Airbrush Virgin

Author
Discussion

tvrtuscans

Original Poster:

1,009 posts

210 months

Saturday 11th October 2014
quotequote all
Just invested in an airbrush and compressor en route to getting back into the hobby. Two initial questions:

- Can anyone point me in the right direction for good on-line tutorials around how to use?
- What paint/brands do people recommend?

Ta

dr_gn

16,140 posts

183 months

Saturday 11th October 2014
quotequote all
Glad to hear you took the plunge. Did you get it from Paul at Little Cars in the end?

FWIW I use Vallejo or Tamiya paints. Thinning is critical - best thing is to practice on scrap or an old model.

Eric Mc

121,763 posts

264 months

Saturday 11th October 2014
quotequote all
What brush did you buy?

I mainly use Tamiya and Xtracrylic. Will be using some Valejo paints on my next couple of models to see how I get on with them.

The_Jackal

4,854 posts

196 months

Saturday 11th October 2014
quotequote all
Flory Models is an excellent site for learning the basics and advanced techniques.
He explains things in a real simple no nonsense way. Sometimes people make airbrushing more scary than it is.

oddball1973

1,178 posts

122 months

Saturday 11th October 2014
quotequote all
gunze is very good as well (from model design construction)

xtracrylix I've found sometimes doesn't adher to well and has away with the masking tape. Lots of very helpful people on britmodeller but in reality like most things .... practice makes perfect

tvrtuscans

Original Poster:

1,009 posts

210 months

Saturday 11th October 2014
quotequote all
Eric Mc said:
What brush did you buy?

I mainly use Tamiya and Xtracrylic. Will be using some Valejo paints on my next couple of models to see how I get on with them.
I bought the one you all keep banging on about smile. There was a deal with a compressor, so took the plunge!!

tvrtuscans

Original Poster:

1,009 posts

210 months

Saturday 11th October 2014
quotequote all
dr_gn said:
Glad to hear you took the plunge. Did you get it from Paul at Little Cars in the end?

FWIW I use Vallejo or Tamiya paints. Thinning is critical - best thing is to practice on scrap or an old model.
In the end, I bought direct from the manufacturer....tho I have bought some materials from Paul, so thanks for connecting us up smile

dr_gn

16,140 posts

183 months

Saturday 11th October 2014
quotequote all
tvrtuscans said:
dr_gn said:
Glad to hear you took the plunge. Did you get it from Paul at Little Cars in the end?

FWIW I use Vallejo or Tamiya paints. Thinning is critical - best thing is to practice on scrap or an old model.
In the end, I bought direct from the manufacturer....tho I have bought some materials from Paul, so thanks for connecting us up smile
No problem. It might be worth you getting these books:





I've got the first one, and it goes through everything you need to make a decent job of a model aircraft (if that's what you want to build). The only thing you'll need in addition to that info, is good eyesight and patience.

The second one I keep looking at in Modelzone - I think I'll request it for Christmas. It does contain a lot of info on airbrushing as well as lots of other techniques. The publisher (Osprey) do loads of modeling references and 'how to build' books on specific subjects, and they are very good quality. If you go to Telford, have a browse through a few of them on one of the many bookstalls and see what you think.

Eric Mc

121,763 posts

264 months

Sunday 12th October 2014
quotequote all
Osprey usually have their own stand at Telford too.

A while ago, Brett Green (the chap who wrote the first book shown) posted on line a number of videos on airbrushing through his Hyperscale site which I found very useful,. The only problem is that he is a big fan of Aztek airbrushes - which I am not. But the techniques he uses are relevant to all forms of airbrushed.


I also bought this DVD at Telford one year and have found this quite good -






tvrtuscans

Original Poster:

1,009 posts

210 months

Sunday 12th October 2014
quotequote all
As always, you all are a really helpful lot. Thanks smile

I wear varifocal spec's nowerdays .....ano domini (zpelling?)....so next question is...I think I may have to invest in a free standing magnifying glass with illunination?....any recommendations??

Eric Mc

121,763 posts

264 months

Sunday 12th October 2014
quotequote all
I prefer head magnifiers as they move with your head (obviously). I use the magnifier in conjunction with a daylight lamp I bought at Telford last year.




dr_gn

16,140 posts

183 months

Sunday 12th October 2014
quotequote all
tvrtuscans said:
As always, you all are a really helpful lot. Thanks smile

I wear varifocal spec's nowerdays .....ano domini (zpelling?)....so next question is...I think I may have to invest in a free standing magnifying glass with illunination?....any recommendations??
Personally I don't find magnifiers useful for working on models becasue obviously they magnify not only the work, but also the tools you're working with. If you can get some glasses corrected for very close work I'd go for that. I find a good light source far more important. If you do go for a magnifier, go for an anglepoise version, with daylight corrected flourescent tubes either side - the stand won't get in the way of your work. I borrowed one of these from work to try it out, but ended up only using it as a lamp. The glass was great, but just not for me:



I don't recall whether you were wanting to build aircraft or cars? If it's aircraft I'd go with 1:48 scale from a quality manufacturer like Tamiya. With good corrected vision you should be fine with the size of parts and level of detail included in the kit as standard.

Oh , and by the way The absolute most important thing about airbrushing is to buy a good face mask with the correct filter for whatever paint type you are using and/or some kind of extractor booth. If you've got kids around, keep them out of the area and make sure it's ventilated, you can risk an explosion...seriously!

Eric Mc

121,763 posts

264 months

Sunday 12th October 2014
quotequote all
I already have glasses for close work - as I've had poor eyesight since I was born - and it's only getting worse as I get older.

I started using a head magnifier about ten years ago and it has been a great help to me.

Everybody is different - especially when it comes to eyes - and age.

If you get to Telford there are lots of traders there with all sorts of modelling aids, including lights and magnifiers. It's a great chance to actually try some of these items out so you can get a better idea as to what works for you.

tvrtuscans

Original Poster:

1,009 posts

210 months

Sunday 12th October 2014
quotequote all
Dr gn, Eric taverymuch on all counts.