in P&M is their legitimate home. Free Candy! Updated 10/19.
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/391553.page
Powder Burns wrote:what they need to make is a fullsize leatherman, like 14" long folded, with a bone saw, notches for bowstring, signaling flare, electrical hand crank generator, bolt cutters..
 
   
Made in gb
Decrepit Dakkanaut





Nottinghamshire

You can indeed thin paints with water, or a large jug of airbrush flow aid or medium will set you up for years.
Find a friend or family member who dyes their hair. Tell them you want their narrow topped applicator bottles in future, and when rinsed out, those things are perfect for storing water and medium in and dripping into your airbrush cup. Don't forget to give a little stir, even if the brush is called internal mix. Some paints are thick enough that they'll just sit there with water atop them.

The two most important things to consider after your main purchase are cleaning tools and methods. You cannot "break" an airbrush by clogging it, but you can make yourself want to snap the thing in half. Invest in cleaning fluids (actually marketed as such) and some small brushes.


[ Mordian 183rd ] - an ongoing Imperial Guard story with crayon drawings!
[ "I can't believe it's not Dakka!" ] - a buttery painting and crafting blog
 
   
Made in gb
Yellin' Yoof




London, UK

Thanks people, I shall give it a go and see what happens...Keep tuned guys, there may be a second hand airbrush and compressor for sale soon...

https://sfjy.wordpress.com/
My blog, written with a friend, where we discuss gaming, brewing, metal and sci-fi whilst not taking ourselves very seriously... 
   
Made in us
Never-Miss Nightwing Pilot






 Buttery Commissar wrote:
You can indeed thin paints with water, or a large jug of airbrush flow aid or medium will set you up for years.
Find a friend or family member who dyes their hair. Tell them you want their narrow topped applicator bottles in future, and when rinsed out, those things are perfect for storing water and medium in and dripping into your airbrush cup. Don't forget to give a little stir, even if the brush is called internal mix. Some paints are thick enough that they'll just sit there with water atop them.

The two most important things to consider after your main purchase are cleaning tools and methods. You cannot "break" an airbrush by clogging it, but you can make yourself want to snap the thing in half. Invest in cleaning fluids (actually marketed as such) and some small brushes.

All solid advice. Just a small clarification, the "internal mix" is referring to the mixture of the paint and air, not mixing paint with thinning mediums.


Ghidorah


   
 
Forum Index » Painting & Modeling
Go to: