Show us your airbrush set ups
Discussion
I have hand-brush painted my 1:72 Airfix kits since my daughter bought me one the a Christmas before last. Been very envious of you airbrushers.
So when I visited UK at Crimbo I picked up a cheap airbrush, meaning to give it a go on my new Mosquito model.
The shop sold cans of propellant to power that kind of brush, but it seemed to be the kind of thing that would be very illegal to transport in the hold of an aeroplane, so that was out.
I thought that a normal 12v tyre-inflating air compressor would work. Wrong. Not even a dribble of spay emerged.
My next attempt was a bicycle pump, and an inflated bike tyre. Nope, the tyre kept bursting (it was a bit ropey anyway).
My next attempt might be a large coke bottle or similar, pressurised by the s
t 12v tyre compressor, using the coke bottle as a sort of regulator.
Anyway, let’s see your elegant compressor set-ups.
Cheers
So when I visited UK at Crimbo I picked up a cheap airbrush, meaning to give it a go on my new Mosquito model.
The shop sold cans of propellant to power that kind of brush, but it seemed to be the kind of thing that would be very illegal to transport in the hold of an aeroplane, so that was out.
I thought that a normal 12v tyre-inflating air compressor would work. Wrong. Not even a dribble of spay emerged.
My next attempt was a bicycle pump, and an inflated bike tyre. Nope, the tyre kept bursting (it was a bit ropey anyway).
My next attempt might be a large coke bottle or similar, pressurised by the s
t 12v tyre compressor, using the coke bottle as a sort of regulator. Anyway, let’s see your elegant compressor set-ups.
Cheers
Ayahuasca said:
I have hand-brush painted my 1:72 Airfix kits since my daughter bought me one the a Christmas before last. Been very envious of you airbrushers.
So when I visited UK at Crimbo I picked up a cheap airbrush, meaning to give it a go on my new Mosquito model.
The shop sold cans of propellant to power that kind of brush, but it seemed to be the kind of thing that would be very illegal to transport in the hold of an aeroplane, so that was out.
I thought that a normal 12v tyre-inflating air compressor would work. Wrong. Not even a dribble of spay emerged.
My next attempt was a bicycle pump, and an inflated bike tyre. Nope, the tyre kept bursting (it was a bit ropey anyway).
My next attempt might be a large coke bottle or similar, pressurised by the st 12v tyre compressor, using the coke bottle as a sort of regulator.
Anyway, let’s see your elegant compressor set-ups.
Cheers
Tyres are hopeless without a regulator because if you inflate them to working pressure, as soon as you press the trigger, you're on a downward spiral becasue the working pressure's gone. Even if you inflate them above working pressure, and regulate it, there's not enough volume stored to keep the pressure up to working for more than a few seconds, unless its dangerously over-inflated in the first place.So when I visited UK at Crimbo I picked up a cheap airbrush, meaning to give it a go on my new Mosquito model.
The shop sold cans of propellant to power that kind of brush, but it seemed to be the kind of thing that would be very illegal to transport in the hold of an aeroplane, so that was out.
I thought that a normal 12v tyre-inflating air compressor would work. Wrong. Not even a dribble of spay emerged.
My next attempt was a bicycle pump, and an inflated bike tyre. Nope, the tyre kept bursting (it was a bit ropey anyway).
My next attempt might be a large coke bottle or similar, pressurised by the s
t 12v tyre compressor, using the coke bottle as a sort of regulator. Anyway, let’s see your elegant compressor set-ups.
Cheers
If the tyre compressor doesn't work on its own, adding a coke bottle won't help apart from maybe smoothing out the flow a bit. You need a compressor that will provide the right pressure and the right flow rate, or an excess of both in conjunction with a regulator.
Compressed air cans are OK, but they can easily freeze and lose pressure unless you keep them warm, plus once they've got below working pressure they're scrap.
Ayahuasca said:
My next attempt was a bicycle pump, and an inflated bike tyre. Nope, the tyre kept bursting (it was a bit ropey anyway).
My next attempt might be a large coke bottle or similar, pressurised by the st 12v tyre compressor, using the coke bottle as a sort of regulator.
It seems you're on the same course as 'Mad Mike' who recently removed himself from the gene pool by crashing his steam-powered rocket whilst on a mission to prove the world was flat...!My next attempt might be a large coke bottle or similar, pressurised by the s
t 12v tyre compressor, using the coke bottle as a sort of regulator.Shall we have a whip-round to buy the OP a decent air-brush set-up before he blows himself up?!
Just buy yourself an AS186 airbrush set from eBay.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Switzer-Double-Action-A...
What you are currently doing is killing any joy or pleasure out of airbrushing, thats even if you get that thing (from the 60s by the way) ever working.
Any time and effort you spend on it will be wasted and nothing like the airbrushing you think we are all doing.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Switzer-Double-Action-A...
What you are currently doing is killing any joy or pleasure out of airbrushing, thats even if you get that thing (from the 60s by the way) ever working.
Any time and effort you spend on it will be wasted and nothing like the airbrushing you think we are all doing.
Anthony Micallef said:
Same here. It's great.Anthony Micallef said:
Great service from those guys, bought my new gear from there last year. To be fair to the OP you can get a half-decent finish with one of those airbrushes, it's how I started and indirectly how I ended up running my business. But you do need the consistent high-ish air pressure. Dad worked as an engineer (bizarrely, just down the road from where Everything Airbrush are located) and bought me home an industrial compressor with a huge airtank (and every time it cut in the lights went dim). It meant I was out in the garage spraying. But trying to use anything else – tyres, aerosols or whatever – is a complete waste of time. I tried those at art college but finished up having to buy another, more practical compressor. Which I still possess. OK for ink but no good for model paint of any kind.
Yertis said:
Anthony Micallef said:
Great service from those guys, bought my new gear from there last year. To be fair to the OP you can get a half-decent finish with one of those airbrushes, it's how I started and indirectly how I ended up running my business. But you do need the consistent high-ish air pressure. Dad worked as an engineer (bizarrely, just down the road from where Everything Airbrush are located) and bought me home an industrial compressor with a huge airtank (and every time it cut in the lights went dim). It meant I was out in the garage spraying. But trying to use anything else – tyres, aerosols or whatever – is a complete waste of time. I tried those at art college but finished up having to buy another, more practical compressor. Which I still possess. OK for ink but no good for model paint of any kind.
I have this, works nicely and with the two sets of nozzles very handy. Currenlty down one needle having bent it 
https://www.everythingairbrush.com/product/harder-...
I use a cheap airbrush compressor (without a receiver), if i'm sensible with it works well.
https://www.everythingairbrush.com/product/harder-...
I use a cheap airbrush compressor (without a receiver), if i'm sensible with it works well.
No of course not, but ignoring those techniques (which lay in the future when I had my “Humbrol Modeller’s Airbrush”) and focussing on getting correct paint consistency, good spray technique and careful, accurate masking you can turn in a nice result. Provided you have a supply of good, steady, dry compressed air.
Ayahuasca said:
I have hand-brush painted my 1:72 Airfix kits since my daughter bought me one the a Christmas before last. Been very envious of you airbrushers.
So when I visited UK at Crimbo I picked up a cheap airbrush, meaning to give it a go on my new Mosquito model.
The shop sold cans of propellant to power that kind of brush, but it seemed to be the kind of thing that would be very illegal to transport in the hold of an aeroplane, so that was out.
I thought that a normal 12v tyre-inflating air compressor would work. Wrong. Not even a dribble of spay emerged.
My next attempt was a bicycle pump, and an inflated bike tyre. Nope, the tyre kept bursting (it was a bit ropey anyway).
My next attempt might be a large coke bottle or similar, pressurised by the st 12v tyre compressor, using the coke bottle as a sort of regulator.
Anyway, let’s see your elegant compressor set-ups.
Cheers
I bought one of those - in 1976. It was my first attempt at airbrushing and put me off for decades.So when I visited UK at Crimbo I picked up a cheap airbrush, meaning to give it a go on my new Mosquito model.
The shop sold cans of propellant to power that kind of brush, but it seemed to be the kind of thing that would be very illegal to transport in the hold of an aeroplane, so that was out.
I thought that a normal 12v tyre-inflating air compressor would work. Wrong. Not even a dribble of spay emerged.
My next attempt was a bicycle pump, and an inflated bike tyre. Nope, the tyre kept bursting (it was a bit ropey anyway).
My next attempt might be a large coke bottle or similar, pressurised by the s
t 12v tyre compressor, using the coke bottle as a sort of regulator. Anyway, let’s see your elegant compressor set-ups.
Cheers
Those types are really mini-airguns rather than true airbrushes. They are external mix and work on the syphon system.
For me, the best set up is an internal mix, double action, gravity fed brush. I use a Harder and Steenbeck Evolution which I have been delighted with.
My compressor is a bit of a beast - one I bought at Aldi also about ten years ago - for £60. It's big and noisy when pumping up and lives in my modelling shed so doesn't inconvenience anyone - as far as I know. Once the storage tank is full, the noise stops so most of the time I'm using it, it is completely silent.
I didn't really get back into airbrush properly until about ten years ago.
My original compressor was a huge thing I bought from Machine Mart. It was so noisy that it had to live in a far corner of the garage (under the table the spray booth was on!) could only use it during the day. I'd charge it up so that it was full of air for the evening, and once the pressure dropped past the minimum ... I'd just have to stop spraying.
Fortunately, the world has moved on a bit in the last 30 years!
Fortunately, the world has moved on a bit in the last 30 years!
Timely thread.
What respiratory protection (if at all) do folks use?
I wear a mask but was thinking about getting a cabinet - problem is, where I paint is not suitable to extract out of a window.
And to answer the OP's question. 60 quid Amazon sourced compressor and an IWATA HP-CS. Could never afford one on my first degree and my 10 year has got into Warhammer 40k so a good excuse to but one for 'both' of us.
What respiratory protection (if at all) do folks use?
I wear a mask but was thinking about getting a cabinet - problem is, where I paint is not suitable to extract out of a window.
And to answer the OP's question. 60 quid Amazon sourced compressor and an IWATA HP-CS. Could never afford one on my first degree and my 10 year has got into Warhammer 40k so a good excuse to but one for 'both' of us.
I’ve always been an advocate for cheap airbrushes and used to get through a few in a year.
I started using this at Christmas and it’s pretty good. £30 from Amazon.
My opinion changed when I took the plunge and bought this last week
It’s lovely. Easier to use, easier to clean, much better results and uses less paint too.
PTFE seals are the key, but most people probably already know that.
I started using this at Christmas and it’s pretty good. £30 from Amazon.
My opinion changed when I took the plunge and bought this last week
It’s lovely. Easier to use, easier to clean, much better results and uses less paint too.
PTFE seals are the key, but most people probably already know that.
Anthony Micallef said:
dr_gn said:
Not much good for anything other than blocking in a fairly large area though. Pre-shading or anything subtle would be tricky/impossible.
Not really, comes with a 0.2mm and 0.4mm needle so can easily do both. It’s a good quality airbrush that’s used by a lot of modellers.As I said, I’ve got an H&S like yours and it’s very good.
Anthony Micallef said:
dr_gn said:
I was referring to the o/p airbrush - as Yertis mentioned, it doesn’t have a needle.
As I said, I’ve got an H&S like yours and it’s very good.
My apoligies, thats not how i read it.As I said, I’ve got an H&S like yours and it’s very good.
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