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So its been a few years but I put in an order on a starter airbrush kit and an indoor filter box. I know airbrushing makes tanks extremely easy to paint but how about actual smaller models?

Ive found a few tutorials on how to shade armor and do power swords but havent found much on easy glow effects like plasma gns and glowing eyes.

So Im aiming to have my army completed around June, and it is 100% infantry so looking for advice from experienced airbrushers on what details besides the actual armor are good to pick out for a beginner?

A zenithal highlight makes painting stuff like power armour quick and easy.

I'd concentrate on doing base coats with the airbrush to block in your main colour(s), and use that as a learning experience. As you gain confidence you may identify other stuff on your models you can use the airbrush for. What are you going to be painting?

Unfortunately an airbrush is not instant talent or a complete substitute for hairy brush painting. There is definitely a learning curve and you still end up using a regular paintbrush plenty...

It really depends what army you're painting. My Skaven BB team for example is primed with an airbrush and that's the only airbrushing I do with them. On the flip side me lizardmen are almost entirely airbrushed.

Im using them mostly for chaos space marines so obliterators, havoc squads, raptors, and terminators. I have previous basic experience on using it for base coating but was wondering if there was more to it or just keep using lighter coats as a highlight and then finish it with hand painted highlights from the sounds of how airbrushing works?

 Defeatmyarmy wrote:
Im using them mostly for chaos space marines so obliterators, havoc squads, raptors, and terminators. I have previous basic experience on using it for base coating but was wondering if there was more to it or just keep using lighter coats as a highlight and then finish it with hand painted highlights from the sounds of how airbrushing works?

Pretty much, unless you're willing to do a ton of masking. Airbrushes are great for priming, basecoating and gradual color transitions. For small details and highlights, you either have to be super good, or put in a ton of work with masking tapes/fluids.

For example, here's a trial mini I was doing for my Knights of Gryphonne project:


Orange basecoat, with orange-red from below and orange-yellow from above. This kind of effect is relatively easy with an airbrush, but all of the detail would have to be hand painted. So natural highlights are very possible with an airbrush, but to duplicate the effect on all the details (gun, chest detail) would be much, much trickier. Probably involving painting the small elements via airbrush first, then covering them with masking fluid, and painting the rest of the model before stripping off the masking.

I really recommend watching some videos about painting - not just miniature painting, but canvas too - to see the kind of tricks airbrushers use to mask areas they're going to paint. It's a very procedural art!

Painting in sub assemblies helps. Also tone down PSI on compressor. With high it's good for base coatting and ensures less clogging of brush but control goes off. With lower PSI it makes control bit better allowing at least basecoating smaller parts more easily(That's about best I have got into)

I havent had much time, adjusting table to fit next to window for the airbrish filter and looking into bottle to ise. GW paint pot already spilled so finished the night off cleaning up instead of testing my first highlight. I primed it with army painter, mixed the GW blue wash with nagaroth night (purple), and then attempted to do a naggaroth base color. Will be attempting first highlight with an airbrush once I get most of my army to a similar shade of purple. Anyone have recommendations of paint drippers made to keep the paints fresh? Not looking to buy new paints, just transfer Gw into new pots.

Crispy78 wrote:
A zenithal highlight makes painting stuff like power armour quick and easy.

I'd concentrate on doing base coats with the airbrush to block in your main colour(s), and use that as a learning experience. As you gain confidence you may identify other stuff on your models you can use the airbrush for. What are you going to be painting?

Unfortunately an airbrush is not instant talent or a complete substitute for hairy brush painting. There is definitely a learning curve and you still end up using a regular paintbrush plenty...

This. Due a zenithal prime, then airbrush the main armor color. Then go in and brush work the details. THats what I do on my ultramarines. Airbursh all the blue shades (and a blue ink for the recess) then I go in and pick out the metal, eyes, purity seals, ammo pouches etc... it actually goes pretty quick.


Check out youtube for vids. Here is one I kind of followed, but tweaked. This is for ultramarines, but the same steps can be used, just substitute different colors.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0rRukUAlBY&t=662s

Do one model from start to finish first, writing down all your steps.
I find when airbrushing when I am in the WiP phases it looks like crap bc of overspray and lack of washes, highlights etc.. You really have to take the model all the way to the end to get the full effect of thwat it will look like.