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So I tested out my airbrush today, and well, it was a disaster. Tried thinning the paint, tried making it thicker, but no matter what it all just came out as spatters. It made reasonably thin lines, its just that it was making lines of dots, and not a fine spray. Its a single action siphon brush btw. Cleaned the brush etc but no difference. I guess that's what I get for buying a cheap airbrush xD So I'm trying to decide what to do now. Either get a new brush that's a bit better quality, or give up on airbrushing my models all together. I'd rather not give up on that because I'm planning to do a lot of shading/highlighting, and still really would prefer my base coat to be sprayed on. Decisions decisions...

What are you thinning with? I picked up some Liquitex Airbrush Medium which seems to work nicely.

I was thinning it with water, and I checked up on that and people seem to think it's ok. I think the reason is that the airbrush cost about £7, and is small and plastic.

Water is ok to thin. I have found more success with windex or even better airbrush thinner such as liquitex. Wear a mask if you use windex. Amonia is not good to inhale. It dries very fast though and does not run like water will.

Your airbrush is part of the problem. If it only cost you 7 pounds you are in luck. I recommend Iwata or Badger for airbrushes. Also go for a double action gravity feed brush. You will thank me later.

Iwata has three airbrushes that are really good for miniature painting. Even the cheapest one is awesome for this.
http://www.iwata-medea.com/products/iwata-airbrushes/eclipse/hp-cs/
http://www.iwata-medea.com/products/iwata-airbrushes/revolution/cr/
http://www.iwata-medea.com/products-type/neo-cn/

I use an Iwata Revolution CR

Spraying on base coats is amazing. Once I began to do this was when I got really productive with painting. Before this i would suffer from severe burnout/boredom because I fething hate base coating.

Also, you do NOT need an expensive airbrush compressor. What are you using BTW for your compressor? Knowing that will help too.

You jumped into the deep end of the pool but don't worry, we can help you swim like a pro if you don't give up!

Thanks for the help! And yeah I heard a lot about badger and Iwata. But I'm just not sure I should go all out and get one of those just yet. However, I have seen good reviews and actual videos of this Veda 130 brush. Its double action and gravity fed as well, so I think that's my best shot.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/331033422200?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

Oh and the compressor I'm using is this one:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mini-Airbrush-Compressor-1-8HP-Air-Brush-Hose-10-Stencils-Spray-Art-Kit-Portable-/201005755838?pt=UK_Crafts_DrawingSupplies_EH&hash=item2ecce06dbe
And yes I know its cheap but its all I can afford when I'm starting out at this point really.

Trygon looks good. I'm really excited to see what kind of mods you make to him with GS, as I think leaving your nids as stock makes your army look kinda generic (no offence to people who don't mod them. They can still look awesome).
Do you have any idea what you're gonna do to his head and tail yet?

And rats about the airbrush. I have a big fat 0 knowledge on that, so I'm afraid theres no reinforcements coming from this sector.

Keep up the good work.

Thanks! Well I'm going to be making his head spikes a little better, most likely will extend his tongue, as its so small it might as well not be there at this point, the tail will have the most work. I think I'll make the bone segments at the end wider, perhaps spiked on the top edge as well so it looks more like it could be used as a weapon.

I agree that the tongue could be longer. Actually, it would look kind of cool like a big floppy dog's tongue, all lolled out to one side. It would be like a tyranid doing a wazzaaaaaaap

Its not the keeping the model stock thats the prkblem. Nids have the best models in gw fullstop. Due to the poseability no 2 armies will ever look the same.

The problem is the bases. Since everything but a gaunt is om a terminatot base bigger. The bases are what need the work bug time

 Glaiceana wrote:
I'm trying to decide what to do now. Either get a new brush that's a bit better quality, or give up on airbrushing my models all together. I'd rather not give up on that because I'm planning to do a lot of shading/highlighting, and still really would prefer my base coat to be sprayed on. Decisions decisions...

If you just want the airbrush to put down a quick colored basecoat, why not use colored spraypaint?

http://www.belloflostsouls.net/2013/05/brent-cheats-at-painting-pictorial.html

You can buy cheap sraypaint which will do the job just fine, with no fiddly airbrush nonsense. Super easy!

Glaiceana wrote:Thanks! Well I'm going to be making his head spikes a little better, most likely will extend his tongue, as its so small it might as well not be there at this point, the tail will have the most work. I think I'll make the bone segments at the end wider, perhaps spiked on the top edge as well so it looks more like it could be used as a weapon.

Sounds cool. Looking forward to the pics.

wargamer1985 wrote:Its not the keeping the model stock thats the prkblem. Nids have the best models in gw fullstop. Due to the poseability no 2 armies will ever look the same.

The problem is the bases. Since everything but a gaunt is om a terminatot base bigger. The bases are what need the work bug time

Ah you are quite likely right. I'm new to the hobby so I don't know precisely what the cause is, only that a good portion of the table-top quality paintjobs/armies look 'samey' to me. It always strikes me as a tragedy since there are so many examples of armies that look absolutely gorgeous due to the painter putting in a little thought to give them a unique flavor through color choice or GS additions.

Ok, so I've done some green stuff additions to Spike, see below! I think I did ok for first time using green stuff!

Nice green stuffing!

Lucarikx

First time greenstuffing? Incredible, you got some talent there, looking forward to more

Welcome to Dakka, looking forward to seeing some paint on your lovely Nids.

Subbed!

Nice Job with the Trygon. Just put together a mawloc today with the same tail. A little jealous I didnt think of modding the tail like that lol. Im going to have to spice it up a bit! Paint scheme looks sick cant wait to see it!

Thanks guys! Deciding on what green stuff additions I could add to other models, particularly the gants I'm going to be painting soon. I figured though that a lot of people would say its not worth modifying that many small units, but since I'm not planning on making a super competitive army, I think it will be ok

Trygon looks great. I really like the tail modifications in particular.

If I may offer an idea or theme for inspiration on your gaunt GSing; IMO the GS on the trygon calls to mind both scorpions (the stinger) and centipedes (the little spikes on either side of the carapace segments look kinda like legs) and that could be a cool aesthetic to carry through the rest of your models.

Maybe side spikes on the larger bits of carapace on the gaunts backs, or a bulbous growth close to the end of the tail showing where the stinger has already begun to develop.

Kudos on your work so far. I'm chomping at the bit lol, my models can't arrive soon enough. I've already got a few ideas for some hercules-beetle-esque modifications to the larger guys in my army xD

Keep up the good work boss.

Looking great so far, and you sculpting work is excellent,
cant wait to see more.

Looking good! Always good to see a fellow 'Nid player.

Ahoy!!

EEEWWWWW NIDS!!!! haha..... but i have to admit "Spike" is looking pretty awesome!

Also returning, also 'Nids. Also impressed with your work with the Green Stuff (maybe you should do some tutorial pics next time!).

I used to have a gerbil called Spike... if your Spike is half as destructive as mine was, he'll do you proud on the battlefield!

damn you i was thinking of trying the spikes all the way down the chitinmight have to think of something else now

Nice greenstuff work. Really brought some character to that model. Improving the rattlesnake tail by adding the stinger was a good choice, and executed brilliantly. First time using greenstuff aswell... if only we all had that ability!

Hart wrote:Trygon looks great. I really like the tail modifications in particular.

If I may offer an idea or theme for inspiration on your gaunt GSing; IMO the GS on the trygon calls to mind both scorpions (the stinger) and centipedes (the little spikes on either side of the carapace segments look kinda like legs) and that could be a cool aesthetic to carry through the rest of your models.

Maybe side spikes on the larger bits of carapace on the gaunts backs, or a bulbous growth close to the end of the tail showing where the stinger has already begun to develop.

Kudos on your work so far. I'm chomping at the bit lol, my models can't arrive soon enough. I've already got a few ideas for some hercules-beetle-esque modifications to the larger guys in my army xD

Keep up the good work boss.

Thanks! And yeah I'm thinking perhaps just making them all a bit more spikey. I've already sharpened all the gaunt's tails because they are too thick at the end lol.

hk1x1 wrote:Looking great so far, and you sculpting work is excellent,
cant wait to see more.

Thank you!

Squigsquasher wrote:Looking good! Always good to see a fellow 'Nid player.

Thanks! Still got to learn to play though

MagosBiff90 wrote:Ahoy!!

EEEWWWWW NIDS!!!! haha..... but i have to admit "Spike" is looking pretty awesome!

Thanks! And yeah not everyone likes the bugs

Loyalwatcher wrote:Also returning, also 'Nids. Also impressed with your work with the Green Stuff (maybe you should do some tutorial pics next time!).

I used to have a gerbil called Spike... if your Spike is half as destructive as mine was, he'll do you proud on the battlefield!

Made me laugh, have an exalt for that one xD As for tut pics, I'm not really sure how I'd manage that, as I didn't really have a process for making the pieces, kind of just grabbed a bit of GS, shaped it up with my fingers, then struggled to get it to stay in the right place on the model xD

wargamer1985 wrote:damn you i was thinking of trying the spikes all the way down the chitinmight have to think of something else now

Well I've only added spikes on the head, don't see why you can't have spikes going all the way down your nids backs

Medium of Death wrote:Nice greenstuff work. Really brought some character to that model. Improving the rattlesnake tail by adding the stinger was a good choice, and executed brilliantly. First time using greenstuff aswell... if only we all had that ability!

Thanks! And well I've worked with clay a little bit in the past, so maybe that helped a bit xD

Promising...subbed

I think I'll follow this, interested to see what the color scheme will look like on the models

Got the better airbrush today and I'm really impressed with it so far, its nice and sturdy, definitely higher quality than the first one I got xD I can't test it with paint yet though as I'm waiting for the cleaner for it to get here, don't want to ruin it after all lol. So yes, won't be long now before I can finally get painting!

I just looked at your deviant art page, I'm now even more excited to see these Nids painted